Extreme vetting’ likely for British Visitors to Trumpton!”

There is some disturbing News for would be Visitors to the Shores of Trumpton!

Oops, sorry the USA.

Sources have advised that the US has not ruled out “extreme vetting” procedures which would force British visitors to hand over social media passwords, mobile phone contacts and financial records in order to gain entry to the country.

Whilst officials will neither deny or confirm the information. The proposed new measures would apply to visitors from approximately 38 countries who currently take part in the US visa waiver scheme, including the UK and Australia to name just a few.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, which is drawing up the plans, said that it was “too early to say” whether the “extreme vetting” measures would apply to British citizens and He said: “No final decisions have been made.”

Don’t get me wrong in light of 9/11, I understand the need for strict security but has Trump gone one step too far?

The information given to the Wall Street Journal was that some applicants could be asked to disclose their phone contacts and social media information so that the authorities can track their histories.

Surely this is an invasion of privacy and civil rights?

Supporters argue that the measures are just part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to comply with his campaign promise to increase border security, as a necessary safeguard against terrorism.

None of this will of course be easy as Trump deciding he wants to do this as two executive orders already signed by the president, which aimed to bar entry to the US from some North African and Middle Eastern countries, have been blocked by the courts.

He can however look at making changes to entry procedures that would make it more difficult for visitors to be granted visas instead.

Anyone who has applied recently for an ESTA Visa for the USA who is familiar with the original ESTA online forms will know that even within Obama’s presidency significant changes were made and the form now asks for a lot more detailed information than ever before.

So how could Trump make it more difficult?

One possible change he could make would be to ask more visa applicants to interviews rather than it just being done online or to ask more in-depth and probing questions.

When the Times asked what this type of probing question could be, officials reportedly said they could include asking applicants whether they believe in honour killings, whether they believe in “the sanctity of life” and who the applicant considers a legitimate military target.

No offence but what type of terrorist is going to answer that question legitimately?

This would support the proposed plan Trump previously suggested whereby there should be an “ideological test” for those wishing to enter the US.

Officials also stated “that all visa decisions are national security decisions”, adding: “Consular officers should not hesitate to refuse any case presenting security concerns.”

Homeland security secretary John Kelly had suggested that extreme vetting would be limited to countries regarded as particular terrorism threats such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. At a congressional hearing on US border security in February, Kelly promised that tighter screening was on the way, adding: “We want to get on their social media with passwords…If they don’t want to give us that information then they don’t come.”

I am not trying to mock what is an important issue but it seems to me that the biggest threat may end up coming from Trump and his administration if their attitude does not change.

How do you feel about this?

Will you want to go for an interview or have your social media and personal contacts scrutinised so you can go on holiday?

It seems such a shame to ruin what has always been a strong relationship between the UK and the USA in terms of Tourism

Maybe we just need to get Trump on side?  What do you think?

One step too far ?

I would love to get your opinions on the matter, however you feel?