CBP Denies Entry to US citizen with a Valid US Passport at Toronto Preclearance
Mar 9, 2017, 6:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
CBP Denies Entry to US citizen with a Valid US Passport at Toronto Preclearance
Letter to US CBP via their complaint system.
This incident happened several months before the November 2016 election.
Email Address: [email protected]
Reference Number: 1xxxx3-zzzz5
Status: Open
Created mm/dd/yyy1 09:19 PM
Updated mm/dd/yyy2 01:28 PM
Category
The CBP agent who examined my GE receipt and US passport at the GE kiosk began questioning me:
1. How long have you been away? 10 days
2. Business of personal? Personal
3. Alcohol/tobacco? None
4. Any items acquired overseas? None
5. Arrived on what flight? LH 470
6. Traveling with anyone? No
7. What countries did you visit? India
8. What cities did you visit? Bengaluru
9. Who did you stay with? My mother in law
Suddenly, he raised his voice and yelled at me:
"You went to India to see your mother in law without your wife? This inspection is over!"
He tossed my passport over the counter so that it fell to the floor, and shut his booth and walked out. I was stranded at a (now) unmanned booth and unable to proceed forward to the departure area.
I never got his name. When I picked up my passport and took the few steps back to the red line to look for another booth, another CBP agent immediately blocked my path and confronting me with “What’s going on? What’s going on?” The first agent yelled something about “Send him to secondary” from the other side of the kiosks as he walked away. This agent was joined by a third agent who grabbed my documents out of my hand. Together they forced me to enter an office saying "You had better come with us." They hid their badges when I tried to get their names, and when I asked verbally, they refused to provide me with their names.
The supervisor showed up as I was trying to write down what little I could see from their badges on a piece of paper. He immediately grabbed my pen and stated “I am confiscating the pen because it is a dangerous weapon." This supervisor then confirmed that I was being denied entry into the US. No reason was given when I asked why this was happening and he ordered me to “get out of my area.”
I said I have the right to enter the US and asked them to return my passport. The supervisor then threatened to have me arrested if I did not leave the area immediately. He called Peel Regional Police and handed my passport to them. Peel Police politely told me that it would be best if I left with them and they escorted me to Canada Customs. CBSA was bewildered as to why a US citizen was not being allowed into the US. After a cursory examination, they allowed me to enter Canada.
I missed my connection and was forced to stay in Toronto.
None of the agents provided me with a CBP comment form when asked.
Neither did the supervisor when asked and he never returned my pen.
These agents, including their supervisor berated and ridiculed me for 25 minutes. They ignored my concern that the first agent just walked off his post for no apparent reason, denying me entry to the US as a US citizen on a valid US passport after I had answered all his questions in a timely manner.
My reaction was one of shock at being unable to make my LAX flight.
They never addressed my question as to why the first agent abandoned his post denying me entry into the US after starting the inspection.
I would like the Port Director for USCBP in Toronto to address the following concerns:
1. By what authority did CBP turn away a US citizen, who had GE and had nothing to declare from entering the US?
2. Is it wrong to answer the questions truthfully and accurately as I did?
3. Is it suspicious behavior to visit one's mother in law without their spouse?
4. Is it acceptable for a CBP agent to walk off his post mid-inspection?
5. Is it acceptable for the supervisor to take away my pen and keep it?
I left several messages on the 905 676 xxxx, the CBP number, including one to the Assistant port director in Toronto Airport, and no one has called back.
I would like a formal investigation into the conduct of these officers and an explanation as to why I was subjected to this treatment when I have been and continue to be a trusted traveler who is a US citizen. I would like the Port Director’s assurance that if I observe behavior like this again, that I can have a senior contact point so that officers like this cannot engage in unprofessional and retaliatory behavior to me, any other US citizen, or for that matter, any another traveler.
Conclusion: This is what CBP does and no one in this country holds them accountable for such behavior.
This incident happened several months before the November 2016 election.
Email Address: [email protected]
Reference Number: 1xxxx3-zzzz5
Status: Open
Created mm/dd/yyy1 09:19 PM
Updated mm/dd/yyy2 01:28 PM
Category
- Pre-Clearance Location
- Canada
- Toronto Preclearance
The CBP agent who examined my GE receipt and US passport at the GE kiosk began questioning me:
1. How long have you been away? 10 days
2. Business of personal? Personal
3. Alcohol/tobacco? None
4. Any items acquired overseas? None
5. Arrived on what flight? LH 470
6. Traveling with anyone? No
7. What countries did you visit? India
8. What cities did you visit? Bengaluru
9. Who did you stay with? My mother in law
Suddenly, he raised his voice and yelled at me:
"You went to India to see your mother in law without your wife? This inspection is over!"
He tossed my passport over the counter so that it fell to the floor, and shut his booth and walked out. I was stranded at a (now) unmanned booth and unable to proceed forward to the departure area.
I never got his name. When I picked up my passport and took the few steps back to the red line to look for another booth, another CBP agent immediately blocked my path and confronting me with “What’s going on? What’s going on?” The first agent yelled something about “Send him to secondary” from the other side of the kiosks as he walked away. This agent was joined by a third agent who grabbed my documents out of my hand. Together they forced me to enter an office saying "You had better come with us." They hid their badges when I tried to get their names, and when I asked verbally, they refused to provide me with their names.
The supervisor showed up as I was trying to write down what little I could see from their badges on a piece of paper. He immediately grabbed my pen and stated “I am confiscating the pen because it is a dangerous weapon." This supervisor then confirmed that I was being denied entry into the US. No reason was given when I asked why this was happening and he ordered me to “get out of my area.”
I said I have the right to enter the US and asked them to return my passport. The supervisor then threatened to have me arrested if I did not leave the area immediately. He called Peel Regional Police and handed my passport to them. Peel Police politely told me that it would be best if I left with them and they escorted me to Canada Customs. CBSA was bewildered as to why a US citizen was not being allowed into the US. After a cursory examination, they allowed me to enter Canada.
I missed my connection and was forced to stay in Toronto.
None of the agents provided me with a CBP comment form when asked.
Neither did the supervisor when asked and he never returned my pen.
These agents, including their supervisor berated and ridiculed me for 25 minutes. They ignored my concern that the first agent just walked off his post for no apparent reason, denying me entry to the US as a US citizen on a valid US passport after I had answered all his questions in a timely manner.
My reaction was one of shock at being unable to make my LAX flight.
They never addressed my question as to why the first agent abandoned his post denying me entry into the US after starting the inspection.
I would like the Port Director for USCBP in Toronto to address the following concerns:
1. By what authority did CBP turn away a US citizen, who had GE and had nothing to declare from entering the US?
2. Is it wrong to answer the questions truthfully and accurately as I did?
3. Is it suspicious behavior to visit one's mother in law without their spouse?
4. Is it acceptable for a CBP agent to walk off his post mid-inspection?
5. Is it acceptable for the supervisor to take away my pen and keep it?
I left several messages on the 905 676 xxxx, the CBP number, including one to the Assistant port director in Toronto Airport, and no one has called back.
I would like a formal investigation into the conduct of these officers and an explanation as to why I was subjected to this treatment when I have been and continue to be a trusted traveler who is a US citizen. I would like the Port Director’s assurance that if I observe behavior like this again, that I can have a senior contact point so that officers like this cannot engage in unprofessional and retaliatory behavior to me, any other US citizen, or for that matter, any another traveler.
Conclusion: This is what CBP does and no one in this country holds them accountable for such behavior.
Mar 9, 2017, 7:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Scarborough
Posts: 596
damn, extremely disturbing specially doing that to their own citizen.
Stupid behaviour, and equally that of the so-called supervisor.
Has the victim tried to contact their area's govt officials where they live?
Clearly the cbp has crappy hired people who don't deserve to be in such posts.
Stupid behaviour, and equally that of the so-called supervisor.
Has the victim tried to contact their area's govt officials where they live?
Clearly the cbp has crappy hired people who don't deserve to be in such posts.
Mar 9, 2017, 8:51 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
It sounds like the official concluded he was lying but that certainly sounds utterly unprofessional in handling it. Visiting one's mother-in-law without one's wife certainly does seem unusual but the description of events I see doesn't say the wife wasn't there, just that the wife wasn't with him at that point.
Mar 9, 2017, 9:18 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 245
I apologize if I missed this, but were you ever allowed to return to the US?
I'm trying to image what happens when a US citizen overstays their Canadian entry but can't go home. Where do they deport you to?
I'm trying to image what happens when a US citizen overstays their Canadian entry but can't go home. Where do they deport you to?
Mar 9, 2017, 9:22 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,623
I've read this story before.
Mar 9, 2017, 9:33 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,623
The OP says it happened several months before the November 2016 election. Yet the OP (or someone else) previously posted that it happened in January 2014.
The OP says he "missed my connection and was forced to stay in Toronto."
Yet in the prior version of the story, he simply left transit preclearance, entered Canada momentarily, and then went back through to regular preclearance and was admitted to the USA.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27101714-post15.html
The OP also received an apology from the port director according to the prior post.
The OP says he "missed my connection and was forced to stay in Toronto."
Yet in the prior version of the story, he simply left transit preclearance, entered Canada momentarily, and then went back through to regular preclearance and was admitted to the USA.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27101714-post15.html
The OP also received an apology from the port director according to the prior post.
Last edited by jphripjah; Mar 9, 2017 at 10:00 pm
Mar 9, 2017, 10:03 pm
#7
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Mar 10, 2017, 1:52 am
#8
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This is a copy of another story.
Mar 10, 2017, 7:48 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Mar 10, 2017, 7:53 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,636
Hard to believe that a first time poster would have credibility issues!
Mar 10, 2017, 7:54 am
#11
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Posts: 50,262
In other words, it is a complete falsehood and the Mods ought to remove it because it is clickbait.
Mar 10, 2017, 9:23 am
#13
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,638
Here is an example of an interaction of an entry with CBP at the US POE at YYZ on January 17, 2014 when I was returning from a personal trip to India.
Waited in the GE line after getting my receipt. CBP agent took a long time (loooong time) to process the person in front of me. She was a very attractive young lady. I waited, 1,2,3,4 minutes while he was questioning (flirting) with her. when she left, I presented my GE receipt and passport Here is what happened next:
where are you coming from? india
business or pleasure? pleasure
any food or agricultural products? no
any alcohol tobacco? no
anyone traveling with you? no
how long were you away? 10 days
who did you visit? i went to see my mother in law
YOU WENT TO SEE YOUR MOTHER IN LAW WITHOUT YOUR WIFE? THIS INSPECTION IS OVER!
With that, he pushed the passport at me with such force that it fell off the counter, and when I picked it up, he had closed his station and was gone leaving me in limbo at his GE kiosk.
I was immediately surrounded by 2 CPB agents who repeatedly asked me in very loud tones "WHAT'S THE MATTER? WHAT'S THE MATTER". I replied "ask him" (the original agent) and began writing names down. A CBP supervisor arrived and the first thing he did was take my pen and paper away saying "This can be used as a weapon" and my list of names was gone. Supervisor asked me to leave the POE transit area and enter Canada first. I said "your agent refused me entry to the US and I have the right to enter the US". The CBP supervisor said "No you don't, we let you in as a courtesy, now get out of here" and escorted me to Canadian immigration. Canadian immigration were blown away with this story but let me into Canada without any issue.
I went out, and came back in, now entering the same POE from the Canadian side, versus the direct in-transit side and presented my passport to a female US CBP agent. The first thing she wanted to know was if I was recording the conversation. I was doing no such thing, showed her my phone which was switched off. She then got a call and picked up the phone. I looked up and saw the same CBP supervisor talking to her from another booth 15 feet away. She then took her stamp, changed the date and stamped an incorrect date on my US passport. When I asked her to stamp the correct date, she asked me to go to secondary to have it corrected.
I stated in very firm and polite terms that she needed to change her date stamp and re-stamp my passport with today's date. After a stare down, she did just that. I left and as I exited, the CBP supervisor came up to me and said "I hope you had a pleasant experience with our agents who are here to protect you".
This episode was reported to the CPB using their complaint form and resulted in a phone call apology from US CBP Port Director in Toronto. On February 4, I received a written apology from the Port Director as well. Sadly, I never got my pen back, the CBP supervisor kept it! Just another GE experience.
Waited in the GE line after getting my receipt. CBP agent took a long time (loooong time) to process the person in front of me. She was a very attractive young lady. I waited, 1,2,3,4 minutes while he was questioning (flirting) with her. when she left, I presented my GE receipt and passport Here is what happened next:
where are you coming from? india
business or pleasure? pleasure
any food or agricultural products? no
any alcohol tobacco? no
anyone traveling with you? no
how long were you away? 10 days
who did you visit? i went to see my mother in law
YOU WENT TO SEE YOUR MOTHER IN LAW WITHOUT YOUR WIFE? THIS INSPECTION IS OVER!
With that, he pushed the passport at me with such force that it fell off the counter, and when I picked it up, he had closed his station and was gone leaving me in limbo at his GE kiosk.
I was immediately surrounded by 2 CPB agents who repeatedly asked me in very loud tones "WHAT'S THE MATTER? WHAT'S THE MATTER". I replied "ask him" (the original agent) and began writing names down. A CBP supervisor arrived and the first thing he did was take my pen and paper away saying "This can be used as a weapon" and my list of names was gone. Supervisor asked me to leave the POE transit area and enter Canada first. I said "your agent refused me entry to the US and I have the right to enter the US". The CBP supervisor said "No you don't, we let you in as a courtesy, now get out of here" and escorted me to Canadian immigration. Canadian immigration were blown away with this story but let me into Canada without any issue.
I went out, and came back in, now entering the same POE from the Canadian side, versus the direct in-transit side and presented my passport to a female US CBP agent. The first thing she wanted to know was if I was recording the conversation. I was doing no such thing, showed her my phone which was switched off. She then got a call and picked up the phone. I looked up and saw the same CBP supervisor talking to her from another booth 15 feet away. She then took her stamp, changed the date and stamped an incorrect date on my US passport. When I asked her to stamp the correct date, she asked me to go to secondary to have it corrected.
I stated in very firm and polite terms that she needed to change her date stamp and re-stamp my passport with today's date. After a stare down, she did just that. I left and as I exited, the CBP supervisor came up to me and said "I hope you had a pleasant experience with our agents who are here to protect you".
This episode was reported to the CPB using their complaint form and resulted in a phone call apology from US CBP Port Director in Toronto. On February 4, I received a written apology from the Port Director as well. Sadly, I never got my pen back, the CBP supervisor kept it! Just another GE experience.