U.S. Customs Officer Harasses Defense One Journalist at Dulles Airport
Oct 4, 2019, 1:21 pm
#1
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U.S. Customs Officer Harasses Defense One Journalist at Dulles Airport
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2.../?oref=d-river
CBP officer: “You’re a journalist?”
Watson: “Yes.”
CBP officer: “You write propaganda, right?”
Watson waited five seconds. Then: “For the purposes of expediting this conversation, yes.”
Watson: “Yes.”
CBP officer: “You write propaganda, right?”
Watson waited five seconds. Then: “For the purposes of expediting this conversation, yes.”
Oct 5, 2019, 1:28 pm
#2
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CBP has some employees harassing way more journalists than just that one, and they even ask some of them if they are “fake news” creators or engaged in being propaganda agents. It seems they have been hitting up in this way a number of foreign journalist working in the US and doing so way more than they have been hitting up US citizens who are journalists, but both are getting it at times.
Oct 5, 2019, 6:56 pm
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"It's written exactly like it is on my name tag, which you've looked at 4 times already"
Oct 5, 2019, 9:57 pm
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Oct 6, 2019, 9:36 am
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Oct 6, 2019, 12:45 pm
#8
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If there is any justice this CBP employee will be identified . I think firing is in order but that's not how things work for federal employees. A few days on the street and an official reprimand is probably the worst that will happen. Hopefully this employee has a history and stronger action can be taken. If he stays employed a transfer to the most remote, southern checkpoint would be appropriate. Even better make him a TSA screener, non-LEO.
Oct 6, 2019, 11:03 pm
#9
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If there is any justice this CBP employee will be identified . I think firing is in order but that's not how things work for federal employees. A few days on the street and an official reprimand is probably the worst that will happen. Hopefully this employee has a history and stronger action can be taken. If he stays employed a transfer to the most remote, southern checkpoint would be appropriate. Even better make him a TSA screener, non-LEO.
Oct 7, 2019, 2:54 am
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Going after journalists is sadly nothing new, but it’s become way more frequent at US ports of entry than it used to be for the better part of my life.
The following article is about a journalist whose electronic devices were subject to search at a US port of entry and includes a link to another article about the hassles faced by journalists of sort entering the US at ports of entry:
https://theintercept.com/2019/06/22/...s-journalists/
The following article is about a journalist whose electronic devices were subject to search at a US port of entry and includes a link to another article about the hassles faced by journalists of sort entering the US at ports of entry:
https://theintercept.com/2019/06/22/...s-journalists/
Oct 7, 2019, 6:30 am
#11
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Perhaps I misunderstand the purpose of CBP at points of entry. For U.S. citizens, who cannot be denied entry, it should be a simple matter of verifying documents and identity, verification of importation of goods, and collection of duty fees if needed. Questions about where you went and such seem unneeded. So what is the point of confrontational CBP officers?
Oct 7, 2019, 7:39 am
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Journalists are such drama queens, take themselves far too seriously and have a grossly over-inflated view of their importance to democracy . A CBP officer was rude to one and they can't help but make a federal case about.
Oct 7, 2019, 8:59 am
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Journalists are apparently part of the target practice of some CBP employees, and any attention that journalists draw upon what goes on to journalists or others at the US ports of entry is too little and too late as far as I am concerned.
Oct 7, 2019, 9:50 am
#14
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It’s more than just one CBP officer being rude to one journalist. There is a culture within CBP, and a regime of government, that has long facilitated and enabled CBP employees to continue to do that which gets the CBP too little of the criticism and attention it deserves.
Journalists are apparently part of the target practice of some CBP employees, and any attention that journalists draw upon what goes on to journalists or others at the US ports of entry is too little and too late as far as I am concerned.
Journalists are apparently part of the target practice of some CBP employees, and any attention that journalists draw upon what goes on to journalists or others at the US ports of entry is too little and too late as far as I am concerned.
Oct 7, 2019, 11:43 am
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