Italian rock group Soviet Soviet yesterday arrived at the Seattle airport in the United States to participate in the SxSw festival. However, the experience turned into a nightmare when trying to pass strict immigration controls. In an extensive post through Facebook, the band explains that their record label would have provided them with a letter explaining that the shows they would present in the country were merely promotional, so they did not need a work visa. "We were all called and questioned in 3 different rooms, and after almost four hours his verdict was to deny us entry to the United States and deport us to Italy."
If this were not enough, the gang reports that their cell phones were confiscated and they were arrested. “They denied us the possibility of contacting our families or our loved ones. Around 10:30 PM two officers searched us, handcuffed us, and took us to a prison on patrol. In jail we spent the whole night and were escorted as vile criminals. The next day and after all the routine procedures in a jail [they booked us, we did health tests, they interrogated us and we had to sign], an agent came to pick us up, handcuffed us again, and took us on patrol.
Even though we showed that we were going on a promotional tour, there was no way to convince the agents. Suddenly we become illegal immigrants and criminals. "
