Interesting Encounter at IAH
Feb 24, 2017, 10:51 am
#16
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As I understand the policy (DoD employee), if a US traveller is carrying classified material in a designated, sealed courier container, and holding a courier letter from their workplace security office, then CBP is not supposed to open the container. They can call the appropriate home office to verify the identity of the traveller and validity of their courier letter.
I've never had to carry a classified "live" device like a laptop or classified phone while travelling. But I would think rules would require those to also be in a secured container while in such a public setting, I know we're not even supposed to take a classified laptop out of the secured part of our building. Either way, I would imagine the courier status exception applies.
Government-owned electronic equipment other than classified courier material IS subject to CBP search. Since CBP is legitimate federal law enforcement, our guidance is that we are expected to cooperate with such requests while on official travel with government-owned equipment -- it's the US government searching its own property, after all.
I've never had to carry a classified "live" device like a laptop or classified phone while travelling. But I would think rules would require those to also be in a secured container while in such a public setting, I know we're not even supposed to take a classified laptop out of the secured part of our building. Either way, I would imagine the courier status exception applies.
Government-owned electronic equipment other than classified courier material IS subject to CBP search. Since CBP is legitimate federal law enforcement, our guidance is that we are expected to cooperate with such requests while on official travel with government-owned equipment -- it's the US government searching its own property, after all.
You're right. The courier letter should do the trick, including the 24/7 verification number if necessary. Fortunately, wide-spread improvements in JWICS and SIPRNET happened about the time the TSA was hatched which significantly reduced the possibility of a zealot deciding he or she was going to tear into your package of documents.
Feb 24, 2017, 12:20 pm
#17
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Feb 24, 2017, 1:42 pm
#18
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NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement:
We protect marine fisheries, wildlife, and habitat by enforcing domestic laws, international treaties, and obligations to ensure these global resources are available for future generations to use and enjoy. We are the only federal law enforcement agency fully dedicated to the enforcement of federal fishery regulations. Our work supports NOAA Fisheries’ core mission mandates—maximizing productivity of sustainable fisheries and fishing communities and protection, recovery, and conservation of protected species.
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Export Enforcement:
EE consists of the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), the Office of Enforcement Analysis (OEA), and the Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC). Together with BIS’s licensing officers and policy staff, EE employees apply their law enforcement and export control expertise to prevent and deter exports of the most sensitive items to illicit end-users and uses, to embargoed destinations, and to ensure that parties involved in U.S. commercial transactions do not engage in prohibited boycott activities.
Feb 24, 2017, 2:00 pm
#19
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Commerce LE folks do a couple of really important functions:
NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement:
...and...
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Export Enforcement:
NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement:
...and...
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Export Enforcement:
Feb 24, 2017, 4:20 pm
#20
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I don't know the current number, but there used to be 34 different law enforcement agencies in DC. I'm sure the number is higher now. Growing up, we all knew this personally. If you were white and had a drunken incident in Georgetown, usually Uniformed Secret Service would magically appear. If you were black, you got Metropolitan Police. Not be confused with Metro Transit Police, or the Postal Police, or the Park Service Police, or Capitol Police, or the Housing Authority Police, or any of the others. Getting busted by the Smithsonian Institute Police was particularly embarrassing. The Amtrak Police could be real buttheads too but they rarely appeared west of North Capitol St.
Feb 24, 2017, 7:01 pm
#21
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Feb 25, 2017, 4:23 am
#22
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That's how they catch people. Your non verbal answer is often more important than your verbal. Many referrals to secondary are the result of how you respond, instead of what you say.
Employment/employer type questions are pretty standard at primary.
Employment/employer type questions are pretty standard at primary.
Feb 25, 2017, 4:28 am
#23
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I've had similar questions coming back from Canada, asked very casually and when I told him my employer he followed up with a semi-relevant question. It was at preclearance in Montreal and the agent in question had been very obviously chatty already even to the other agents so it didn't seem particularly odd. Boredom as much as anything, and in the days before there were kiosks so a live person had to at least look at every passport.
If they ask for access to something that would give them access to classified information I'd guess you should tell them "sorry, no, you need permission from DOE (or whoever)"
If they ask for access to something that would give them access to classified information I'd guess you should tell them "sorry, no, you need permission from DOE (or whoever)"
You can learn a lot in terms of how well someone can carry on a conversation. Bona fide travellers would have no problem, those who can't need to be looked at more closely
Feb 26, 2017, 4:24 pm
#24
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I collect passport stamps, especially ones from POEs I don't have yet, and last year I asked the agent at the exit of the GE Area in BOS for a stamp. He wasn't saying anything to people but as soon as I asked for the stamp he asked me the first four questions the OP was asked. Kind of odd, if I was up to something you'd think I wouldn't draw attention to myself by talking to an agent.
Feb 27, 2017, 1:33 am
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A few weeks ago there was an order given to ramp up secondary searches and be "stronger" at the border and ports of entry. It's still hard to figure out how that translates into specific numbers at this point, but you can bet that some CBP employees itching for excuses to further hassle passengers have gotten what they want and are doing so.
Feb 27, 2017, 2:30 am
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Feb 27, 2017, 3:37 am
#27
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Trump gave yet another public indication of that in a speech yesterday, and DHS/CBP sources have also privately confirmed before and after that along these lines: "not fake news, we got the message and already acted on it".
You're welcome to make of this what you wish, but they meant secondaries too.
You're welcome to make of this what you wish, but they meant secondaries too.