Having been through the US immigration process (I got my first work visa more than 25 years ago and became a citizen in 2022), it's obvious to me that Americans have *no idea* how weird and tortuous their immigration system is:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/52177745821/
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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2026/02/06/doge-ball/#n-600
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I'm surprised about your experience. As a European, I thougt, that #US/#Gilead (and other American) #immigration works as easy as:
"You go there, kill the existing population, and settle. Optionally, BYOS (bring your own slaves) from elsewhere."
It used to be like that. Good ol' times.