This anecdote does nothing to detract from the central point, stated again: "Billions of people live fulfilling lives without ever stepping foot in the United States."

How many billions and who defines "fulfilling"? Much of the world actually lives in poverty.

It's also kind of a silly point to make when we're talking about a guy who already set foot in the United States. Why did he come to the United States if he was perfectly fulfilled in his home country where he was facing the threat of being kidnapped? I think it's unlikely he'll want to visit again, but it's not like his initial visit was really under what some would consider voluntary circumstances.