Dáil shown meme depicting bald JD Vance as new US J1 visa social media rules described as ‘unthinkable'

Irish Independent

3 days ago

Labour leader Ivana Bacik displayed the manipulated image of Mr Vance during questions on legislation in the Dáil on Tuesday, after reports that a 21 year old was sent back to Oslo after the image was found on his phone.
It comes as changes to the rules around J1 student visas now require applicants to have the social media accounts set to public, so that US authorities can examine the accounts.
The decision was described as 'excessive' by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris said he will raise the issue with the new US ambassador to Ireland.
Ms Bacik told Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan that the new rules were a 'major incursion on freedom of expression',
'Generally [a J1 trip is] a very positive experience, but things have changed drastically under US President Trump, with the recent authoritarian announcement that students would have to hand over social media accounts,' Ms Bacik told the Dáil.
'We're watching a major incursion on freedom of expression, unthinkable in a western democracy. This week, a young Norwegian tourist was detained by ICE at New York airport and sent back to Oslo. Why? he had this meme on his phone, minister,' she added, before presenting a print out of the fake image.
In response to a question on what he will do to reassure young people applying for visas to the US, Mr O'Callaghan said the rules were 'regrettable'.
'There's very little I can do about the US immigration system. I'm trying to put rules in the Irish immigration system, I can't control the US immigration system,' Mr O'Callaghan told the Dáil.
'I think it is regrettable that these new measures are being introduced by the United States,' he added.
While the minister said that the Government would address the concerns with US authorities, he said he believed many people would continue to go on J1 visas into the future.
'I welcome the fact that the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have indicated that they think it's inappropriate,' Mr O'Callaghan said.
'We'll mention it with the US authorities. Hundreds of thousands, probably millions, of Irish people have a great time on J1 visas. They're still doing it this year. They've done it in the past and I think it'll continue into the future,' he added.