That's what it sounds like to me too. [The ag inspection may also be used to search for drugs.]

I've had a few of those "sent to ag" inspections that were "random", and it's been no problem for me.

I have been sent to ag on less than 5% of my trips, but the frequency of being sent to ag is higher (but far below 50%) when I declare food.

He didn't ask why we went on the trip and where? He asked how many times I've traveled internationally in the past year, had I been around any livestock, been to a farm? Brought back any food. The questioning seemed pointless especially since they didn't open any of the bags. It almost seemed more like a secondary check that didnt have much to do with the bags. Make sense?

Those are ag inspection determination or survey collection type questions.

But wouldn't that only make sense if yes was marked on the kiosk questions? They were all no. Would a random ag inspections also = passport check for one us traveler not traveling alone?

No, but it's WAY easier to swipe a passport through an MRD reader than to type your name into a computer to record the fact you've been there.

Also, gotta love the USDA. The manual on random inspections (technically called "agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring", not an acronym if you're British!) is still public, as is the worksheet the officer, er, specialist fills out. (Incidentally, so are most of the manuals CBP Ag uses at ports of entry)

Attachment 8576

Line of questioning look familiar?

The manual was the first Google result, and the worksheet was linked from within it... I tried to link directly to the USDA website but FlyerTalk grabbed the pdf instead.

I'm not sure what makes it so difficult to believe that USCBP conducts truly random inspections. It's a common practice among border inspection authorities worldwide. CBP does it, CBSA does it, the Europeans do it by snagging a random passenger from the green channel every now and then, Mexico has the red light/green light system, etc etc.

Yup. That was pretty much it. Guess that's why it went pretty quick and smooth. Must have truly been random even though they took the passport over to a computer. Not sure what (if anything) they did there.

That sounds like an ag inspection.

In my experience the ag inspectors only open bags where the x-ray shows something of the right density to be food. (Although I would expect they would also open bags that contain something their x-ray can't see through.) It's about 50:50 for us getting an ag inspection (the list of countries always has China and she's China-born. Once I've overheard a couple of their people discussing whether our flight was supposed to be a 100% inspect.) We've learned to gather all items their x-ray will note into one bag to cut down on the inspection.

Flagged by Customs after I Lost My Global Entry Help!!
 

Hi, looking for any help or advice. I was coming back from Paris to Minneapolis 9 months ago and going thru Global Entry, got pulled aside for a random Agricultural Inspection...forgot I had an apple in my bag. I was held for 2.5 hours, paid a $500 fine, lost my Global Entry (for life) Lost my TSA Precheck, and have been flagged at Customs every time (over 100 times in last 9 months. I am a International Commercial Pilot, so this has been almost a career ending event all for an apple. Anyone know what options to get off the flagged status? Any possible way to ever get global entry back? thanks. Rick

Eventually they'll probably ease off on the customs.

For the Global Entry ban, appeal to the Ombudsman. Explain the effect has been out of proportion to the crime and that the fine was enough to get the point home. If they accept that then you can get GE back and everything else will fall into place over time.

The CBP secondary will end once you've demonstrated that you really are "clean".

You may, of course, pursue the Ombudsman angle. But, understand that people who lose GE for a violation where they actually pay a fine simply don't get it back. So, don't get your hopes up.

OP seems to have missed the part during the GE interview where it was explained that all GE members are expected to know and follow immigration & customs rules at all times with zero tolerance for any violations. That's the quid pro quo for the expedited entry privileges - your warning was at the interview.

So, don't ever expect to get GE reinstated. The secondaries will probably start to taper off over time, but for now you are seen as untrusted and require extra scrutiny in case you "forget" a piece of fruit again.

I have no problem with his GE being revoked, it's a privilege, not a right, blah blah.

But

OP, are you saying you have been referred to secondary inspection and detained had your bags searched A HUNDRED TIMES over the last nine months because you once brought an undeclared apple into the country?

That's insane. What usually transpires during these flagged secondary inspections?

It's hard to believe.

All I can think of is that they have flagged you for a period of time for this offense, like a year, which would not be a big deal to most people, as most travelers don't re-enter the USA more than a few times a year.

Keep in mind that during these inspections, assuming you are a US citizen, you have no obligation to answer any questions and they still have to re-admit you. Exercising your right to stay silent may not get you unflagged sooner, and it may not be good for your career, but it's a valid option for you to say "I've answered all these questions 100 times before, I'm not answering them again, search the bag."

You did not lose TSA PreCheck, as you never have it.

TSA PreCheck is a complementary add-on to GE. Since you never enroll it, simply enroll it with TSA.

No way.

1. CBP's border searching authority is absolute.

2. Given your occupation, you pose a higher risk for customs violation than other typical travelers. With such mistake, you should consider the flagged status as a gift (as you said, it could end your career).

You are done. End of story.

Moderator's Note
 

Folks,

The Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum is informational.

Please limit your responses here to practical advice and information.

Opinion and commentary belong in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum.

Posts have been deleted.

Thank you for understanding,

TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator