Texas kids got raw deal at Dublin Airport
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“And they are obviously downplaying their answers in this interview. Who is your friend? ‘A person.’ Come on! They were being rude and disrespectful frat boys who deserved a rude awakening. Congrats to the official.”
Those who side with the young men say that they were clearly three kids on a backpacking holiday, they had arranged to contact someone who would get them accommodation and that they were like tens of thousands of others who travel to Europe, starting in Ireland, every year, in search of adventure and experience.
The other side believes that the immigration officer, similar to any officer here in the U.S., was definitely within her rights to refuse them entry if they had no forwarding address. In this day and age of global terrorism a country can never be too careful.
The Irish people themselves appear to have spoken out in clear fashion. They believe the young men were wronged, and an outpouring of Irish hospitality has since become evident. They are now receiving free meals, accommodation and many other comforts to make their stay enjoyable.
I agree with the Irish people that the immigration officer acted way too hastily. Sure, they were not well dressed, had no forwarding address and were clearly backpackers -- but they were certainly not terrorists.
At a time when Ireland needs every American tourist it can get, it was a very strange move to forbid the men entry based on a spurious reason that they had no direct address.
One of the young men showed his online bank account with over $10,000 in it. That should surely have been enough to satisfy the immigration officer.
All is well that ends well, however, and the young men deserve the great welcome they got.
First off the mark was Anthony Kelly of D4 Hotels, which has given the trio an all-expenses trip to make up for the "misunderstanding."
"They got to get a massive Irish welcome... we are delighted to have them here,” he said.
Good for Kelly and good for the boys. They deserved a huge Cead Mile Failte in my opinion.
