Irish Lawmaker Uses JD Vance Meme to Protest US Immigration Policy Amid Tourist Detention

DUBLIN, IRELAND – An Irish lawmaker has sparked debate by using a meme of a bald U.S. Senator J.D. Vance to protest new American immigration policies. Ivana Bacik, a Labour Party Member of Parliament, displayed the image during a parliamentary session, advocating against the recently introduced U.S. immigration rules. The new regulations, which have drawn criticism, reportedly require applicants for F, M, or J non-immigrant visas to set their social media accounts to public. This measure is intended to facilitate vetting processes necessary for establishing identity and admissibility to the United States. The controversy intensified following an incident involving a young Norwegian tourist. The tourist was reportedly detained at Newark Airport after U.S. immigration authorities discovered an image of J.D. Vance on his phone. The incident has been cited by critics as an example of the broad and potentially intrusive nature of the new social media vetting requirements.