“AS the agency charged with determining admissibility of aliens at ports of entry, under the United States immigration law [Section 291 of the Immigration Nationality Act] applicants for admission bear the burden of proof to establish that they are clearly eligible to enter the U.S.,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection public affairs officer Scott Heatherly said in an email.
In order to demonstrate that they are admissible, the applicant must overcome all grounds of inadmissibility, Heatherly added.
Recently, 17 K-pop performers and support crew from South Korea were denied entry to Saipan by USCBP officers at the island’s international airport because they didn’t have the required performing visa entry.
Heatherly said, “The United States has been and continues to be a welcoming nation.”
“USCBP not only protects U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in the country but also wants to ensure the safety of our international travelers who come to visit, study, and conduct legitimate business in our country,” Heatherly added.
The K-pop performers arrived at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 and were sent back to South Korea on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.
The musical artists were supposed to perform in a free concert set for Oct. 28 and 29, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Organized by P&A Corporation in coordination with the Saipan Mayor’s Office, the concert was canceled.
A CBP official who declined to be identified said, “The performers were instructed to lie to CBP officials to say that they are coming in as tourists. The performers are trying to circumvent the CNMI-visa program.”
But the K-pop concert directors and some stage engineers were allowed entry to the CNMI as tourists, Variety learned.
