I had my re-interview today and it was 180 degrees different from the first time. The officer was unfailingly polite and I was approved in a matter of minutes.

Afterwards, I requested to talk to the supervisor and I kind of lectured him about how I was treated the first time and he didn't seem super-pleased, but I did feel that my point had been made, so I left it at that.

It's not clear to me what I should take away from this whole situation. I have to say that I am a little disturbed that the Global Entry application process could be so arbitrary. I mean, there is no substantive difference between my personal situation now and 2 months ago, so why was I interrogated the first time, accused of being a criminal, humiliated and rejected and now I am apparently a highly trustworthy person? The answer seems to be that I knew someone in DC who knows me and went to bat for me and when management looked into it further, they realized that I had been mistreated.

But having a situation resolved due to connections seems like something that should be happening in the third world and not the United States. I wonder how many Americans feel mistreated by CBP and then feel helpless. Perhaps the lesson is that we need to not be sheep and, at the very least demand high standards of service and a high level of respect from the people who are supposed to be representing us.

I am glad I didn't give up on this. It was a very satisfying feeling this morning.