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Irish tourist barred from US over joke "destroy America" tweet

30/01/2012 7:23 am

An Irishman and his friend were both denied entry to the US after joking tweets over their plans to "destroy America" meant that they were flagged as a security risk by anti-terror agents.

26-year-old Leigh Van Bryan, originally from Youghal, Co. Cork but now living in England, and friend Emily Banting, 24, were questioned for five hours and locked up overnight after touching down at Los Angeles International Airport.

US Homeland Security viewed Coventry bar manager Leigh and pal Emily as potential threats after viewing a tweet from Leigh to his friend that read: “3 weeks today, we’re totally in LA p****** people of in Hollywood Blvd and diggin’ Marilyn Monroe up!”

A second tweet caused further alarm, as Leigh wrote to a friend: “Free this week for a quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America?”

Having obviously misconstrued the drunken meaning of ‘destroy’, the Department of Homeland Security have since declined to comment on the incident, but Leigh had plenty to say over his ordeal.

“It’s almost funny now but at the time it was really scary,” a relieved Leigh told The Sun.

“The Homeland Security agents were treating me like some kind of terrorist. I was handcuffed and put in a cage in the vans.

“Then I was shoved in a cell with two huge Mexicans who’d been arrested for having cocaine.”

About the author

Emmet Purcell

Liffey Champion Short Story of the Week winner, March 1996

emmet.purcell@joe.ie

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Scallywagandvagabond

31/01/2012 3:10 am #

2 1

Of course one has to wonder, if these two were foolish and stupid enough to acknowledge a legitimate desire to ‘destroy’ America wouldn’t authorities have come across a couple of surface to air missiles in Ms Banting’s handbag? Then again, for someone who has spent a considerable time in the UK, the term ‘destroy’ is often used as an affectionate adjective to party the town. Not that you would know if haven’t spent time in the UK. Yep, Dept of Homeland Security outdoing itself once again....

http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2012/01/british-pair-deported-at-lax-after-jokingly-texting-they-were-going-to-destroy-america/
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  Jenni Endler
  
  31/01/2012 2:54 pm #
  
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  I rather live in a safe country, then in a country that protects the rights of illegals from the U.K. who meant to do harm to this country. Is the job of Homeland Security to keep us safe or should they 'cross their fingers and hope for the best' when it comes to threats made against America? Aren't Americans arrested for saying the word "bomb?" But isn't "that's the bomb" a common phrase. Nevertheless, arrests are made, because Homeland Security can't take that risk. If you are foolish enough to some to a foreign country and not do any research about WHAT you can and CAN NOT say, what you can and CAN NOT do because it's illegal, then you deserve to be sent back!!
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Jenni Endler

31/01/2012 2:49 pm #

4 1

GOOD RIDDANCE!!! U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY HAS DONE AN AMAZING AND FANTASTIC JOB!!!! I APPLAUD THEM!!! THANK YOU, HOMELAND SECURITY FOR PROTECTING OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY FROM TERRORISTS LIKE Leigh Van Bryan AND Emily Banting!!! THESE TERRORISTS NEED TO BE KEPT OUT OF THE U.S. FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE U.K. BEFORE AND ONCE THEY KNEW I WAS AN AMERICAN THERE, I WAS FOLLOWED OUT OF THE AIRPORT BY SECURITY! ALL MEDIA SOURCES REPORT NEGATIVE STORIES ABOUT AMERICA CONSTANTLY, JOKE ABOUT AMERICA AND ALWAYS INSULT AMERICANS. I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. WE LEFT EARLY AND CUT THE VACATION SHORT! THEY ARE SO FULL OF HATE FOR AMERICANS! WHY iS THAT? WHY DO THEY WANT TO DESTROY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY?? THE HOMELAND SECURITY AGENTS ARE DOING THEIR JOB, THEY DO IT WELL AND ARE WONDERFUL, SWEET AND RESPECTFUL PEOPLE!! PLEASE KEEP THE TERRORIST SCUM OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!! THANK YOU HOMELAND SECURITY!!!!! THANK YOU!! YOU ARE ALL HEROES!!
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  ELP99
  
  01/02/2012 4:20 am #
  
  0 0
  
  I agree with you very much. This is all very true to say. :)

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