Trump administration forcing Puerto Rico evacuees to pay for transportation

[Wizards Court]

[url]http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mark-cuban-pitbull-step-up-but-trump-administration-making-puerto-rico-evacuees-pay-2017-09-27[/url]
[url]http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/352824-trump-administration-forcing-puerto-rico-evacuees-to-pay-for[/url]

[IMG]http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_small_article/public/puertorico1_092617getty.jpg?itok=MGmK3c6h[/IMG]

[QUOTE]The Trump administration is reportedly forcing evacuees from Puerto Rico to sign promissory notes ensuring full repayment for transportation costs and is keeping evacuees' passports as collateral.

Market Watch reported on Thursday that the State Department is using a longstanding but discretionary policy to ensure that evacuees pay transportation costs, which are based on of “the price of the last commercial one-way, full-fare (not discounted) economy ticket prior to the crisis.”

Passports won't be returned to evacuees until payment is received, according to the news outlet, which cited the State Department's website.

“Upon evacuation, a Department of State official must limit an evacuee’s passport. In order to obtain a new passport, an evacuee must arrange payment as agreed upon via the promissory note," the website reads.

When those repayments can be made is a different story.

According to the State Department's website, the loans are managed "by the Comptroller and Global Financial Services office in Charleston, South Carolina," but cannot currently be repaid.

"Currently, loan repayments cannot be completed due to ongoing emergencies in the region. We will update travel.state.gov/evacuate as soon as repayments can be made," the State Department says.

The news comes as the Trump administration faces criticism for the pace of relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Most of the island's 3.4 million inhabitants are without drinking water, and electricity could be down on the island for up to 6 months.[/QUOTE]

The greatest president :v:

[Cutthecrap]

What's the problem with this? It goes in line with what most people who support Trump think. Nothing is free, you have to pay for it. Oh, you were born poor and can't afford basic stuff to have a decent life? Well, get a better paying job or stfu. Fucking democrats.

Thanks for voting Trump btw.

EDIT: No, it says discretionary. Yes, I read the article.

[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Shitpost - You can word this better without being a twat, also "get a better job" great argument, might wanna look up the situation with Puerto Rico before saying something retarded like that" - Reagy))[/highlight]

[Mifil]

[QUOTE=Cutthecrap;52725720]What's the problem with this? It goes in line with what most people who support Trump think. Nothing is free, you have to pay for it. Oh, you were born poor and can't afford basic stuff to have a decent life? Well, get a better paying job or stfu. Fucking democrats.

Thanks for voting Trump btw.

EDIT: No, it says discretionary. Yes, I read the article.[/QUOTE]

You really wanna force people whose lives' are ruined because of natural disasters to pay for transportation to safety? Please elaborate.

EDIT: I guess you won't.

[ghghop]

[QUOTE=Cutthecrap;52725720]What's the problem with this? It goes in line with what most people who support Trump think. Nothing is free, you have to pay for it. Oh, you were born poor and can't afford basic stuff to have a decent life? Well, get a better paying job or stfu. Fucking democrats.

Thanks for voting Trump btw.

EDIT: No, it says discretionary. Yes, I read the article.

[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Shitpost - You can word this better without being a twat, also "get a better job" great argument, might wanna look up the situation with Puerto Rico before saying something retarded like that" - Reagy))[/highlight][/QUOTE]
Was gonna ask about the shitty argument but Raegy ninja’d me :ok:

[Fulcrum]

[QUOTE=ghghop;52725754]Was gonna ask about the shitty argument but Raegy ninja’d me :ok:[/QUOTE]

they were being ironic

[Big Dumb Patriot]

In all likelihood, Trump had no idea that Puerto Ricans were Americans, and was furious when he found out that we were going to have to take in brown-skinned "Mexican" refugees. This is a "fuck you" to all the people of Puerto Rico, and yet one more example of this administration's agenda of racial supremacy.

[purvisdavid1]

What in the ever living fuck.

[Smug Bastard]

[QUOTE=Cutthecrap;52725720]What's the problem with this? It goes in line with what most people who support Trump think. Nothing is free, you have to pay for it. Oh, you were born poor and can't afford basic stuff to have a decent life? Well, get a better paying job or stfu. Fucking democrats.

Thanks for voting Trump btw.

EDIT: No, it says discretionary. Yes, I read the article.

[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Shitpost - You can word this better without being a twat, also "get a better job" great argument, might wanna look up the situation with Puerto Rico before saying something retarded like that" - Reagy))[/highlight][/QUOTE]

Are you a sociopath? Serious question, we need to establish this before trying to engage you in further debate.

[Sableye]

no vote in congress = no representation

if they had two senators and a few voting reps this would be a bit different

i get that it will take time to send supplies down there, both the airport and sea ports are a mess right now, but this admin is acting like they're someone else's problem when they're fucking americans, step up and stop doing shit like this.

[Octane]

It's because they're brown.

[Swiket]

[QUOTE=Mifil;52725735]You really wanna force people whose lives' are ruined because of natural disasters to pay for transportation to safety? Please elaborate.

EDIT: I guess you won't.[/QUOTE]

He was pretty obviously being facetious.

[Smug Bastard]

[QUOTE=Swiket;52725850]He was pretty obviously being facetious.[/QUOTE]

Have you read this guy's post history

[Mitsuma]

"America first" *except this unincorporated territory because it has brown-skinned people.
Its just mindboggling how he can even pull that shit.

[artdeco]

-snip-

[JennyC6]

What a massive pillock. Worst thing is he doesnt even profit from it. He gains nothing material by fuckng these folk over.

A+ presidenting, Trump. Get impeached already.
[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;52725793]they were being ironic[/QUOTE]

Reagy once again putting weight behind the saying 'Ironic shitposting is still shitposting'. :v:

[Ager]

That's some capitalist opportunism, if I ever saw any.
Gross.

[shaotek]

[url]https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/evacuated-citizens.html[/url]

Something that's existed before Trump's admin is somehow Trump's fault now :thinking:

[QUOTE]Will the U.S. government pay for my travel? How much will it cost?

Departure assistance is expensive. U.S. law 22 U.S.C. 2671(b) (2) (A) requires that any departure assistance be provided "on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable.” This means that evacuation costs are ultimately your responsibility; you will be asked to sign a form promising to repay the U.S. government. We charge you the equivalent of a full coach commercial fare on a comparable mode of transportation at the time that commercial travel ceases to be a viable option. You will be taken to a nearby safe location, where you will need to make your own onward travel arrangements. Typically, you will not have an opportunity to select the destination to which we will take you; it will be to the nearest safe location (only in rare circumstances will that be to the United States). [B] If you are destitute, and private resources are not available to cover the cost of onward travel, you may be eligible for emergency financial assistance.[/B][/QUOTE]

[URL="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/crisis-support.html"]state dept[/URL]

[Big Dumb Patriot]

[QUOTE=-nesto-;52726073][url]https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/evacuated-citizens.html[/url]

Something that's existed before Trump's admin is somehow Trump's fault now :thinking:

[URL="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/crisis-support.html"]state dept[/URL][/QUOTE]

[quote][B]discretionary[/b][/quote]

It's Trump's fault because Trump [I]specifically chose[/I] to enact a [I]discretionary[/I] (ie - [U]optional[/U]) measure to force Puerto Ricans to pay for help from the US mainland. This is not commonplace. Combine the unusual measure of forcing them to pay for their own relief with holding their passports hostage, and the hostile Tweets Trump levied against Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the hurricane, and it becomes exceedingly clear that he has a problem with Puerto Ricans. The reason why is clear as day: they are a brown skinned people with Hispanic origins who speak a dialect of the Spanish language. He is a man who is overtly sympathetic to white supremacist ideology, and Puerto Ricans fall under the blanket of groups that he has decided don't deserve to be in America.

[purvisdavid1]

Ok thanks for that Nesto, because on the one hand

[quote][B]U.S. citizens do not require a passport to travel from Puerto Rico to other parts of the United States. Check with your airline for identification requirements.[/B][/quote]

On the other hand, why they're making US citizens basically collateral their passports is mentioned no where in what you posted so that still applies. Why are they demanding their passports for emergency transportation that they should normally just provide?

[EcksDee]

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;52726127]Ok thanks for that Nesto, because on the one hand

On the other hand, why they're making US citizens basically collateral their passports is mentioned no where in what you posted so that still applies. Why are they demanding their passports for emergency transportation that they should normally just provide?[/QUOTE]

Imagine if Florida had asked for government assistance in evacuation, and he pulled this shit.

The white house would fucking be [B]ON FIRE [/B]in an hour. But because it's brown faux-Mexican US citizens, it's fine to hold their passports hostage until they've paid back the bill (while also having no roof over their head, no drinking water, no electricity).

The fact that Nesto is trying to defend this is fucking disgusting, and you should be ashamed at calling yourself an American.

[EmperorScorpious]

[QUOTE=Savage Octane;52725847]It's because they're brown.[/QUOTE]

Also because it's a place he doesn't have to worry about reelection votes for.

[shaotek]

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;52726119]It's Trump's fault because Trump [I]specifically chose[/I] to enact a [I]discretionary[/I] (ie - [U]optional[/U]) measure to force Puerto Ricans to pay for help from the US mainland. This is not commonplace. Combine the unusual measure of forcing them to pay for their own relief with holding their passport hostage, and the hostile Tweets Trump levied against Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the hurricane, and it becomes exceedingly clear that he has a problem with Puerto Ricans. The reason why is clear as day: they are a brown skinned people with Hispanic origins who speak a variant of the Spanish language. He is a man who is overtly sympathetic to white supremacist ideology, and Puerto Ricans fall under the blanket of groups that he has unfairly targeted.[/QUOTE]

This is only for flights run by the State Dept

The State Department is not an agency that carries out these types of evacuations. They [I]can[/I] handle small scale evacuations(mainly for State Dept personnel) but if you absolutely must use them, they will charge you. Even then they charge you the cost of a meager economy/coach ticket.

You have cruise ship lines giving free transport, airlines giving free transport, private citizens giving free transport. If you can afford it the State Dept can take you but they will charge you. If you are poor or have a medical emergency they will waive the fee.

So other than your baseless white supremacy bullshit, whats the issue BDA.

[Mr. Scorpio]

[QUOTE=-nesto-;52726252]This is only for flights run by the State Dept

The State Department is not an agency that carries out these types of evacuations. They [I]can[/I] handle small scale evacuations(mainly for State Dept personnel) but if you absolutely must use them, they will charge you. Even then they charge you the cost of a meager economy/coach ticket.

You have cruise ship lines giving free transport, airlines giving free transport, private citizens giving free transport. If you can afford it the State Dept can take you but they will charge you. If you are poor or have a medical emergency they will waive the fee.

So other than your baseless white supremacy bullshit, whats the issue BDA.[/QUOTE]

there really is no act that the trump administration can perform that's so craven you couldn't ignore it, is there

how does someone even become something like you

[Orpheus]

The government has a responsibility to keep its citizens safe. If the government lacks the ability to do this, they are derelict in their duty. The government has no right to force its citizens to pick up the slack for its own ineptitude.

And yes, the president is a fucking white supremacist sympathizer. It's not baseless bullshit, it's an obvious fact at this point. You're either ignorant or in denial if you think otherwise.

[shaotek]

[QUOTE=mcharest;52726283]The government has a responsibility to keep its citizens safe. If the government lacks the ability to do this, they are derelict in their duty. The government has no right to force its citizens to pick up the slack for its own ineptitude.

And yes, the president is a fucking white supremacist sympathizer. It's not baseless bullshit, it's an obvious fact at this point. You're either ignorant or in denial if you think otherwise.[/QUOTE]

It's not the State Dept's responsibility and they lack the funding for such evacuations, hence they charge for it. The other federal agencies are already handling it. FEMA and the USN aren't charging Puerto Ricans for aid. Only those that wish to fly out with the State Dept are being charged for it. Even then, if its a medical emergency its waived. If you cannot afford it, it can be waived.

[Orpheus]

Objectively, it is the responsibility of any government agency to render aid when they have the ability to do so. Saying "it's not their job" shows a profound lack of understanding for the severity of this particular disaster, and a general lack of willingness to hold the government accountable to its citizens.

In any case, the issue isn't so much whether it is or is not the state department's job to render aid in the event of a disaster; it is that if such a thing as this occurred in the mainland US, there would be widespread public outcry and it absolutely would be taken for granted that the state department should assist. The discrepancy comes from citizens and government officials alike not really caring about Puerto Rico--not really thinking of at as "real America." And that's when the prejudices of the president, his voters, and his administration come into play.

I'm sorry if the truth offends you, but this administration embodies white grievance politics and provincial racism moreso than any other in the past century. You can defend Trump all you want, you can be an apologist for his entire shit administration and its army of oligarchs and racists, but that's plain the truth.

[shaotek]

[QUOTE]Objectively, it is the responsibility of any government agency to render aid when they have the ability to do so. Saying "it's not their job" shows a profound lack of understanding for the severity of this particular disaster, and a general lack of willingness to hold the government accountable to its citizens.

In any case, the issue isn't so much whether it is or is not the state department's job to render aid in the event of a disaster; it is that if such a thing as this occurred in the mainland US, there would be widespread public outcry and it absolutely would be taken for granted that the state department should assist. The discrepancy comes from citizens and government officials alike not really caring about Puerto Rico--not really thinking of at as "real America." And that's when the prejudices of the president, his voters, and his administration come into play.

I'm sorry if the truth offends you, but this administration embodies white grievance politics and provincial racism moreso than any other in the past century. You can defend Trump all you want, you can be an apologist for his entire shit administration and its army of oligarchs and racists, but that's plain the truth.[/QUOTE]

There's 9,500 shipping containers full of aid in the port of San Juan waiting to be distributed to Puerto Ricans. There's over a dozen coast guard and navy ships conducting rescue and medical aid. FEMA is working to re-establish the infrastructure(roads, celltowers, power) to speed up land based aid. The National Guard are flying supplies where they can.

Really sounds like a white supremacist administration doing everything they can do make sure those icky brown people don't get help :rolleye:

I wonder what the left-wing Gov of Puerto Rico thinks about this. Surely he's in a fit of rage because the racist administration is ignoring him and his people.

[QUOTE]JOHN YANG: Governor, are you getting all the aid you need or getting it fast enough from the states?

GOV. RICARDO ROSSELLO: First of all, we are very grateful for the administration. They have responded quickly.

The president has been very attentive to the situation, personally calling me several times. FEMA and the FEMA director have been here in Puerto Rico twice. As a matter of fact, they were here with us today, making sure that all the resources in FEMA were working in conjunction with the central government.

We have been working together. We have been getting results. The magnitude of this catastrophe is enormous. This is going to take a lot of help, a lot of collaboration. So, my call is to congressmen and congresswomen to take action quickly and conclusively with an aid package for Puerto Rico.

We are in the midst of potentially having a humanitarian crisis here in Puerto Rico which would translate to a humanitarian crisis in the United States. So, I call upon Congress to take action immediately. You know, Puerto Ricans are proud U.S. citizens.

We have shown as much when Irma went through our region. It impacted us, but that didn’t stop us from going to the aid of other almost 4,000 U.S. citizens that were stranded in some of the islands. We gave them food, shelter. We make them out of harm’s way and we have them go back to their homes.

Now it is time for, you know, the U.S. citizens in the mainland to help Puerto Rico as well. And because we are a territory, we need to be equal, because we’re U.S. citizens, as would happen in any other state. The aftermath of this could be health emergencies, severe problems with infrastructure, and, of course, massive exodus of people of Puerto Rico, which would cause a tremendous demographic shift in Puerto Rico and in the United States.

[/QUOTE]

Ontop of this, the State Department(according to the markwatch source which updated their article recently) has commented on it

[QUOTE]“The Department of State is not facilitating evacuations from Puerto Rico, as it is a U.S. territory,” said Ashley Garrigus, press officer at the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.[/QUOTE]

So no one is being charged anything because they aren't running the flights at all.

[Reshy]

This is how trump is going to prevent a budget shortfall. It's flawless. Don't worry about the military spending increases!

[shaotek]

Marketwatch has walked back some of their claims, now changing it to Caribbean Islands instead of Puerto Rico(partially true, people evac'd from Dominica had to pay).

TheHill article headline has been changed to "State not requiring Puerto Rico evacuees to pay transportation costs"

And [URL="http://www.snopes.com/is-the-trump-administration-puerto-rico-evacuees/"]Snopes[/URL] did a fact check on the claim: Unproven

People from Puerto Rico aren't having their passports stripped from them until they pay the nasty racist Trump Administration.

[EcksDee]

[QUOTE=-nesto-;52726921]Marketwatch has walked back some of their claims, now changing it to Caribbean Islands instead of Puerto Rico(partially true, people evac'd from Dominica had to pay).

TheHill article headline has been changed to "State not requiring Puerto Rico evacuees to pay transportation costs"

And [URL="http://www.snopes.com/is-the-trump-administration-puerto-rico-evacuees/"]Snopes[/URL] did a fact check on the claim: Unproven

People from Puerto Rico aren't having their passports stripped from them until they pay the nasty racist Trump Administration.[/QUOTE]

Good news.

Doesn't change the administration.