As a US citizen, what questions is Customs permitted to ask you on arrival in the US?
Just kidding couldn't help myself.
Dec 30, 2007, 9:11 am
#122
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: LAX
Posts: 453
Dec 30, 2007, 10:59 am
#123
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 361
A government official saying "how much did you pay for that?" to someone with an adopted baby needs to be AND can be disciplined with the right push. The above is NOT the duty of the officer. I don't believe for a second this was some 'behavioral test' but rather it was an @sshole in a position of authority who has an attitude problem. Do you think it is ok if a US citizen who is black upon returning from an African vacation is asked "How was the family's hut spearchucker?"...no different than what the mother above experienced...blatant and very wrong racism.
Certainly THIS particular officer not only overstepped his authority
but violated law and yes, should be reported, removed from public service, and prosecuted as law will allow.
I would have gathered any witnesses and taken contact numbers and statements, filed a complaint before leaving the area, contacted all media outlets and legal counsel in addition to anyone else who could publicize this behavior and the officer's name. It is wrong and should not be tolerated unless you want more of the same.
It would have been appropriate to immediately ask for a supervisor at that point and obtain both the offending officers name and supervisors name
along with any witnesses to the inciident. Then contact a lawyer for advice how best to proceed.
You are correct inasmuch as Racial Slurs and HATE should NOT be tolerated.
You see resistance to being treated wrongly and sometimes illegally as being "belligerent and a smartass"...
My belligerent smartass comment was regarding the US citizen
living in London (OP Osame) upset by being askwed the 'purpose of his visit
to the US' -- in the context that if he (OP) or anyone else so desires
to become belligerent and act a smartass, then they are very likely to be detained and asked alot more questions that will make them all the more
bent out of shape.
Maybe just for spite, they'll give you who care to act as legal-rights-knowitalls-and be flipant smartasses, a full-body search --
I can just hear the snap of those Latex gloves going on their hands now..
and there's NOTHING you'll be able to do about them "searching in performance of their duties" because you 'acted suspiciously'......
how are you going to PROVE different?
Of course invasive searches need different levels of approval but WHO are they going to believe YOU or the OFFICER(s)?
There's little wonder WHY some folk get the SSSS treatment all the time...
Remember things have dramatically changed since the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written centuries ago... an example,
not all provisions of the Patriot Act, nor of the National Security Act,
are in the open public realm, as they ought to be. Many provisions most congressmen can't even access.
So you think John Q. Public like you and I has a chance to 'buck the system'?
Last edited by Krakajax; Dec 30, 2007 at 11:24 am
Dec 30, 2007, 11:49 am
#124
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Remember things have dramatically changed since the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written centuries ago... an example,
not all provisions of the Patriot Act, nor of the National Security Act,
are in the open public realm, as they ought to be. Many provisions most congressmen can't even access.
Dec 30, 2007, 11:54 am
#125
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: UA 1K Million Miler, Marriott Ambassador (lifetime Platinum), Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 370
Nonsense. I go to Canada several times a year (I have a number of clients there). These trips are always short, frequently just overnight, and I hardly ever buy anything. Accordingly, my Customs declaration usually recites $0, and I've never, not once, had the least bit of trouble with Customs. I've never gotten a secondary. I've never been asked questions by Customs about what I did.
I don't know where you are getting this, as it's simply not true. I have clients all over the world, as well as associate firms and other offices in many different countries. I routinely ship documents, data CDs and data DVDs to these locations, and receive similar items back. I use Fedex, UPS and DHL. I've never had anything held up by Customs.
I don't know where you are getting this, as it's simply not true. I have clients all over the world, as well as associate firms and other offices in many different countries. I routinely ship documents, data CDs and data DVDs to these locations, and receive similar items back. I use Fedex, UPS and DHL. I've never had anything held up by Customs.
Dec 30, 2007, 11:57 am
#126
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Posts: 370
In response to the OP, I am a little confused. I am a US Citizen living in London like you and I travel back to the states often, usually entering through JFK or EWR. I have not once ever had a problem with immigration or customs (even got a Merry Christmas this time!). Okay, so here's what confuses me--the guy's doing his job. When he asked for the purpose of your visit, how hard would it have been to say "to visit my family for Christmas." I don't like unnecessary intrusions into my life, but this just doesn't seem like that big a deal.
On a side note (for all the posters that point out that customs is interested in collecting duty on what us non-resident US citizens are bringing back) . . . we bring nothing back from the UK--its too expensive!!! lol.
On a side note (for all the posters that point out that customs is interested in collecting duty on what us non-resident US citizens are bringing back) . . . we bring nothing back from the UK--its too expensive!!! lol.
Dec 30, 2007, 12:59 pm
#127
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 196
No matter where I go, the routine is the same. I fill in the Customs Declaration form I'm given and proceed to Customs. I present my declaration form, along with my passport, to a Customs Inspector. On the form it always asks if you are there for business or leisure. It's not a big deal to just say leisure or to say "I'm here to see my family for the holidays" and let it go! Many times I've seen people returning from the US to visit their families on a Caribbean island, which is really their "home" but they work in the US and they get asked. They say they're visiting their family, and they breeze through customs. Wouldn't you rather do that?
I was asked once if my husband and I were traveling with the couple in back of us as we were conversing with them. I said no, we were just talking. The customs person wanted to know why I was talking to them if we weren't traveling together. I simply said I liked people and they appeared to be nice people. I smiled at him and he never said another word. Life doesn't have to be complicated!
I was asked once if my husband and I were traveling with the couple in back of us as we were conversing with them. I said no, we were just talking. The customs person wanted to know why I was talking to them if we weren't traveling together. I simply said I liked people and they appeared to be nice people. I smiled at him and he never said another word. Life doesn't have to be complicated!
Dec 30, 2007, 3:29 pm
#128
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 361
Since You Asked for It
[/QUOTE]Simply put, from among those whom the general public
have duly elected to represent them,
the FEW who have "NEED TO KNOW"
--KNOW.
No conspiracy theories here.
FACTS are that COG (Continuity of Government)
operations are busy in the background, ALWAYS at the Ready.
Let us be hopeful the day will NEVER come that we would need
to implement some extremes, such as suspension of the
Constitution, to eliminate the chaos and panic
that could happen in the planned-for scenarios, in order to
ensure centralized governmental continuation.
Dec 30, 2007, 4:32 pm
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Simply put, from among those whom the general public
have duly elected to represent them,
the FEW who have "NEED TO KNOW"
--KNOW.
No conspiracy theories here.
FACTS are that COG (Continuity of Government)
operations are busy in the background, ALWAYS at the Ready.
Let us be hopeful the day will NEVER come that we would need
to implement some extremes, such as suspension of the
Constitution, to eliminate the chaos and panic
that could happen in the planned-for scenarios, in order to
ensure centralized governmental continuation.
You might also do a little research on "void for vagueness" grounds for constitutionally-invalidating laws.
Dec 30, 2007, 5:51 pm
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Dec 30, 2007, 5:59 pm
#132
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, Hilton Dia, SPG PT, National Exec Elite, MAR Silver, Ex UA 1K
Posts: 232
Let's Get Real
To compare present USA with Nazi Germany is crazy. Anyone who has studied Hitler's rise to power from Mein Kampf in early 1920's to WWII knows the two are not comparable. I could lecture all night but this is a travel forum, not a history forum. I would have thought a European would know more about Germany's history.
Dec 30, 2007, 6:08 pm
#134
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: RNO
Posts: 375
To compare present USA with Nazi Germany is crazy. Anyone who has studied Hitler's rise to power from Mein Kampf in early 1920's to WWII knows the two are not comparable. I could lecture all night but this is a travel forum, not a history forum. I would have thought a European would know more about Germany's history.
Dec 30, 2007, 6:13 pm
#135
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: First Terrace of Purgatory (look it up)
Posts: 320
Of course. 4th Amendment does not require warrant for every search even. Only "unreasonable" search and seizure is prohibited. Stopping and searching/inspecting at the border has 2 centuries of jurisprudence to support it.