Can a US citizen be denied entry back into the USA?
Apr 26, 2006, 9:07 pm
#1
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Can a US citizen be denied entry back into the USA?
Can a US citizen be denied entry back into the USA?
(a 100% law-abiding citizen with a valid US passport)
Is there somewhere in the law books or the Constitution
that guarantees a US citizen's right of entry?
Thanks!
(a 100% law-abiding citizen with a valid US passport)
Is there somewhere in the law books or the Constitution
that guarantees a US citizen's right of entry?
Thanks!
Apr 26, 2006, 9:14 pm
#2
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Originally Posted by cargoship
Can a US citizen be denied entry back into the USA?
(a 100% law-abiding citizen with a valid US passport)
(a 100% law-abiding citizen with a valid US passport)
Apr 26, 2006, 9:53 pm
#3
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Yes. I was denied entry when returning from Canada when I was a very drunk passenger in my friends car. The person at the border said that my "body is a container," and I was "smuggling alcohol." The same for the rest of the drunk passengers.
We had our buddy drop us off as a Holiday Inn in Windsor, he drove back to Detroit and picked us up in the morning with a change of clothes for all of us.
We had our buddy drop us off as a Holiday Inn in Windsor, he drove back to Detroit and picked us up in the morning with a change of clothes for all of us.
Apr 26, 2006, 9:54 pm
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The short answer to the question: no.
It is highly unlikely that such a person (over 18) exists. Ever "borrow" a pencil and forget to return it? Go 1mph over the speed limit?
Most people don't commit serious enough offences or annoy a LEO enough to have the laws enforced...
Joking aside, AFAIK, even criminals who as citizens cannot be denied entry, so long as they can prove citizenship. The government does, however, deny people the right to leave.
Sometimes, thankfully rarely, it forces people to give up their citizenship (sorry, they 'voluntarily' give it up): Hamdi and Arthur Rudolph for example.
Originally Posted by cargoship
(a 100% law-abiding citizen with a valid US passport)
Most people don't commit serious enough offences or annoy a LEO enough to have the laws enforced...
Joking aside, AFAIK, even criminals who as citizens cannot be denied entry, so long as they can prove citizenship. The government does, however, deny people the right to leave.
Sometimes, thankfully rarely, it forces people to give up their citizenship (sorry, they 'voluntarily' give it up): Hamdi and Arthur Rudolph for example.
Apr 26, 2006, 9:58 pm
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Originally Posted by mkt
Yes. I was denied entry when returning from Canada when I was a very drunk passenger in my friends car. The person at the border said that my "body is a container," and I was "smuggling alcohol." The same for the rest of the drunk passengers.
You could have been under your friend's exemption (1 liter). If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
Apr 26, 2006, 10:06 pm
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Originally Posted by ralfp
Wow. Scary. Were you under 21?
You could have been under your friend's exemption (1 liter). If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
You could have been under your friend's exemption (1 liter). If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
Apr 26, 2006, 10:12 pm
#7
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made-up rules
Betcha there is no reg about drunks coming home.
When agents abuse their power, it should be reported. They have much better things to do than waste time in that way.
When agents abuse their power, it should be reported. They have much better things to do than waste time in that way.
Apr 26, 2006, 10:13 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by mkt
Yes. I was denied entry when returning from Canada when I was a very drunk passenger in my friends car. The person at the border said that my "body is a container," and I was "smuggling alcohol." The same for the rest of the drunk passengers.
We had our buddy drop us off as a Holiday Inn in Windsor, he drove back to Detroit and picked us up in the morning with a change of clothes for all of us.
We had our buddy drop us off as a Holiday Inn in Windsor, he drove back to Detroit and picked us up in the morning with a change of clothes for all of us.
Apr 26, 2006, 10:16 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by ralfp
Wow. Scary. Were you under 21?
You could have been under your friend's exemption (1 liter). If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
You could have been under your friend's exemption (1 liter). If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
Since the drinking age in Canada is 19, I didn't think any part of is was illegal.
Apr 26, 2006, 10:29 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by mkt
Since the drinking age in Canada is 19, I didn't think any part of is was illegal.
Apr 26, 2006, 10:32 pm
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Originally Posted by PatrickHenry1775
Only 1 liter of vodka? Speak for yourself!
cargoship should have been under the exemption for the people > 21...
However it appears that > 21 year olds were also denied entry. That seems very wrong. However, public intoxication is a crime in most the US, so the border guard was preventing the commision of a crime.
Apr 27, 2006, 1:17 am
#12
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Customs do enforce alcohol laws BUT im rather sure that your constitutiona rights were violated by not bieng allowed back in the US.
Apr 27, 2006, 9:59 am
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Originally Posted by ralfp
Wow. Scary. Were you under 21?
You could have been under your friend's exemption (1 liter). If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
You could have been under your friend's exemption (1 liter). If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
To me, this just sounds like an abuse of power.
Apr 27, 2006, 10:14 am
#14
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Originally Posted by ralfp
If you had more than 1 liter worth of vodka in you at the time, you wouldn't be posting now.
Apr 27, 2006, 10:56 am
#15
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Originally Posted by mkt
Yes. I was denied entry when returning from Canada when I was a very drunk passenger in my friends car. The person at the border said that my "body is a container," and I was "smuggling alcohol." The same for the rest of the drunk passengers.
We had our buddy drop us off as a Holiday Inn in Windsor, he drove back to Detroit and picked us up in the morning with a change of clothes for all of us.
We had our buddy drop us off as a Holiday Inn in Windsor, he drove back to Detroit and picked us up in the morning with a change of clothes for all of us.
"You didn't throw up in front of Dean Wormer; you threw up ON Dean Wormer!"