Newsarama's Seth Robison took a tongue-in-cheek look at how toughening U.S. immigration laws could effectively turn our alien super-heroes from resident to illegal. "Luckily, buried deep within the US Code is Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part II, Section 1184(i)(1)(A) is the definition of a “Specialty Occupation” that is required to earn a H-1B work visa and stay in the United States." How might this exemption effect the Manhunter from Mars?
Name: J'onn J'onzz a/k/a John Jones a/k/a Martian Manhunter
Place of Origin: Mars (Sol 4)
Illegal Entry Location/Date: Detective Comics #225 (1955)
Method of Entry: Communications/teleportation experiment resulting in the supposedly accidental death of an American citizen (see: Erdel, Dr. Saul)
Section 1184(i)(1)(A) Qualifications: Mr. J’onzz posses a volume of meta-human abilities, most alarming include inhuman strength, the power of flight, density control, shape-shifting and telepathy.
Recommendation of Immigration board: Since his illegal entry, Mr. J’onzz has used his abilities in a positive manner, serving society in both his ‘human’ and super-heroic guises. However, given the nature of his entry into the United States and the disturbing implications of his mind-control powers it is recommended that Mr. J’onzz undergo a period of probation and close observation at a secure facility before citizenship or an H-1B work visa is granted.
Who wrote that recommendation-- King Faraday? Well, given J'Onn's well documented anti-authoritarian paranoia, its good to see INS cut him a break.
To see how how other geek culture foreigners fared, check out the rest of Robison's article.
9 comments:
This reminds me of that bit Alan Moore had in Swamp Thing #53, when the GCPD was prosecuting Abby for being in a relationship with ST.
Batman tells one of the cops that they probably need to arrest every non-human who is in a relationship with an earthling, ending with "The one who lives in Metropolis."
Considering how authoritarian most of the entries are, including suggesting that Kal-El be arrested and a violent criminal be used to solve inter-departmental squabbles -- a violation of U.S. law, I think that J'Onn would be justified to tell the INS to take a flying leap into a black hole. (He would be too polite to say it.)
Somehow, helping to save the planet a few times, thwarting an assassination attempt on President Reagan, and everything else does not cut it for J'Onn. Nor does it seem to for Kal-El or Norrin Radd.
I've always liked the idea that J'onn's abilities mean he doesn't have to deal with this sort of thing. He flaunts these sort of details with a quick shapeshift or an outright invisibilty. I see him as less naturalized, his belief system totally above our own.
These are not the droids you're looking for.
J'Onn also has his OWN planet and is potentially the wealthiest member of the Justice League. (Hmm, maybe J'Onn and Bruce Wayne should get together, make money of Mars, and reduce Lex Luthor to having to work at Starbucks!)
I also mentioned the Newsarama article and this blog on The Jeff Farias Show -- http://www.thejefffariasshow.com. (It is an internet radio show in the states, but it is carried live in Sweden.)
Will, tack så mycket!
Agreed. J'onn doesn't give a crap about money, but he recognizes it can be a force for good... The DC universe as run by me would basically have a benevolent oligarchy of J'onn, Batman, Blue Beetle, Power Girl... who else is rich? Gunfire?
Isn't Gunfire dead?
This reminds me of that Harley Quinn issue where she asks J'onn if he has a green card because he's an "alien." It was kinda funny. Or, at least, it made me laugh.
Not in my world... SCREW YOU ROBINSON/PROMETHEUS!!!!
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