What could we do?
 

If one of these INS or customs officer step over their line, what is the best way to handle the situation? Would it be to ask for their supervisor? Would they be disciplined? I think their secrecy - what constitute proper behavior vs. what is not - makes it difficult for us to challenge these people in uniforms. We know where the limits are when dealing with the police because we know the law somewhat. But at the airport and borders, there are no rules, they make the rules, they interpret the rules, and there are no appeals, you don't get to give your side of the story.

Their argument is that protecting borders demand tough actions that may be deemed unreasonable by normal standards but so do police officers whose job is also to protect lives.

I once had the unenviable job of collecting money from people driving down a park highway and instead of behaving like I am enforcing the law and demanding that they pay up, I chose to educate and convince them why they should pony up a few dollars and the benefit they get in return. And I was also wearing a uniform, too. It takes intelligence to catch terrorists - not arrogance.

Yes, but these folks wouldn't know the difference.

I think the most arrogant and annoying officers are those who either flunked out of police school, or flunked out of army school. Well, I'm probably making up the latter, but those are definitely not the cream of the crop and have attitude problems in general.