If Courts Rule Against Trump's Travel Ban, We've Got a Problem

Many suspect a long, drawn-out battle in the courts over Trump's travel ban.  A battle that may go all the way to the Supreme Court.  However, if Trump's ban is struck down, we have an even bigger problem with our "visa" program, which also restricts many citizens from entering the country.

Except in the case of Canada and 38 countries with a "visa waiver" status, any citizen of another country wishing to enter the U.S. is required to obtain a visa for work, education, and tourism from the U.S. Embassy in their country, as noted in this statement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website:

"A foreign national or alien entering the U.S. is generally required to present a passport and valid visa issued by a U.S. Consular Official, unless they are a citizen of a country eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, or are a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. or a citizen of Canada."

Even in the case of those countries issuing a "visa waiver",  the stay is limited to 90 days; and you must present a valid passport from your country of origin to travel into and around the United States.

In terms of shutting down visa access, the State Department's website says this:

"U.S. Embassies and Consulates are sometimes forced to limit or at times suspend visa services because of natural disasters, civil unrest, war and/or security concerns, among other reasons. The list below notes the U.S. Embassies and Consulates that currently provide limited visa services, locations where visa services are suspended, and countries that do not have embassies or consulates."

So, basically, Trump isn't doing anything that hasn't been within the purview of the U.S. for years.  Those who say what Trump is doing is unconstitutional or outside the law should take a good look at those existing laws.  For example, if a person is a citizen of Belarus, Minsk, you can only receive a visa for the following reasons:

"Although full visa services are suspended until further notice, U.S. Embassy Minsk processes nonimmigrant visa applications for the following limited categories: A visas for diplomats and government officials; G visas for employees and representatives to international organizations; B visas for relatives of Belarusian diplomats serving at Belarusian diplomatic missions in the United States; visas for family and medical emergencies requiring urgent travel; visas for U.S. Government-sponsored travel and programs; and visas for senior citizens, 70 years of age and older. Review the U.S. Embassy Minsk website for more information. "

Last I checked, Belarus is not an Arab country and not covered under Trump's ban.

Further, Section 212(f) of the 1952 Nationality and Immigration Act states this:

“Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.”

Obviously the whole travel ban confusion has more to do with politics and "Trump Derangement Syndrome" than reality.

References:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Entering the U.S. - Documents required for Foreign Nationals (International Travelers): https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/572/~/entering-the-u.s.---documents-required-for-foreign-nationals-(international

U.S. Department of State: Countries with Limited or No U.S. Visa Services: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/countries-with-limited-or-no-u-s--visa-services.html

The Past Six Presidents Have All Used The Executive Power To Block Certain Classes Of Immigrants: http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/16/the-past-six-presidents-have-all-used-executive-power-to-block-certain-classes-of-immigrants/

Yes, There Was a Relationship Between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department

Breaking news: August 10:  The Clinton Foundation had a cozy relationship with the State Department while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State!  So, say the Clinton emails.

Really? Judicial Watch didn't need to use the Freedom of Information Act to access Hillary Clinton's emails to find this out.  The fact is that she funneled work to the Clinton Foundation while she was the head of the State Department, and the Clinton Foundation is proud of it.  Take this excerpt from their web page on Haiti (linked at the end of this blog):

In collaboration with the Government of Haiti, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the U.S. State Department, the Clinton Foundation assisted with the development of the Caracol Industrial Park, which could ultimately create up to 60,000 jobs and help to decentralize the Haitian economy.

Of course, for that collaboration, I'm quite sure that Bill Clinton and other members of the Clinton Foundation got handsome paychecks.

What's even worse, was that the project failed to produce those promised jobs.  This despite the millions poured into it by the American taxpayers.

References:

Newly released Clinton emails shed light on relationship between State Dept. and Clinton Foundation: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/09/politics/hillary-clinton-emails-judicial-watch/index.html

Clinton Foundation: Caracol Industrial Park: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/our-work/clinton-foundation-haiti/programs/caracol-industrial-park

Hillary’s Half-Baked Haiti Project: http://www.wsj.com/articles/mary-anastasia-ogrady-hillarys-half-baked-haiti-project-1421018329

Hillary's Lame Assertions On Classifed Emails

Years back, while serving in the military, I had a classified secret security clearance.  When it was issued to me, I was given a briefing in which I was told that anything I see or hear on the job should be considered classified unless told differently by an official source.

In order to cover her backside for having classified emails on her private server, Hillary Clinton now says that none were marked as such at the time she sent or received them; and that they are now being classified after the fact.  Well, yes.  That's normal policy.

The fact that the State Department had a secured server -- which all personnel were to have used -- was, in itself, a clear indication that the they consider any and all email correspondence as classified until, at some point later in time, those emails were determined to be declassified or appropriately marked as "Top Secret", "Secret", or "Confidential".  This way, State Department personnel are relieved of the constant burden of having to try to determine and personally assign some level of security for each email that they write at the time they are writing them.

The fact that Hillary's emails are now being heavily redacted or being assigned as having some level of security classification, is both consistent with my opening and third paragraph of this blog entry.  Because a Federal Judge has ordered that Hillary's State Department emails be released to the public, personnel who are charged with classifying the emails are pouring over them and editing out any classified information.  This is normal and this is why Hillary's "at the time" excuse is so lame.

References:

Hillary Clinton emails contained 'top secret' material: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/11/hillary-clinton-emails-contained-top-secret-materi/?page=all

Clinton, using private server, wrote and sent e-mails now deemed classified: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-wrote-classified-e-mails-sent-using-private-server/2015/09/01/5d456616-50bd-11e5-8c19-0b6825aa4a3a_story.html