OK so what I would suggest is that you just Google "barred from entry to the US for life for admitting marijuana use" and you will see that CBP is very frequently not asking foreign visitors "do you have any past convictions/ have you been arrested, etc" It IS however asking "Have you used any illicit drugs in the past?" Which is very, very different.
Refusals have to be documented- we can agree on that. But head over to Theintercept.com and read some of the investigative journalism on CBP practices. One, for example, is being reported as someone suspicious. No definition required. No justification required. Anyone in any capacity of law enforcement decides that's the case and you're done. And this is PUBLISHED in writing by the US government-- not made up. We are in different times now...
As for information on convictions, Canadian and US officials have access to the same database so not a good idea to lie. The UK and Australia have also deported US and Canadian citizens for prior convictions... presumably because they have access to the same database.
Originally Posted by
NavSTL
As mentioned above, we don't know what was asked. The traveler's story is here related second-hand anyway. Refusals at the border are not light work--any given major international airport will deny entry to maybe a few dozen travelers daily, out of the many thousands that pass through, and a good chunk of those are students trying to sneak back in after having dropped out of school. This person almost certainly admitted to having been convicted at one time or another, and will likely suffer only the minimal inconvenience of having to wait a few weeks for a visa if the transgression was as minor as they say.
Lying to a federal officer in an official inquiry is a felony no matter what nationality you are, though if you're not American you'll probably just be locked out indefinitely. DO. NOT. LIE. TO. CBP.
You're continually missing the points here. I'd suggest you reread what I wrote. You keep on talking about someone with a conviction and being asked if they have a conviction. Of course they should say the truth.
What I am trying to tell you is that there is something else going on here.
Students trying to sneak back in?? What? From Canada? Huh?
And having to wait a few weeks for a visa? It's not happening... they are getting barred for life.
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