Latest news with #J1
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Some government backbench TDs will not attend US embassy's July 4 celebrations
It comes as a number of opposition TDs said this week that they would boycott the annual event, with one planning to participate in a protest on the night. Politicians are among a host of guests invited to the celebration, including business leaders and civil groups. While many in opposition have chosen to boycott the event in recent years, TDs in both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have said they will also not go this year. Fine Gael TD Barry Ward said he felt it was not appropriate for him to go, citing a number of reasons, including changes to the rules around J1 visas. From this week, applicants for J1 student visas are required to set their social media accounts to public so authorities can examine them. It's not something I'd be comfortable with this year 'In the context of now asking people, the so-called land of the free, to give up all their private information in relation to social media and then possibly refusing people entry because they said something they didn't like,' Mr Ward said. 'They have first amendment rights that extend beyond Americans and yet they don't seem to respect their own constitutional basis. 'So I just decided I'm not going to go this year.' Fianna Fáil TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere said he received an invite but would not attend because of the current geopolitical situation. 'I'm not anti-US, but I just think in the current environment, it's not something I'd be comfortable with this year,' Mr Cleere said. Another Fianna Fáil TD said they were aware of a number of party colleagues who were choosing not to go this year, which they said was not something that would have happened in previous years. Similar conversations are also happening within the backbenches of Fine Gael, one TD said. Some TDs who spoke off the record said they did not consider their decision not to go as a boycott. Instead, it was down to them feeling uncomfortable attending the event. Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne said he would be attending this year but added that there were 'many policies' from the US administration that he did not agree with. Irish companies employ as many people in the US and US companies do here 'Like the overwhelming majority of Irish people, I have family and friends in the United States and I value those relationships. 'Irish companies employ as many people in the US and US companies do here. 'This has nothing to do with government policy. There are many policies of Donald Trump's presidency with which I strongly disagree,' Mr Byrne said. Fine Gael TD John Clendennen said while he had accepted the invite for now, he may not attend due to other events that night. However, he said it was important for politicians to take the opportunity to convey during these events Ireland's message both on Gaza and in relation to trade tariffs. I've never been and I'm not going this year Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin said he will not be attending the July 4 bash in the US embassy, adding that he has not gone in previous years. He was unable to say if all party colleagues would be boycotting it. 'I've never been and I'm not going this year, I don't know what the view of other folks are but it's not an event that I've attended,' he said. 'Certainly this year, given what's going on, particularly in the Middle East, that gives me more reason not to go.'
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- Politics
- Dublin Live
Labour leader Ivana Bacik holds up copy of JD Vance meme in Dail over visa concerns
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Labour leader Ivana Bacik held up a copy of the JD Vance "baby meme" in the Dáil chamber to raise concerns about new US visa social media checks for students. The US Embassy in Dublin confirmed on Monday that Irish students applying for certain US visas will be instructed to set their social media profiles to public as part of a new "comprehensive and thorough" vetting process. Following a pause, it confirmed that it will shortly resume taking applications for J, F and M visas, all used by students travelling to the US to study and work. Applicants must provide all usernames they have used in the last five years on their application forms, amid a warning that "omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas". Earlier this week, a 21-year-old Norwegian tourist claimed he was denied entry to the United States and harassed by ICE agents after they discovered a meme about US Vice President JD Vance on his phone. Holding up a picture of the meme in the Dáil Chamber, Ms Bacik raised concerns about the new US immigration policies with Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. She said that thousands of Irish people work in the US on J1 visas and it is "generally" a very positive experience. She said: "But things have changed drastically under US President Trump with the recent authoritarian announcement that students will have to hand over social media accounts. "We're watching a major incursion on freedom of expression, unthinkable in a Western democracy. This week, a young Norwegian tourist detained by ICE at New York airport and sent back to Oslo. Why? "He had this meme on his phone, minister. A meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. "I mean, extraordinary that a young person with this amusing meme on their phone depicting a public person, that this would be used as an excuse to detain him for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo." Minister O'Callaghan stated there was "very little he can do about the US immigration system". He added: "I'm trying to put rules in the Irish immigration system, I can't control the US immigration system. I think it is regrettable that these new measures are being introduced by the United States." Taoiseach Micheál Martin branded the social media checks "excessive", with Tánaiste Simon Harris vowing he would raise the issue with the US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh. Norwegian Mads Mikkelsen arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11 when he was pulled aside by border control and placed in a cell, he told Norwegian outlet Nordlys. Mads was travelling to the States to visit friends, first in New York and then in Austin, Texas, but suffered "harassment and abuse of power" at the hands of US immigration authorities. After handing over his phone password, he was told he would not be allowed to go through with his planned vacation after two images were not to the officers' liking. One image was of a meme showcasing JD Vance with a bald, egg-shaped head. Variations of the image were shared endlessly in March on social media, with the Vice President himself posting his own version. The Norwegian further claimed he was strip-searched, placed in a cell for another five hours, refused food or water and placed on a plane back to Oslo the same day he arrived for the holiday of a lifetime. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
The Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Ivana Bacik holds up meme of bald baby JD Vance in the Dáil
A MEME OF US Vice President JD Vance depicted as a baby was held up in the Dáil today by Labour leader Ivana Bacik. Bacik used the prop to illustrate her frustration at the United States' recent clampdown on international visas, including the popular J1 visa used by Irish students. Earlier this week, the US announced that future applicants looking to visit the country will be required to divulge 'all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years' on their visa application form. They are also required to set their social media profiles to public. Bacik told the Dáil today that this is a 'major incursion on the freedom of expression'. 'Each year, thousands of young Irish people work in the US on J1 visas. I've done it myself, I had a very happy summer in Boston many years ago. And generally it's 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. 'We're watching a major incursion on the freedom of expression, unthinkable in an electoral democracy. 'This week, a young Norwegian tourist detained by ICE at the airport was sent back to Oslo. Why? He had this meme on his phone minister,' Bacik said as she held up a sheet of paper. Bacik described the meme as amusing. 'A meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. I mean, extraordinary. Extraordinary that a young person with this amusing meme on their phone, depicting a public person, that this would be used as an excuse to detain him for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo.' Advertisement Bacik said she welcomed Tánaiste Simon Harris's promise this week to raise the J1 visa issue with the US Ambassador to Ireland , but asked what Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan (who has responsibility for issuing visas in Ireland) will do to reassure young people travelling to the United States. In response, O'Callaghan said there is 'very little' he can do about the US immigration system. 'Like I'm trying to put rules on the Irish immigration system, I can't control the US immigration system,' he said. O'Callaghan looked somewhat dejected while he listened to the Labour leader. O'Callaghan added that he thinks the new rules imposed by the US are 'regrettable' and he welcomed the criticism of the decision by both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. Norweigan tourist The Norwegian tourist Bacik referred to claimed he was denied entry to the US because of the meme of Vance on his phone. The story was first reported by Norwegian newspaper Nordlys on Monday, and then picked up by the Daily Mail on Tuesday. The tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, claimed he was threatened with a $5,000 fine or five years in prison if he refused to provide the password to his mobile device, which he did. Mikkelsen claimed he was sent home to Norway after authorities discovered the Vance meme on his phone. However, the US Customs and Border Protection has since stated that the tourist was denied entry because of his 'admitted drug use'. In a post on X, the organisation said it was not for any memes or political reasons. Fact Check: FALSE Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use. — CBP (@CBP) June 24, 2025 Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Ivana Bacik holds up meme of JD Vance in Dail over US visa clampdown
Ivana Bacik held up a meme'd photo of US Vice President JD Vance in the Dáil over the US' increased strictness with visa applications. The US have recently announced that future applicants looking to visit the country will need to divulge 'all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used for the last five years,' and are required to make their social media profiles public. Following reports that a Norwegian tourist who was detained by ICE and then deported due to having a photo of Mr Vance altered to show him bald and as a baby with rosy cheeks, Labour leader Ms Bacik highlighted her frustrations with the current US administration — including holding up said photo. Ivana Bacik held up a meme'd photo of US Vice President JD Vance in the Dáil over the US' increased strictness with visa applications. Pic: Oireachtas TV 'Each year, thousands of young Irish people work in the US on J1 visas. I've done it myself, I had a very happy summer in Boston many years ago. And generally it's a very positive experience,' she said. 'But things have changed drastically under US President Trump with the recent authoritarian announcement that students would have to hand over social media accounts. 'We're watching a major incursion on the freedom of expression, unthinkable in an electoral democracy,' Ms Bacik continued, before holding up the photo of JD Vance. 'This week, a young Norwegian tourist detained by ICE at the airport was sent back to Oslo. Why? He had this meme on his phone minister. A meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. I mean, extraordinary. Extraordinary that a young person with this amusing meme on their phone, depicting a public person, that this would be used as an excuse to detain him for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo.' The meme of US vice president JD Vance depicts him as a bald baby, with a Norwegian tourist claiming that he was detained and deported for having the meme on his phone. Mads Mikkelsen, a 21 year old tourist from Norway, was detained and deported to Oslo after he said that ICE made him unlock his phone, and claimed that he was deported after they found the Vance meme on his phone. This has been disputed by the US Customs and Border Protection, who wrote on Twitter (X) that Mr Mikkelsen was deported for 'admitted drug use.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin recently said that he didn't approve of US President Donald Trump's 'excessive' social media vetting, saying 'I believe those measures by the United States are excessive. I don't approve of them. I don't agree with them.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin criticised recent tightening of visa requirements in the US, which will see those looking for visas having to give their usernames of every social media platform they've used over the last five years. Pic: Leah Farrell/© 'One of the great things in the world, in the modern world, has been the capacity for young people to travel and mobility is important. There is an issue around freedom of speech, but it's more the atmosphere that's created by these measures, the fear and the anxiety that young people will now experience travelling.' The president of the University of Galway's Student Union, Faye Ní Dhomhnaill, called the announcement 'disappointing' and said she's certain J1 applications will fall as a result. She added: 'Most people who would have considered going to America will probably end up inter-railing instead. Already I've seen people that were on the fence about a J1 this year just decide that it wasn't worth the hassle, so they would instead go to Europe. It's incredibly disappointing that this is supposed to be 'the land of the free', and champions of free speech.'
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Dáil shown meme depicting bald JD Vance as new US J1 visa social media rules described as ‘unthinkable'
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.
