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Questions & Help Mar 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM

US to require $15,000 bond to visa recipients from 12 more countries

Posted by iggy55

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-require-15000-bond-visa-recipients-12-more-countries-2026-03-18/
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GygesRingSaga Mar 20, 2026 +427
Including Tunisia, another team that is slated to play in the World Cup this year.
427
PurifyingProteins Mar 20, 2026 +81
This is so fucked. So many teams are going to have to find people who can play that are already here ☠️, but maybe I’ll be able to afford a ticket now if I wait until the bots are forced to drop prices or eat it
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Mayor__Defacto Mar 21, 2026 +7
I’m just wondering whether there is somehow a rash of Fijians overstaying visas.
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darthkitty8 Mar 21, 2026 +5
Leaving the effect on the tourists to the side, this probably wouldn't affect the athletes all that much. $15k that is returned at the end isn't the worst thing in the world, even for poor countries. They may have to reduce the number of support staff though. Still a dumb move though.
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MediumTempTake Mar 21, 2026 +11
You don’t win the World Cup without support staff. So yes this will heavily affect them
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b1argg Mar 20, 2026 -86
The article says the charge is for business and tourist (B1 and B2) visas, I don't think athletic visas fall under one of those categories?
-86
kamacho2000 Mar 20, 2026 +113
And most fans will travel on a tourist visa what in the world is that argument
113
kindasortaish Mar 20, 2026 +20
Imagine spending life savings to buy tix and flights to the us for the one game that you think will be tour only chance to see in your life, to realize you dont have the 15k to float in your account and now you lost your flight tix money and can only hope to make your money back by reselling the tix at cost at very least.
20
rich1051414 Mar 20, 2026 +7
They won't get it at cost because the value just tanked because no one can afford the bond fee.
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kindasortaish Mar 21, 2026 +2
That makes it all the more devastating.
2
ClandestineOtter Mar 21, 2026 +1
Imagine being stupid enough to spend your life savings on tickets, flights, and accommodations to a sporting event period… That is just f****** stupid
1
b1argg Mar 20, 2026 -45
Yeah that would definitely be a problem for them. I was specifically talking about players. 
-45
kamacho2000 Mar 20, 2026 +35
Players can afford 15k the fans are the ones who will be barred by this
35
b1argg Mar 20, 2026 -29
Yes, most fans from these countries will not be able to afford this. My point was that the players/teams wouldn't have to pay it for athletic visas. I don't support this btw.
-29
radioactive-tomato Mar 20, 2026 +8
I don’t know how to tell you this, but World Cup is the biggest sports event in the world and there’s a shit ton of fans who would like to come and cheer for their nation on stadiums
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zip_zap_zip_zap_ Mar 20, 2026 +3
Athletes, competing for money, visas fall under B1, unfortunately...and World Cup teams are competing for moolah.
3
traumalt Mar 21, 2026 +1
No, Athletes competing in WC fall under P-1 visa.
1
LeicaM6guy Mar 20, 2026 +1
Does that somehow make it better?
1
Broken-Sarcasm-Meter Mar 20, 2026 +500
Lemme guess, Trump and his buddies started a bonding company
500
Rattus_NorvegicUwUs Mar 20, 2026 +103
We are not investigating their “tariff rebate” scheme where connected Trump admin officials opened a company that would profit on companies trying to get rebates on the illegal ~~consumer taxes~~ tariffs. They would buy $1 in debt for $0.25. That way, for every $1 Americans were scammed of, Witkoff and his sons make $0.75 They are literally stealing from you.
103
Piggywonkle Mar 21, 2026 +3
The same can been done back to them in a few years, you know, when there's a massive budget deficit (because of them) and they tell us we need to cut anything and everything from everybody other than them. Let's not take their advice.
3
time4donuts Mar 20, 2026 +47
And this is on top of the fact that over the past year they have taken (stolen) over a billion in fees from visa applicants with no intention of processing them. Straight up criminal behavior https://www.cato.org/blog/banned-immigrants-us-sponsors-paid-over-1-billion-fees-defrauded-government
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ac9116 Mar 20, 2026 +30
Yes, it’s called the IRS. And they’re probably skimming money somehow somewhere.
30
ChefCurryYumYum Mar 20, 2026 +33
Trump, his family, and the rest of his regime have been stealing money hand over fist since his second term started. They aren't even really trying to hide it.
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SpleenBender Mar 20, 2026 +7
No doubt, and just think about all of the stealing that we don’t even know about. F****** parasites that are holding this country hostage and abusing the power of the federal government *for his gain*. All the while gleefully burning through *our tax dollars*.
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progrethth Mar 20, 2026 +2
Pretty sure they meant a company which does loans to finance the bonds, similar to bail bondsmen. Not that I believe it myself, but that is how you in theory could make money from this.
2
aegee14 Mar 20, 2026 +2
That would be too easy. They started another consulting business and their one and only client is the American government that handles these visa bonds.
2
stillavoidingthejvm Mar 20, 2026 +175
Most people from those countries won't be able to pony that up, temporarily or not. This is a virtual ban on people from those countries.
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Stockholm-Syndrom Mar 20, 2026 +86
On the opposite, would a lot of US citizen be able to pony that up to go to Canada or Mexico? It’s egregious regardless of the country.
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Dragrunarm Mar 20, 2026 +71
According to the last stats I saw 60% of Americans don't even have 1000$ in the bank, so no we cannot.
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romario77 Mar 20, 2026 +7
But they most likely don’t travel abroad. If this spreads there will be bond companies that would provide a bond for a fee. I don’t think too many Americans overstay in Mexico. At least not long enough to be a big concern for a bond company.
7
Dragrunarm Mar 20, 2026 +5
well, yeah becuase most of us cant afford to travel abroad to begin with becuase of the aformentioned lack of savings. > I don’t think too many Americans overstay in Mexico. Probably not, but theres more than enough studies and stuff done already that people overstaying their Visas in the States and becoming an undocumented immigrant doesnt have a negative impact on our economy or anything. It's just petty racist bullshit policies from rancid sacks of shit. So there being these effective bans is just bullshit from the jump.
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TerriblePair5239 Mar 21, 2026 +2
So this only affects poor people. If I can afford the bond, I get all the money back. If I can’t, I have to pay someone else to take on the risk.
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Father_Dowling Mar 20, 2026 +11
A temporary resident visa in Mexico requires proof of $68k of savings over 12 months and a salary of $4k per month.
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First-Obligation-566 Mar 20, 2026 +5
Be careful, this is against the only America does these things narrative.
5
StoneColdNipples Mar 20, 2026 +25
Nope. We have a lot of illegal Americans living in Mexico believe it or not. They live off their retirement savings and penny pinch like no other (understandable they have a budget). They avoid paying taxes here for just about everything so I doubt they would be ok with paying 15k to be here. The sad part is they can't even afford to go live in the USA with their families.
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elkarion Mar 20, 2026 -2
no country has to let you in and can make up any rules. and people shoudl be charging US citizens to enter thier country as look what the f*** were doing.
-2
Dear_Smoke6964 Mar 20, 2026 +13
I'm sure someone will lend them the money then garnish all their wages forever.  There's a reason human trafficking laws are so weak. 
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ImperiumRome Mar 20, 2026 +4
There is an entire industry around lending money to people so they can qualify for visa requirement. Japan requires a proof of savings in your banks (only for citizens from certain countries) to prove that you are not overstaying and work illegally there, so of course the shark loans step in and in cahoot with the labor export agencies to help people get around that requirement.
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Zombie_Cool Mar 20, 2026 +7
Its a virtual ban *on the poor*, the truly rich probably wouldnt even notice, and perhaps usually thats the only demographic Rrump actually cares about.
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TonyTheTerrible Mar 21, 2026 +1
They pay that much to coyotes, you don't know what you're talking about
1
elkarion Mar 20, 2026 -6
these are wold cup national teams. the team will pay it regardless as you don't play on these teams unless your the top of the top. they all have sponsors that can get the money put up as those sponsors will not want Zero return on investment because they cant show up.
-6
chutzpahisaword Mar 20, 2026 +2
and fans? You know the World Cup is nothing without the atmosphere the fans all nations create, right?
2
elkarion Mar 20, 2026 +1
And they chose to hose it in the country wear proper football is low ranking and people get made fun of for playing it in stead of NFL style football. The world cup is for the rich people who will have money to already afford an international trip and is out side of most peoples life time capacity. This is the world cup like the Olympics it's for the rich people to watch as no ordinary people can afford it. Tickets are a month's wages for just the ticket and you need flight hotel car rental etc. The world cup in person is for the rich.
1
Comfortable-Mess4365 Mar 20, 2026 +133
Looks like they have another creative way to ban immigration while this gets tied up in courts
133
jgoble15 Mar 20, 2026 +47
And people wonder why others immigrate here illegally. It’s stupid c*** like this that makes legal immigration near impossible
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MaloortCloud Mar 20, 2026 +20
Yup. And that's how it's always been going back to the Chinese Exclusion Act. The US implements racist immigration policy aimed at making it difficult for anyone but white people to immigrate to the US, then cracks down on illegal immigration to expel people who aren't white. We didn't actually change the policies from the 19th century, we just slapped a new coat of paint on it and pretended it was ok when Republicans continued doing the same shit.
20
coolest35 Mar 20, 2026 +13
Not that I stand for this policy, but this would uphold the current immigration policy i.e. discourage overstaying/undocumented immigration. This doesn't have any impact on documented or "legal" immigration. Correct me if I'm wrong?
13
gordonpamsey Mar 20, 2026 +2
Confused, how doesn't this impact legal immigration by adding in a financial aspect.
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progrethth Mar 20, 2026 +2
It does not affect legal immigrants, it affects legal tourists, legal business travelers and illegal immigrants.
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Comfortable-Mess4365 Mar 20, 2026 +3
That's the point. It complies with current immigration policy while also effectively blocking immigration while the courts sort out whether the financial burden is legal or not. Its one of those letter of the law vs spirit of the law things
3
New_Inflation_8419 Mar 21, 2026 +1
I would curb tourism, and that is money
1
chicklette Mar 20, 2026 +58
"The new nations included in the ​visa bond program are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, ​Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia."
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_OMGTheyKilledKenny_ Mar 20, 2026 +33
I don’t understand Mauritius and Seychelles. They are just islands with tourist economies and great beaches.
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BedditTedditReddit Mar 20, 2026 +47
Do brown people live there? If so that’s why.
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Father_Dowling Mar 20, 2026 +5
Seychelles is a easy place to both dodge taxes and migrate out of shitty countries, kinda like Malta.
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equiNine Mar 20, 2026 +6
They’re just unfortunate consequences of the Trump administration’s broader policy goals of curbing high rates of visa overstays from Africa in general. Except the policy goals still don’t make that much sense considering Niger, another African country that has much higher visa overstay rates, isn’t on the visa bond list.
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iamPendergast Mar 21, 2026 +2
Grenada is a small Caribbean island wtf
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i_lost_it_all_1 Mar 20, 2026 +2
No one in Trumps administration actually understands anything. Its the same with the tariffs. Didnt he put an insane tariff on some island country, maybe even these, because the numbers he saw showed they weren't exporting or something to the US. And its because they dont actually have an export.
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wyvernx02 Mar 21, 2026 +2
Ya, he put tariffs on an island inhabited only by penguins.
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iamPendergast Mar 21, 2026 +1
Grenada too
1
Future_Gain_7549 Mar 20, 2026 +29
>The expanded visa bond program, which requires those foreign nationals to pay $15,000 ​for a B1 or B2 visa for business and tourism, goes ​into effect on April 2. The aim is to prevent visitors ⁠from overstaying their visas, the official said. This is a classic Trump money grab. You'll never get that money back.
29
AlyadaHatchet Mar 20, 2026 +104
That's an amount that most Americans couldn't meet, ffs.  Immigrants built the US, and have been treated like c*** for it.  Just.... I need more coffee. Christ. 
104
Sic_Semper_Dumbasses Mar 20, 2026 +43
And every one of these countries are poor countries. So it's effectively just a ban.
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thecricketnerd Mar 20, 2026 +15
It's not a ban on rich assholes from those countries though, that's who they only want to let in.
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Raammson Mar 20, 2026 +9
I think it’s notable that the rich assholes from those countries are responsible for most of those countries problems too. And if given the chance will recreate the nightmare despotism in those countries in the United States. 
9
77Robbs Mar 20, 2026 +1
South Africa has entered the chat…
1
rayliam Mar 20, 2026 +2
The rich, powerful and influential from these countries are mostly way ahead of you. Most of them have property in the US because the US is one of two countries in the world that doesn't have citizenship requirements for buying property. All they care about is TIN with the IRS and that the proper taxes are paid regularly. A lot of people have been hiding ill-gotten wealth from other countries in the US for decades now.
2
jkbuilder88 Mar 20, 2026 +7
Sorry, that coffee is from those very same countries.
7
traumalt Mar 21, 2026 +1
This bond is for tourist and business temporary visitor visas and not immigrant ones though.
1
Initial_E Mar 20, 2026 +1
There will always be a bank that will assess your flight risk and then loan you the money, like how bail is made.
1
mysticzoom Mar 20, 2026 -4
Slaves built this shit, immigrants came after, ESPECIALLY after the civil rights act.
-4
masterofshadows Mar 20, 2026 +13
Some of it. For example the railroad was mostly built by Chinese labor. Yes slaves were used too, but not to the degree the Chinese were.
13
mysticzoom Mar 20, 2026
The Chinese built the railway that connected East to West and a lot of the railways in the western part of America. However up and down the east coast and in smaller pockets in the west, slaves laid down those railsways. [https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/historyculture/african-americans-and-the-railroad.htm](https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/historyculture/african-americans-and-the-railroad.htm) Once again, slaves built this. And for the downvoters, your feelings and revisionist history doesn't factor in.
0
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026 -17
Slaves also “built the US,” does that mean we should have slavery? Of course not! Similarly, there’s no reason to have immigration unless it benefits us!
-17
Th1rte3n1334 Mar 20, 2026 +7
How does an immigrant paying $15k benefit us? Are we somehow getting money back from this or does it just benefit the rich?
7
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026 -12
Selection effect; those that can afford the fee are more likely to be economically productive and educated, less likely to commit violent crime or need the public assistance.
-12
DietSteve Mar 20, 2026 +3
What happened to “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”? EDIT: corrected the quote
3
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026 -2
That was never a policy, never a law, never voted on. Think about that for one second. Why should all the poor huddled masses have to be sent to my country? How is that not just importing poverty and violence? Why would I want more poverty and violence around me? How could that possibly benefit me?
-2
DietSteve Mar 20, 2026 +2
That selfish attitude is exactly why we’re in the situation we’re in right now. This country was built on the backs of immigrants, we’ve long proclaimed ourselves to be the land of the free, the land of opportunity, and a haven for those in need. We wouldn’t be the country we are without them, so why should we turn away anyone looking to make us and themselves better? We need actual immigration reform, not penalties and more red tape. Fix the system, actually man the agencies that process claims and visas, have actual immigration judges and lawyers who know the laws. Give these people their fair shake before writing them off.
2
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026
Everyone looks out for themselves. You do , I do. The immigrants are looking out for themselves by wanting to come here, I’m looking out for myself by limiting that. You only have a problem with me looking out myself because I’m not part of a sacred victim group - immigrants in this case. I despise this morality of “victim groups can do whatever they want”, and can look out for themselves, but no one else can. I believe I am equal to immigrants, and we BOTH have to lookout for our own interests first. No one else will!
0
DietSteve Mar 20, 2026 +1
I have a problem with people who have abandoned being decent human beings. “F*** you, I got mine” isn’t the way to live life. We should be taking care of each other
1
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026 +1
Looking out for myself makes me a bad human? When immigrants look out for themselves, are they bad people too?
1
Th1rte3n1334 Mar 20, 2026 +4
That might be the dumbest thing I’ve heard. What if people who want to get in are from poorer countries? Ones that say even with a decent job as an electrician or as a mechanic you make less than $30k a year? Just screw all those people, right?
4
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026 -4
They are not entitled to live in another country, just because they want to. I want a lot of things too. If I don’t think it’s to my benefit, I don’t want them in my country. What’s with this new idea that you just HAVE to support any and all immigration?
-4
Th1rte3n1334 Mar 20, 2026 +2
How about the idea that the U.S. isn’t full of a bunch of greedy dickbags? How about we base immigration status on the merit of the people and not on the amount of money they can shell out?
2
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026
Why should it be based on merit? It should ONLY be based on if current citizens think they will be a positive addition. One is not entitled to come to another country
0
Th1rte3n1334 Mar 20, 2026 +1
The current citizens thought Trump getting a second term was a good idea. I wouldn’t trust them with shit. How about objectively measuring whether people would positive contribute to society instead of arbitrary things like “the citizens think.” Derp.
1
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026 +1
There’s no way to objectively measure that, because different people have different preferences! If an immigrant is a hard worker, but likes to listen to their phone at full volume without headphones while in public, how could you possibly measure if they are “worth it” or not? Some people are bothered by the noise, others arnt! It’s down to personal preference
1
mauricioszabo Mar 20, 2026 +2
Wow, proudly showing your classism and elitism! Amazing! When I was younger, these were offensive. Epstein class shows that "those that can afford the fee" are less likely to be held accountable; Trump is here to show that you can be guilty of r*** and walk free if you have money and influence. But no... the problem is the immigrant that leaves his poor country in search of a better life somewhere else, never commits any crime, and works for less than minimum wage, paying taxes without being able to use the public services. These are the real problems, right? How is the taste of boot? Do you add something before you lick it, or you prefer it raw?
2
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026 +2
Apparently you skipped math class! I said those who can afford the fee are MORE LIKELY to behave in a pro-social manner, not that “Only rich people can behave well” or that “all poor people behave bad” Have you ever heard of probability? Have you ever seen the violent crime statistics, across various socioeconomic groups? Poorer people commit more violent crime. This has been known for ages and isn’t controversial!
2
succesful_deception Mar 20, 2026 +1
Beauty of a comment. Bootlickers the lot of them.
1
FabianN Mar 20, 2026 +2
Ha! Funny delusion. You can go and f*** off.
2
Bart_Yellowbeard Mar 20, 2026 +1
This comment is painfully stupid and ignorant. The idea that you get to vote disgusts me. We deserve better.
1
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026
Are you able to articulate why? Or do you just read different opinions and get so emotionally compromised you can’t form a logical reason why you disagree?
0
Bart_Yellowbeard Mar 20, 2026 +1
Because America is built on immigration. The emotional compromise isn't mine. Your little tantrum against foreigners makes that quite clear.
1
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026
Not wanting infinity immigrants = throwing a tantrum. You see how pathetic that is right? Why do citizens exist only to serve immigrants in your mind?
0
Bart_Yellowbeard Mar 20, 2026 +1
No one said anything about infinite migrants, stop being dishonest. You said ZERO immigrants. The only pathetic one here is you with your lies and your selfishness.
1
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026
If there is no limiting principle, then there IS infinity immigrants! By what standard could you restrict them? Is there ANY valid reason to restrict ANY immigrant in your mind? Or just everyone who wants can come?
0
Bart_Yellowbeard Mar 20, 2026 +1
Of course there's a limit, stop being irrational. I'd rather have them than you. I'm done playing games with fools. Good day.
1
Faraday5 Mar 20, 2026
We both want to see the other deported. Finally, some common ground! ☺️
0
Daeveed Mar 20, 2026 +26
Basically a poor black people surcharge.
26
C1andestino Mar 20, 2026 +5
And a high enough one that it’s effectively a ban.
5
figurative-trash Mar 20, 2026 +12
Everyone should boycott traveling to the US at the moment. I don’t need a visa but I’m not going there, possibly forever!
12
Aman209 Mar 20, 2026 +6
I guess it doesn't matter if you're a criminal, a sexual offender, or a good person. This administration just wants your f**cking money!
6
ereinbe Mar 20, 2026 +3
Ok so instead of paying a shady smuggler $15,000 to bring you to America, you can just pay it directly to the shady US government and overstay your visa anyway. 
3
TheMoorNextDoor Mar 20, 2026 +3
The World Cup is fucked
3
ADCSrane Mar 20, 2026 +3
Unless you are connected to the corruption that is in the White House,then you get a free pass!
3
Canuck-overseas Mar 20, 2026 +5
Imagine wanting to visit MAGA USA?
5
StairheidCritic Mar 20, 2026 -1
Unfortunately, two irredeemably corrupt organisations are holding major World events in the US during the reign of The Orange Buffoon In The White House - the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028. Quite how ordinary Football fans from some 50 countries with such onerous (and vindictive) Visa requirements are meant to afford to support their national team remains a mystery - that's on top of travel, accommodation and the truly extortionate match ticket prices which are are costing up to **seven** times more than for the 2022 World Cup. I suspect many won't bother. :/
-1
TheWizard Mar 20, 2026 +2
Does this include the countries involving H2B visa where Trump's companies are involved largely for Trumpenstein Island? I doubt it.
2
c4upinhisbhole Mar 20, 2026 +2
Why not eleventy billion dollars wired directly to Trump’s personal account in the Middle East where he’s funneling all the tariff/tax dollars he’s stolen from the American people?
2
Baystars2025 Mar 20, 2026 +4
Almost as much as the paywall to read the article.
4
Big_Instruction9922 Mar 20, 2026 +3
One f***** said to me " don't you want to protect the sanctity of the vote?" referring to the Saves Act. They just don't want brown people immigration and don't want to admit it.
3
Then_Remote_2983 Mar 20, 2026 +3
Because terrorists who want to attack us can’t pay $15,000?  The logic is sound.
3
ITSA-GONGSHOW Mar 20, 2026 +2
Ohhhhh I get it, in order to travel in the most corrupt country in the world you have to get that criminal treatment so you have the right vibe.
2
Eel888 Mar 20, 2026 +2
Tunisia is one of the countries that is affected by this. The annual median salary there is between 5 to 6k. So 15k is more then 2,5 years of work. If you apply this to the US wage it would be like a country demanding more then 150k Dollars before entering. This is mad. Tunisia isn't even the poorest country on that list. For example Cambodian wage is only 2-3k per year...
2
FOTY2015 Mar 20, 2026 +2
You are making their point. Nobody is making money from Tunisian tourists and many of those are actually trying to immigrate illegally.
2
ThePensiveE Mar 20, 2026 +1
So how's he skimming off the top of this one?
1
steebo Mar 20, 2026 +1
Was Georgia thrown in there just so they can say "See, they are not all brown countries!".
1
NiranS Mar 21, 2026 +1
No one is going to show up to this s.. show.
1
jt121 Mar 21, 2026 +1
Ahhh, yes, $15,000 frequently stops terrorists. Also, who/where is this money being sent?
1
wandita21 Mar 20, 2026 +1
Are we great yet? Are we winning? Is USA #1?
1
atmoscentric Mar 20, 2026
All about the colour of your skin. The rest is just noise.
0
StoneColdNipples Mar 20, 2026 -10
I'm ok with this. I would prefer this since it would force the immigration officer to actually look at how much people make and if they have funds. It's discouraging to know so many people that get their visa and go work illegally but when you actually have the funds and no intention of staying they deny you based on age or how you look.
-10
ketchfraze Mar 20, 2026 +2
It looks like visa overstays are about 1-2% overall, but the countries on this list are high risk, some close to 10%.
2
StoneColdNipples Mar 20, 2026 -1
It's around 50% of the people I know that have a visa (I'm Mexican). It's less overall just my personal experience on how people abuse their travel visas.
-1
DietSteve Mar 20, 2026 +2
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”
2
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