Going to America

America! It has an incredibly high opinion of itself, but I am willing to concede there is no greater country in the world in between Canada and Mexico. It thinks everyone wants a piece of it, is just dying to cross its borders and live there for ever and ever. ICE is Trump's fever dream. We all know about New Zealand mum Sarah Shaw and her 6-year-old son being detained for three weeks at an ICE detention facility in Texas. Anyone wanting a visa is sent on a fool's errand.

- Steve Braunias

America! Message from the US Consulate: “Under US law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not.” The first thing you are advised when you seek a visa to the US is to delete all your social media. But they ask you for all your social media handles for the past five years when you send in your forms for an interview at the consulate. So many forms; when an appointment for an interview is confirmed, you are ordered to arrive with yet more forms.