Terenz....

I was merely using the Algerian example as one of the reasons that the US has applied political pressure on Canada to more strictly review who is let into this country.

We have been criticised for having lax policies and our country has been referred to as a conduit for people attempting to enter the US for whatever reasons.

In answer to your other question, when I flew thru LAX, I was mixed with other inbound international pax at the INS counters. When I finished there and ran the gauntlet of customs agents I was free to go anywhere I wanted, and basically I could have disappeared into LA.

I had to leave the terminal and walk over to another one for my connecting flight....which incidentally was an international flight as well.

At 7am it seemed odd....since the previous 3 South American airports I had been thru that night all held me in a sterile area during aircraft changes....etc.

[This message has been edited by Carioca Canuck (edited 12-25-2000).]