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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJazz great, former Oscar Peterson drummer Alvin Queen, denied entry into USA. He was born here!
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (PRWEB) OCTOBER 09, 2017
Mr. Queen, the former drummer for Oscar Peterson, whose career includes memorable collaborations with a veritable whos who of music royalty, including Nina Simone, Horace Silver, George Benson, Ruth Brown, Buddy DeFranco, Wynton Marsalis, Billy Taylor, Wild Bill Davis, George Coleman, George Braith, Larry Young, Harry Sweets Edison and Johnny Griffin, was set to perform at a concert in Washington, DC on November 15th, 2017, at the behest of The French-American Cultural Foundation.
The evening, entitled JAZZ MEETS FRANCE, has Wynton Marsalis as its Honorary Chairman, and Dr. David Skorton , Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution , is Master of Ceremonies. The event marks the centenary of the US entry into WWI and specifically honors the Harlem Hellfighters . Ironically, these were the African-American soldiers who served in WWI, and who introduced jazz music to France and the rest of Europe, yet whom were never officially honored, until now.
Mr. Queen, who has held a Swiss passport for thirty years, was informed this week that, due to a run-in with the law as a youth, a half century ago, while a minor, he would have to apply for a Waiver from the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, despite the fact he was born in the USA. This would take months, making it virtually impossible to participate, barring Presidential decree, and we know thats unlikely. But this is not fake news.
Sadly, this doesnt surprise me one bit, comments Mr. Queen, 67, from his home in Geneva. Ive spent months preparing for this concert. Dozens of others are also implicated in its planning. Funny thing, I gave up my U.S. passport to make life simpler at tax time. I never dreamed I would one day be denied entry, and with such ridiculous reasoning. I am frankly disgusted to be disrespected in this way, after a half century devoted to music.
Mr. Queen, who until 2016 held dual citizenship with the United States and Switzerland, has previously worked numerous times for the US State Department as a Cultural Ambassador, and participated in numerous tours of Brazil, Africa and Japan. Queen also performed at the American International Jazz Day in Paris several years ago.
Mr. Queen has held a U.S. passport, and regularly worked under the auspices of the American government, for over fifty years of his life. Like many citizens, hes had brushes with the law, but these have never impeded his ability to enter and exit his native country. A one-time DWI charge and a minor drug offense both resulted in not guilty charges.
For this occasion, the US State Dept had only to apply for an O1B Work Visa in order for Mr Queen to enter in the United States. This was done correctly, but after the process was completed, fingerprints matching a 1967 FBI file were dredged up and presented as a reason to prevent him from entering the USA. So now we can see that the infamous travel ban is not limited to citizens of Sudan, Syria, and Iran. It extends to a then 16-year-old drummer who once sat in with John Coltrane.
How can you process someone fifty years later for charges that occurred when they were a youth, a mere child? And why punish this now acclaimed adult, a leading light on the international jazz scene, who is now 67 years old? He obviously forged a path and created a fabulous life for himself. Adds Queen, I feel this is more about racial profiling than anything. Its all about trying to control everyone. I am not a criminal and in fact never was. When I became a Swiss citizen, I became a criminal again in the eyes of US law enforcement. If I was undesirable fifty years ago, why have I been issued a fresh passport every ten years for the past six decades? Indeed, this is the question.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/10/prweb14775926.htm
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)AJT
(5,240 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)Because of this, he's no different than any other foreign national seeking entry into the United States.
[link:http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7990197/jazz-drummer-alvin-queen-denied-entry-us|
So basically he's whining because he doesn't want the responsibilities of US citizenship but he wants the privileges such as unfettered entry and when he doesn't get it he cries racism.
Finding it hard to have empathy.
roomtomove
(217 posts)See my post below.
quakerboy
(13,923 posts)Does not refute the charge.
He didnt want to deal with the US tax system. He gave up citizenship in order to not have to deal with the responsibilities of being a us citizen. Fair enough, but that does have a cost as well.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)By his own admission (see quote above) Queen didn't want to have to report his earnings which brings a possible tax liability. However he damn well expects that he should have the privileges that come with US citizenship.
iluvtennis
(19,890 posts)SCantiGOP
(13,874 posts)Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)His arrest record appears to make him inadmissible under US immigration law without a waiver. His fans and supporters can always lobby for a change in the law.
azureblue
(2,155 posts)Don't post. Let me explain thsi to you and I'll type real slow for you: He is earning money from foreign sources. Got it so far? Good. the problems come with how to classify those earnings since surprise! the rest of the world doesn't classify earnings the same was the US does. Especially if a musician is receiving a stipend from a foreign country, something the US doesn't have a category for. Also, there is the matter of how to deduct taxes paid to the country the person resides in, on US taxes. Let alone how foreign countries handle self employment income. The problems arise from trying to properly file US taxes as a self employed musician receiving income from private and government sources, for more than one country, in amounts that are relatively small. I bet you didn't even know that European countries have funds set aside to pay musicians to perform, did you? So think of it - he plays Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain, and gets checks from each country. In Europe, this is common and they have a manageable way of handling it. The US, nope. So that is why he gave up his US citizenship. He probably had too many instances of filing US taxes and the IRS gives him a hard time because they don't understand multi national "gig" income. And all the while, he does not benefit from US citizenship.
But you did have to say something about something you are clueless on.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)He gave up his citizenship which means all the regs applying to foreign citizens seeking entry apply to him as well. That's like telling your landlord "I'm moving out and I'm removing my name from the lease" and then expecting that he let you into the apartment like you still live there. It doesn't work that way.
Now on to your schooling me on how it is: the law which is causing this headache was written by Democrats, passed by a Democratic congress and signed into law by a Democratic president.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)He did a good job of burying the lead, though.
"Funny thing, I gave up my U.S. passport to make life simpler at tax time."
Uh huh.
Someone gave him bad advice.
roomtomove
(217 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)Gave up his citizenship. And apparently to avoid taxes.
Unless I find he is being treated differently than other foreign nationals then that's just too bad.
roomtomove
(217 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)US citizens must pay taxes to the US regardless of the taxes they pay in the country they choose to live. He did not want to pay both.
He gave up his citizenship, which is cool to me. But now he wants the benefits of citizenship. Sucks to be him.
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)and you get tax credits for foreign taxes paid to offset against US tax liability. However the US is one of only two countries on the planet that taxes on the basis of citizenship rather than residency, and recent changes in US reporting rules have made renouncing citizenship look a lot more attractive to Americans who've been living abroad for years and have no intention of returning to the USA to live (the financial reporting requirements have made it much harder for US citizens to open accounts with banks outside the USA for instance; a lot of banks would rather not have any business from Americans at all, rather than have to deal with the reporting requirements).
rainin
(3,011 posts)but to avoid double taxation -- Swiss and US.
cstanleytech
(26,342 posts)in his case is the chance to be denied entry into the United States.
OregonBlue
(7,755 posts)they have not been in the United States in years and have no intention of going to the US. Wasn't that a major change that was pushed through a few years ago? It was something really crazy.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)It was introduced by Charles Rangel and signed by President Obama in 2010.
OregonBlue
(7,755 posts)people who are not wealthy end up reporting. However, at the time this was first enacted my sister and her family, who are low/middle income American/Canadians were being told they would have to file every year in the states even though they didn't live here. Canada was very confused about what the law did and didn't require for a while.
riversedge
(70,381 posts)problems. why is this stuff still on record. And why releasing the specifics?
...Mr. Queen, who has held a Swiss passport for thirty years, was informed this week that, due to a run-in with the law as a youth, a half century ago, while a minor, he would have to apply for a Waiver from the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, despite the fact he was born in the USA. This would take months, making it virtually impossible to participate, barring Presidential decree, and we know thats unlikely. But this is not fake news. .................
roomtomove
(217 posts)The tax rates in Switzerland are much higher. Mr Queen just chose to live in Switzerland rather than the US. If you are familiar with US tax law, it is extremely burdensome if you live abroad, which is why he gave up his passport, and NOT because of less tax burden. I have dual Swiss/US passports and was born in Switzerland, and would consider moving back except for the taxes, and the complicated US tax laws for those living abroad.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)Either way he's now the same as any other Swiss national trying to gain entry here.
tomp
(9,512 posts)Apparently, you don't have to be a Republican for that.
SCantiGOP
(13,874 posts)Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)There is nothing heartless about saying that someone who VOLUNTARILY gave up his citizenship so he didn't have to tell Uncle Sam about his earnings and dodge possible US taxes is a hypocrite for demanding the US admit him on the basis he was born here, just like a citizen.
The law is the law. He gave up his passport. He is not a US citizen. This is not a Trump thing. It is the law. A foreign national with a criminal record wants in.
I agree it looks like chickenshit, but the people responsible for enforcing our laws do not get to become an immigration judge. They enforce the laws on the book. He could have and should have had this cleared up before renouncing his citizenship. And I bet he does now.
I do not appreciate being called a creep for supporting the rule of law.
Have a nice evening.
Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)I would say, I certainly hope not. It this is how we vet someone who wants to come for a couple of days, has been here to visit numerous times, and now is denied entry because someone decided that a minor run-in with the law 50+ years ago, they we have a REAL problem with the lunatics actually running the asylum.
I suspect that it has much more with the fact that someone suddenly noticed that he wasn't white!
How many terrorists have you heard of worldwide who were Swiss!
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)My friend Aurelia, a WHITE Canadian, had to apply for a waiver due to her conviction for bashing a cop in the head during a demonstration in Montreal.
jmowreader
(50,571 posts)Shouldn't he have had his record automatically expunged?
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)whether hes a citizen or not.
Mariana
(14,861 posts)It may be the individual has to request that juvenile records be sealed or destroyed or whatever.
LittleGirl
(8,292 posts)until March and my spouse is still living there. This is very upsetting for me. I have several American friends in Germany and Switzerland that are tired of filing taxes to the US every year. (It's a pain in the ass and very expensive). Two of them have talked about getting their swiss citizenship (spouses are natives) and want to stop filing taxes every year. One of them had to pay literally 5 bucks in taxes and it cost more than that to mail it from Switzerland to the IRS. You have no idea the issues that come with living abroad, working and trying to raise a family and aren't tax dodgers or millionaires. Just folks living the dream of living abroad and getting tired of the IRS issues that come with being American.
Some of the comments above really upset me. You have no idea what it's like to try to live abroad. We had trouble getting a bank that would take us because we're American! The IRS is not something that the foreign governments and banks should have to comply with. I can see their issues but getting your bank account frozen for three weeks was emotionally upsetting and caused undue stress.
FYI, Tina Turner has been a Swiss citizen for years and gave up her citizenship recently too.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Theyre rude and heartless. Now you where the term ugly American comes from.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)Know people abroad who were all for FATCA when they thought it was sticking it to millionaires but when they found out it applied to them, they suddenly developed fits of sputtering indignation.
That's beside the point.
What's the issue here is that Alvin Queen told the US government he didn't want to be American anymore because he didn't want to disclose his income which might have opened him up to tax liability but he's livid that same government won't grant him entry rights of a US citizen.
LittleGirl
(8,292 posts)You can't give up your citizenship until you've processed the past 10 yrs of income reporting. That way if you owe taxes or have a refund coming, you're up to date before you can give up your citizenship.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT here. You cannot give up citizenship until the IRS clears your last 10 yrs of income filing and trust me, they will audit your ass down to the penny if you tell them you want to give up citizenship. They made it harder the past couple of years because so many people were giving it up! You just can't give up your citizenship, it's an expensive proposal too. That part is what most people in the US don't understand. The IRS made it harder to do this and trust me, us poor middle class folks just working for a living don't need that shit from a government in a country that they don't live in. That's what it means to be taxed without representation. No other country in the world makes their citizens file tax information but the U.S.
And income tax in Switzerland is 10%. Sales tax is 19%. I don't know what property tax is there but it's the most expensive country in Europe to live in.
mackdaddy
(1,530 posts)Miss the point much?