How to stand up to abusive CBP officers
Jan 6, 2015, 9:31 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
What I don't get is how I can enter the UK by just swiping my UK passport and never speak to a single official upon arrival at Heathrow but when returning here with my US passport I have to go through this ridiculous process of being interrogated every time (despite having Global Entry). And don't get me started on Canada, despite being a citizen of that country too! I have had more pleasant border crossings in Saudi Arabia, Russia and Burma than I have in my own country fer crissakes. </rant off>
Jan 6, 2015, 10:55 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 22
Lets not go there, I felt like I wasn't even a human the way I had my passport and green card thrown at me.. and then pushed into a small room with a LOT of other people, no cell reception to call my waiting friend.
Then I was yelled at by a young guy, (25 ish) asian, who barely spoke english! And this was at Dulles..
Then I was yelled at by a young guy, (25 ish) asian, who barely spoke english! And this was at Dulles..
Jan 7, 2015, 12:30 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
They rarely care you are a US citizen. Even after showing your US PP. They still treat you as unwanted criminals and ask you questions that has ZERO to do with protecting the country or its citizen. being asked to speak out my citizenship or why and where I went to to why and when did I first come to US and why my name is different from my wife or baby's.. It is as if you are a criminal standing in front of a harsh judge. They don't give a da**n about your Constitutional right as a citizen of the country!
Last edited by Blueskyheaven; Jan 7, 2015 at 12:36 am
Jan 7, 2015, 12:54 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
I am a US citizen and was carrying my US passport, US PP card and our families too had all the valid docs. Never got talked to as unwanted illegal criminals on Canadian side but coming back home has been PIA at the border.
They rarely care you are a US citizen. Even after showing your US PP. They still treat you as unwanted criminals and ask you questions that has ZERO to do with protecting the country or its citizen.
They rarely care you are a US citizen. Even after showing your US PP. They still treat you as unwanted criminals and ask you questions that has ZERO to do with protecting the country or its citizen.
Worst I ever experienced was a rather friendly guy doing something I felt highly inappropriate - asking to see my British passport, and thumbing through it for stamps. And yes, I can understand he was looking for indicators for customs concerns, and like I said I generally support that. But I guess the symbolic nature in this case made it seem over the top...
Jan 7, 2015, 12:55 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Programs: Hyatt Global, Marriot Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,282
I'm an American citizen. My private life is my private life. If my government wants to question me about it, I have the right to tell them nothing. That doesn't change because I want to go abroad for awhile, just like it doesn't change that they tax me on my foreign income even if I don't set foot inside the US for entire year.
If you're an American citizen, then you receive benefits derived from that citizenship even if you are not in the country during a calendar year.
If you don't wish to pay American taxes, no problem. Just renounce your American citizenship and its benefits.
Jan 7, 2015, 1:00 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
The US is the only developed country in the world that taxes overseas citizens, and the benefits one receives are minor. Renouncing citizenship is neither easy, nor cheap ($2500 processing fee).
Jan 7, 2015, 1:02 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,622
Anything you bring across the border is subject to search, passports from other countries are not sacred, and they can certainly contain information about potential drug trafficking.
I'd much prefer if they just silently searched my bags and identity documents and didn't interrogate me.
Jan 7, 2015, 1:07 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
I'm kind of surprised that you defend their questioning of US citizens in earlier posts as necessary to keep drugs out of the US, but then you find it highly inappropriate that they would look through a second passport and thumbing through it to see your travel history.
Anything you bring across the border is subject to search, passports from other countries are not sacred, and they can certainly contain information about potential drug trafficking.
I'd much prefer if they just silently searched my bags and identity documents and didn't interrogate me.
Anything you bring across the border is subject to search, passports from other countries are not sacred, and they can certainly contain information about potential drug trafficking.
I'd much prefer if they just silently searched my bags and identity documents and didn't interrogate me.
I know, it's not logical, since I do defend the importance of that information and the right to question you, but there's something symbolic and over-stepping about searching through your foreign passport to me.
Jan 7, 2015, 1:49 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
Today at IAH the customs agent asked if my parents spoke English which is totally irrelevant to asking us what we are bringing in our luggage's. Just because I was answering all the questions.
Wish we could file a complaint that would effect that persons record.
So far IAH has had the best CBP for the 20+ years I've been entering the U.S. from a foreign country.
Wish we could file a complaint that would effect that persons record.
So far IAH has had the best CBP for the 20+ years I've been entering the U.S. from a foreign country.
Jan 7, 2015, 3:04 am
#26
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
Today at IAH the customs agent asked if my parents spoke English which is totally irrelevant to asking us what we are bringing in our luggage's. Just because I was answering all the questions.
Wish we could file a complaint that would effect that persons record.
So far IAH has had the best CBP for the 20+ years I've been entering the U.S. from a foreign country.
Wish we could file a complaint that would effect that persons record.
So far IAH has had the best CBP for the 20+ years I've been entering the U.S. from a foreign country.
But it's also something that needs to be asked very politely, with respect, no sarcasm, etc. You were there, you know how it was asked - I don't. But I don't think it's inherently a bad question.
Jan 7, 2015, 4:55 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 288
Well, let's see. At the airport I've been sent to secondary a couple times, but I'm okay with that - like I said, I understand the necessity. They're just usually rude, even at primary. Actually, I think the secondary people are much nicer to deal with!
Now, land crossings are another story. OMG... they're just jerks. One time I was pulled inside for secondary once and literally screamed at for about 45 minutes about how he had my criminal record and he knew everything I'd been up to and he knew I was coming up to work, so just admit it. Actually, I have no criminal record and I was coming up to catch a flight out of Calgary - I had tickets and nothing to hide so I just stuck to the truth and eventually it was over and I was sent on my way, but the experience was horrible.
Other times, they've just been rude and/or stupid. I took some Taiwanese kids up to Calgary (it's the closest real city to here) to go shopping once, the idiot tried to tell them they needed visas to get into Canada. She had the wrong China, of course (Taiwan is legally the Republic of China). She looked embarrassed when we pointed that out after she looked it up (YES, she had to look it up) but made no apology.
.
But the worst was the screaming. That guy has never pulled me inside again, but he always makes it a point to be a rude arse. CBSA at the land border watch too many "how to be a moronic dumb arse of a cop" shows, and have no real knowledge.
But nah, to be fair, no complaints at the airports. They're just grumpy usually, better than US CBP airport staff are.
Now, land crossings are another story. OMG... they're just jerks. One time I was pulled inside for secondary once and literally screamed at for about 45 minutes about how he had my criminal record and he knew everything I'd been up to and he knew I was coming up to work, so just admit it. Actually, I have no criminal record and I was coming up to catch a flight out of Calgary - I had tickets and nothing to hide so I just stuck to the truth and eventually it was over and I was sent on my way, but the experience was horrible.
Other times, they've just been rude and/or stupid. I took some Taiwanese kids up to Calgary (it's the closest real city to here) to go shopping once, the idiot tried to tell them they needed visas to get into Canada. She had the wrong China, of course (Taiwan is legally the Republic of China). She looked embarrassed when we pointed that out after she looked it up (YES, she had to look it up) but made no apology.
.
But the worst was the screaming. That guy has never pulled me inside again, but he always makes it a point to be a rude arse. CBSA at the land border watch too many "how to be a moronic dumb arse of a cop" shows, and have no real knowledge.
But nah, to be fair, no complaints at the airports. They're just grumpy usually, better than US CBP airport staff are.
At the airport, I have been detained for hours, I've been told they have "discovered child porn" on my computer, that I was "going to be arrested," that they "found drugs", all kinds of nonsense. Last time they only let me go after I started screaming "you are a bunch of lying scumbags" at three of them. I've had them damage valuable artworks that had been carefully packed, and multiple complaints have produced no result.
That said, the CBP is still worse -- they have been repeatedly sued for these things.
Last edited by essxjay; Jan 14, 2015 at 12:52 am Reason: bypassing the profanity filter
Jan 7, 2015, 4:58 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 288
Its not the only "developed" country that taxes non-residents. It's the only country of any kind that does so, except Eritrea, and the United States joined most of the rest of the UN General Assembly in voting for a resolution that labelled Eritrea a human rights violator for the practice.
Jan 7, 2015, 6:21 am
#29
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: DL DM 360, Qatar Plat, Etihad Silver, MR Plat
Posts: 149
Bottom line is if you are a U.S. citizen, it's your right not to answer the questions. While they can't refuse you entry, don't get upset when YOUR actions causes you a delay. I can't for the life of me understand what is wrong with a border agent asking you where you've been and what your bringing back into the country.
Jan 7, 2015, 7:01 am
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Bottom line is if you are a U.S. citizen, it's your right not to answer the questions. While they can't refuse you entry, don't get upset when YOUR actions causes you a delay. I can't for the life of me understand what is wrong with a border agent asking you where you've been and what your bringing back into the country.
Cry me a river, but don't expect all innocent people to follow the "don't get upset" cry when they are hassled while innocent and being subjected to a law enforcement dragnet/fishing expedition.
..... the U.S. and Canada are rather unique in the world when it comes to how frequently and extensively they hassle returning citizens even as the US and Canada hold no monopoly on types of customs and border control challenges. That just means we should ask why the US and Canada border control agents behave this way and get away with it with general impunity. Unfortunately, the answer to such a question is that the people in these countries have the paranoid/suspicious/hostile government and government employees and practices which we/they deserve.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jan 7, 2015 at 7:12 am