thankfully the internet is just one argument away from achieving world peace, and the winner of the next argument is going to get a nice crown for saving the world and everything
could he act? no. but was his character good? also no. and were his plotlines compelling? not really. but did he look good? also no. but did i enjoy his time on the show? again, no. but would i watch more of his character? also no
USA state department declared a freeze on processing all immigration visas for over 1/3 of all countries in the world (no surprise main targets are South America, Africa, and South/Southwest/Southeast/Central Asia) now can deny applicants if they’re overweight which is not long before they stop processing all paperwork altogether which is just more numbers for ICE to terrorize & target
I can’t see anything even after Googling about applicants being able to be denied if overweight…?
Unfortunately, all I personally know is that over the past year USCIS has become stunningly unprofessional and arbitrary. Denying people for being overweight is something they can do, inasmuch as it’s not explicitly forbidden.
That said, the current paperwork doesn’t actually ask that either. So it’s more the assertion that they can, than a tangible change in the process.
The stated reason for the pause is the fear of immigrants being “public charges” and “stealing” American Wealth by being on welfare or assistance programs - one of them being Health Insurance.
The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people (Direct Quote from the State Department)
The logic used here is that people deemed overweight and elderly are “high risk” for burdening the system by being high needs and that could be a ground for denial.
The guidance instructs consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.
Older or overweight applicants could be denied, along with those who had any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalization.
It is fatphobia disguised once again as being high medical needs but it is also ableist altogether.
I haven’t seen the guidance they reference directly to provide a first hand source. When Fox News broke the story (allegedly having access to the memos) it was shared immediately in the USCIS subreddit which is where I came across it. My family & I are directly impacted by changes in USCIS processing which is why I follow the sub closely and saw the news immediately.
Now… I don’t want to link Fox News and direct more traffic to the site but they did announce it first I believe ,having close relations to the administration, and subsequently multiple other newspapers (a joke i know) have picked it up and are quoting the same line.
For those who haven’t been in the immigration process might not realize this but it’s literally up to the individual Consulate member at your interviews and maybe their one supervisor to judge whether or not you are eligible for a visa. It’s not a mathematical equation and bias certainly plays a role. Who your interviewing officer is will make or break your decision. The very fact that Fox News posted this story with that distinction will certainly embolden MAGA USCIS officers to use their fatphobia as justification for being a public charge should they need to supplement reasons for their intended denial.
we honestly need to bring back Just Sitting There listening to music. i have so much fun Just Sitting There listening to music even sometimes reading the lyrics. i love it
ALT
