M.I.A. Denied Entry to United States

Neela Banerjee
May 16, 2006

The reasons for this move are unclear but speculations abound about the denial being linked to her "terrorism"-supporting lyrics. The article states: "She attracted controversy with her song lyrics, particularly of "Sunshowers", because it allegedly expresses vague support for the terrorist organisation LTTE, which is banned in the USA. MTV USA refused to play the video without a disclaimer against the lyrics."

She was apparently coming to the States to work on her next album with Timbaland. Here's her reaction from her MySpace blog:

THEY TRY SHUT MY DOOR!

Roger roger do you here me over!!!!
the U.S immigration wont let me in!!!!!
i was mennu work with timber startin this week, but now im doin a Akon "im locked out they wont let me in" im locked out! they wont let me in! Now Im strictly making my album outside the borders!!!! so il see you all one day, for now ill keep reportin from the sidelines.
to my people who walk wiv me in the America, dont forget we got the internet! Spread the word! or come get me!!!!!! ill be in my bird flu lab in china! liming and drinkin tiger beer with my pet turtel. I love everyone for the support, now i need it more. ill stay up spread out else where.
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Over the past two years, I have been interested and sometimes slightly wary of M.I.A.'s fame as related to her politics and Tamil Tiger name-dropping. But I came to the conclusion that wrapping up radical politics in baile-funk beats or spray-painting pink tanks does make a statement, it does stir things up in a way that makes sense in this day and age. I thought perhaps by doing so, and being a pretty girl, the powers that be wouldn't notice so much. I guess I was wrong.

I hope this M.I.A. ban is over-ruled soon because I am really kicking myself for missing all the shows she had in the Bay last year.

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Comments

Comments

Anonymous wrote on Tue, 08/15/2006 - 7:33am
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Jerry wrote on Sat, 12/16/2006 - 1:07am
I came across this blog by accident. At the risk of being on the unpopular side of the coin, I have to applaud the State Dept on this move, and to do so with a smile on my face.I've spent the past year and over $1,000 in the process of getting my wife a K-Visa to the US. There's finally some light at the end of the tunnel and the process is nearly over, but as an American who has dealt with these issues and lived in Asia for the past year, I would consider it insulting if they allowed this garbage mouth in. Her political views have no place in Western culture and only seek to inspire those who would subvert our way of life, not unlike Tokyo Rose of WWII, and she shouldn't be allowed in.If you want to see her so bad, go to a country that will welcome her fanatical views. And to the one who thinks this will cause a reduction in tourism or a drop in international trade is living in a fantasy world. You give far too much credibility to a performer who is still too fresh out of the box to even be taken seriously in the music industry. In the larger scheme of things, she is just a gnat buzzing around a giant field.
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Andrew Milner wrote on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 4:36am
The US Tourist Authority (assuming such exists) must just hate the US Immigration Department. Negative publicity from refusing a visa to a well-known musical entertainer will require so much expensive advertising to reverse. A reduction in tourist income followed perhaps by a drop in exports. Who want to come to USA and be treated like a POW?
Rudy wrote on Thu, 05/18/2006 - 10:59am
Don't kick yourself too hard: as much as she got the crowd moving, she played for less than 40 minutes total, which in my book is not okay. Nevertheless, the fact that she's been banned is ridiculous. After all, a second album would mean a longer show!
matt kane wrote on Mon, 05/22/2006 - 7:50am
her lyrics alone wouldn't ban her, but her father was trained by the PLO and founded a militant organization.a denied visa application doesn't mean a ban from entereing the country, but getting banned means more sympathy and more attention
Adam wrote on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 1:42am
More to the point: this is America. We'll mess you up nicely if you actually do something, but to exclude someone for something she sang in a song? Or even worse, for who her FATHER is? Unforgivable.
Anonymous wrote on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 5:19pm
Yeah, her 1st show at the independent was garbage, but she's fresh nonetheless and this visa denial crap is absurd.