ana007: Citizen of Nowhere | Part 2: Joe’s Immigration Ordeal

Drawing on Joe’s own immigration experiences, we dig deeper into the “Freedom of Movement” conversation and discuss green cards, spouse visas, citizenship, immigrant enclaves, sidewalk entrepreneurship, book clubs, and “Moral Turpitude.” Part 2 of the Citizen of Nowhere Series. View full show notes at anarchitecturepodcast.com/ana007. ----more---- Intro Episode 007, therefore Bond parody. Theatrical trailer for 007: Citizen of Nowhere Voiceover: Adam Litwin – Check out his upcoming Sci-fi/Comedy feature film Soul Frackers Theme from 007: Citizen of Nowhere Vocal: Tim and Joe’s Dad Discussion Joe’s a hypocrite From Australia to the US US visa Two weddings for the price of two I don’t know much, but I know I love Helium Karaoke Green Card – A straightforward process? 00:08:41 I-485 Form: There are no stupid questions, only stupid bureaucrats: “That was more of a movement” Was it an Oprah Book Club? WAS IT AN OPRAH BOOK CLUB?!! Moral turpitude Espionage Communist or Fascist – Democrat or Republican? Genocide – What happens in Niagara… Polygamy A Nazi Who would say yes? I-864 Form The best place to get Tuberculosis Fiancé visa In limbo for months Forced to marry Guys with forms and guys with guns The interview Government buildings assume everyone coming in the door is a potential threat – just like at the border. Prove your love – we had TWO weddings! Muriel’s Wedding Commingled finances Six months and $1,800 for a green card Received, only to relinquish Back to Australia Tip your movers All those summers of back breaking labor finally paid off Bzzzz…POP! Bike and skis – the sunk cost fallacy in action The miracle of logistics companies Customs declaration Perfect timing Joe’s Australian spouse visa 00:36:50 Australia – everything’s a little more bureaucratic Documenting six years of Joe’s international travel Original birth certificate? Paperless visas cause confusion – Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) Joe’s kids’ dual citizenship “They were born Australians, but they were made Americans” Wait a few months for your appointment to wait some more Traveling to Melbourne to do paperwork Thwarted by Tiger Woods Incidental costs of passport / visa / citizenship processes Nameless public servants Batching applications Joe’s Australian citizenship 00:50:30 A bonus for podcast listeners! Why become a Australian citizen? A leg up in the job market Easier to start a business Foreign Investment Relations Board (FIRB) Fearing nationalist revolution Fearing nationalist bigotry An American Spy? Doing the paperwork – again Finding a “referee” HAZOP interruption The interview – again The test – arbitrary trivia In government approval processes, the actual proof of knowledge and character is minimal. The bureaucracy of the process itself is what weeds people out. The citizenship ceremony Pledging allegiance Benefits of citizenship The right to be forced to vote Voting silliness The right to be forced to be on jury duty More voting silliness Auction your vote on ebay? The right to be forced to join the military That’s about it Dual citizenship Australians think Joe is Canadian Tax Implications 01:13:07 Only two countries collect tax on foreign income of non-resident citizens. USA and Eritrea – an elite group What taxes has Joe signed his kids up for? US Citizens have to file tax returns for TEN YEARS after renouncing citizenship. FinCEN form 116: FBAR – Foreign Bank Account Reporting, or “Fourth Bloody Amendment Repealed” US Citizens have to report any foreign account valued over $10,000 Penalty for not submitting the form is the greater of $10,000 or HALF of the unreported assets. So much for unlawful seizure. How many terrorists fill out their FBAR forms? FATCA – Milking the offshore fat cats, and everyone else Tax evasion vs. tax avoidance The Panama Papers – Hypocrisy of politicians Tax havens – created by onerous tax laws Unintended consequences of immigration controls 01:32:11   Are illegal immigrants renegade libertarian heroes? Anchor babies Prohibition of immigration forces immigrants to live outside the system Same-sex couples could be forced apart Stateless people – real Citizens of Nowhere Everywhere they go is ruled by a State – that’s the problem Prohibition of immigration creates dangerous industry of human trafficking. Eliminating prohibition of high demand goods and services eliminates profit centers for criminal organizations. Nauru: Australia’s “Pacific Solution” Now Australia has its own prison island! Indefinite detention If you’re paying to support people anyways, why not let them in so they can work? Socialism + Open Borders => Ultra-Nationalism Ultra right-wing groups are exclusionary National Socialists Left-wing groups are inclusionary International Socialists Nazis were Socialists too! International socialists are deluded in thinking that socialism is sustainable National socialists are deluded in thinking they can save it Effects of mass immigration on the built environment 01:58:53 Immigrant enclaves facilitate integration. Integration vs. assimilation Immigrant enclaves create support networks for new immigrants. Cultural conflicts can be better mitigated in an anarchic society than in a state Sidewalk entrepreneurship Coconuts, granola, motoconchos, and Kung Fu Panda 3 The importance of public space Homesteading public use of space in an anarchic society Community gathering spaces Co-housing Businesses within the home How immigrants can thrive Many of the things people do to get by in poorer countries are prohibited by zoning, building codes, licensing, and other restrictions in western countries. Main Streets created by commercial additions to residential buildings This isn’t trickle down economics – it’s “Build up” How governments prevent immigrants from thriving Immigration controls Zoning prohibits certain uses Zoning creates sprawl and reduces pedestrian traffic for small business Building codes restrict uses within buildings Restrictions on boarding houses Granny flats / in-law apartments Occupational licensure prevents immigrants from doing skilled work Bigotry, Xenophobia, and Racism The market puts a cost on discriminatory practices Supporting a “right” to not be forced to associate or disassociate with anyone else does not equal support of racist beliefs. “So there, we just solved racism!” Next episode: A borderless world is a stateless world. What does this look like, and how do we get there? Links/Resources Why Joe Became an Australian Citizen Muriel’s Wedding They’re a Weird Mob Another Aussie who came to the US Immigration and Crime – What the Research Says Sweden’s ultra-nationalist (and socialist) vigilantes How cultural enclaves overcome bigotry, and thrive The CATO Institute does excellent work dispelling common anti-immigration myths: Why Unemployment Is Lower When Immigration Is Higher Low-Skilled Immigrants Are Still Not Harming Low-Skilled Natives Visa Caps Are Protectionist Occupational Licenses on Steroids After Welfare Reform, Immigrants Thrived Without Federal Benefits How to Select Refugees for Private Sponsorship U.S. Muslims Become More Socially Liberal As Muslim Immigration Rises Muslims Rapidly Adopt U.S. Social Values Muslim Immigration and Integration in the United States and Western Europe The Choice: Legal Immigrants or Illegal Immigrants Common Arguments against Immigration Immigration and Terrorism New Research Finds that Immigrant Crime Is Still Low The “Vesper” martini: “A dry martini,” [Bond] said. “One. In a deep champagne goblet.” “Oui, monsieur.” “Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?” … “Excellent … but if you can get a vodka made with grain instead of potatoes, you will find it still better. Mais n’enculons pas des mouches” From “Casino Royale” by Ian Fleming Join the Conversation Use hashtag #ana007 to reference this episode in a tweet, post, or comment