Italian post-punk band Soviet Soviet not allowed in the US, where they had to give a concert at the SXSW festival, and was expelled from the country as illegal migrants. This team was announced on his page in Facebook.
As told by the musicians, and American customs officers detained them on March 8 at the airport in Seattle, knowing that they came to speak to US. Participants Soviet Soviet were interrogated for four hours, after which the decision was made to deport them.
The invitation from the organizers of the SXSW festival, and a certificate from the American label, confirming that the band will perform in the US, only in a promotional purpose, without financial reward, were not taken into account. According to employees of the customs surveillance service, the musicians had to get a work visa, not a tourist.
“Our explanations are not acted on by officials, from that moment we became illegal immigrants, we were treated like criminals,” — said the Italian.
The musicians handcuffed, they took away the mobile phones and sent to a prison cell where they spent the night. The next day they also handcuffed and brought to the airport, and personal belongings gave just before the return flight to Italy.
In his address, the Soviet Soviet apologized to American fans for the failure of touring and expressed hope for a quick return to the United States.