U.S Border Patrol on Pacific Surfliner?
May 8, 2011, 4:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 801
U.S Border Patrol on Pacific Surfliner?
I usually commute between SAN-LAX weekly on Surfliner. Was on train #578 and
noticed three agents walking through cars and questioning random passengers.
Is this new? First time I have seen this.
noticed three agents walking through cars and questioning random passengers.
Is this new? First time I have seen this.
May 8, 2011, 9:07 pm
#5
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It used to be very common I understand several years ago, but inspections had been greatly reduced of late. But any train within 100 miles of a US border is always subject to such inspections. The same applies to buses and cars too.
May 16, 2011, 5:02 pm
#7
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I don't carry my birth certificate or passport with me on domestic trips. What are they going to do? Start deportation proceedings? Or are they allowed to pick and choose only wetbacky-looking folks?
May 16, 2011, 6:32 pm
#8
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I believe you're not legally obliged to talk to them. Can't be arsed Googling, but this came up in a thread about patrols hassling passengers on trains near the Canadian border - a reporter wrote a piece about it.
May 16, 2011, 7:57 pm
#10
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That's my understanding as well. I was once going overnight in coach on the Lake Shore and got the citizenship question. I just muttered "US" even though I knew I didn't have to, to get back to sleep ASAP. Of course, I've never endured such questioning in my several Lake Shore sleeper trips in recent years. They only bother coach pax.
I also once saw Border Patrol meet my inbound Surfliner train from SD at LA, looking for someone specific to detain. This was well before 9/11.
I also once saw Border Patrol meet my inbound Surfliner train from SD at LA, looking for someone specific to detain. This was well before 9/11.
May 16, 2011, 10:12 pm
#11
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Well it's sort of a mixed bag as it were.
Yes, you're not legally obligated to talk with them.
However, failure to talk with them and answer their questions could result in you watching the tail lights of your train disappear down the tracks. If they so chose to do so, your failure to answer is enough cause for them to detain you until such time as they can verify via other means that you are legally in this country.
So again, they can't force you to answer, but they can detain you until they can verify things if you fail to answer! Do you really want to watch your train roll down the tracks without you on board?
Yes, you're not legally obligated to talk with them.
However, failure to talk with them and answer their questions could result in you watching the tail lights of your train disappear down the tracks. If they so chose to do so, your failure to answer is enough cause for them to detain you until such time as they can verify via other means that you are legally in this country.
So again, they can't force you to answer, but they can detain you until they can verify things if you fail to answer! Do you really want to watch your train roll down the tracks without you on board?
May 16, 2011, 11:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Eons ago, I was on the Amtrak San Diegan, yes b4 Surfliner, traveling from SAN to LAUS. Several border control officers were on board the train as it left the San Diego city limits northbound. One of the officers came to me and was about to ask me for my ID but looked at me again and suddenly said "that's okay", and instead went scurrying off. Needless to say, by the time we arrived in Oceanside, the border control officers handcuffed and escorted in a daisy chain several passengers that did not have any ID or perhaps even tickets as well. That was quite a sight to behold during my San Diegan trip. 