This is purely anecdotal, but I wonder if any other Americans have noticed the same thing.

Over the last 5 years or so, I've noticed that CBP officers are much more likely to admit me after 0-2 questions, when previously the questioning was usually more extensive where did you go, what did you do there, what do you do for a living, etc.

Has anyone else noticed this, has there been some change in CBP practices or philosophy about questioning returning Americans?

Maybe I'm just older now (53) and seen as less suspicious than when I was younger.

I have Global Entry so I have not had much of any conversation with immigration. However, I have intiated a discussion with customs because I have been over the alcohol limits. This past trip it was combined. That is, we stopped at immigration and ask about customs (though we had not collected our bags), which again I declared the alcohol. In all cases, I have been waived through without paying duty on the alcohol.

The only question I got asked by CBP at CLT was: "Did you use the app?"

Global Entry as well. I last traveled to Europe back a few months ago. The only actual customs person I spoke to during the entire trip was an outbound German passport control woman. Back at Dulles, I did the GE form on-line and didn't even have to try to take a picture of myself in the machines that never work. Everything else was automated. I was at the baggage carousel in the customs area before the bags arrived.

Multi-decade US expat who travels yearly to the States and in recent years 3-4 times a year to the States. Oh yes, big difference than more than 5 years ago. First less questions after targeted screening (they already know before the plane lands who they are going to focus on) to nearly no questions and no need to even show your passport since facial recognition.

I have had Global Entry for over 10 years. I can't remember when I was last asked any questions upon arrival to the US, except an occasional perfunctory "Anything to declare?". In the early days of GE you still had to answer some questions at the kiosk: bringing in food, been on a farm, etc. Now nothing.

In contrast you still get the third degree in the Dublin preclearance facility.

I feel like the questions have gradually decreased over time, although maybe just being in my 30s rather than 20s helps too.

Recently it has always been one or sometimes two of: "What countries have you been to?", "Do you have any food?", "Any alcohol or tobacco?", "How much money are you carrying with you?" and that's it.

This past summer, returning to the US the only question I got was "Are you carrying any fresh fruit or vegetables?" - I had checked yes for the are you carrying any food question.

I tried to declare several bottles of scotch in DUB last year and the CBP officer interrupted me to say something like "here you go, answering a question I didn't ask" with a wink.

The problem is that if you did not answer the question they did not ask and then later another officer decided to randomly search your bag, the Scotch would then be illegal hooch. So far I have not brought an obscene amount of booze into the country and as such after declaring it have been waived through each time.

At least at some airports you don't even go through primary anymore if you are willing to do facial recognition (at least with certain banks of flights, presumably assessed as lower risk countries). You just walk past a tablet-on-a-stand and they waive you through. Maybe one in ten people get stopped and asked a question or two.

The whole thing is a farce. With the removal of the 6059B and even the pre-screen kiosks they used to have, there is a massive burden of both (a) someone knowing what they are supposed to declare and (b) even knowing how to declare.

If you're an infrequent traveler and just get waived through primary after facial recognition, you would be deeply unsure who you are even supposed to go tell. Other than random checks in the baggage claim, there are no further interactions with an officer before leaving the airport.

The unfortunate reality is that this is the continuation of the pre-screen security state that is ripe for abuse. Not paying import duties is just a white collar crime that - like all others in the current administration in the US - are not enforced... unless you are targeted as a dissident... and then all of a sudden it becomes an issue that you failed to declare something proactively to an officer (when there are no instructions or clear guidance of when and how you are supposed to do so and even varies between large international airports).

In a way, a lot of this is good - the arduous screening for US citizens returning to their own country was ridiculous. On the flip side, I am deeply concerned about differential enforcement of laws based on ideology or other metrics. Even @gfunkdave is a great example of this... "wink wink, nod nod" right until you're targeted for whatever reason and then you get in trouble for not paying your import duties or failing to disclose (and in a he-said-she-said, the person with the uniform on is going to win).

I always try not to burst out laughing when I land at Las Vegas and they ask what I am there for, and how much money I have. God bless them.