US outbound interrogation
Oct 20, 2008 | 3:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 3
US outbound interrogation
Hi,
My wife left the country today to visit family, and when she called to let me know she arrived safely, she mentioned that everyone leaving was interrogated before being allowed in the boarding area by some U.S. customs or immigration officials. She was asked how much money she had. Where she was going/why/how long. How long had she been here. When did they start this? Next they are going to want DNA samples and 10 years of tax returns. Every country I have been to basically says "Welcome to <insert country here>, enjoy your stay". It has always been a pain to return to the US and go through customs, but now you can't even leave the U.S. without being harassed?
-z
My wife left the country today to visit family, and when she called to let me know she arrived safely, she mentioned that everyone leaving was interrogated before being allowed in the boarding area by some U.S. customs or immigration officials. She was asked how much money she had. Where she was going/why/how long. How long had she been here. When did they start this? Next they are going to want DNA samples and 10 years of tax returns. Every country I have been to basically says "Welcome to <insert country here>, enjoy your stay". It has always been a pain to return to the US and go through customs, but now you can't even leave the U.S. without being harassed?
-z
Oct 20, 2008 | 3:46 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 167
What airport was this? What agency were they with? Was she going to Latin America? (My guess is they're trying to catch illegal immigrants returning home, as a great many have been doing lately.)
If it were USCIS or CBP, I'd refuse to answer their questions. If they were persistent, I'd have them speak with my attorney.
(Mods: should this be in Travel Safety/Security?)
If it were USCIS or CBP, I'd refuse to answer their questions. If they were persistent, I'd have them speak with my attorney.
(Mods: should this be in Travel Safety/Security?)
Oct 20, 2008 | 3:57 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,944
Hi,
My wife left the country today to visit family, and when she called to let me know she arrived safely, she mentioned that everyone leaving was interrogated before being allowed in the boarding area by some U.S. customs or immigration officials. She was asked how much money she had. Where she was going/why/how long. How long had she been here. When did they start this? Next they are going to want DNA samples and 10 years of tax returns. Every country I have been to basically says "Welcome to <insert country here>, enjoy your stay". It has always been a pain to return to the US and go through customs, but now you can't even leave the U.S. without being harassed?
-z
My wife left the country today to visit family, and when she called to let me know she arrived safely, she mentioned that everyone leaving was interrogated before being allowed in the boarding area by some U.S. customs or immigration officials. She was asked how much money she had. Where she was going/why/how long. How long had she been here. When did they start this? Next they are going to want DNA samples and 10 years of tax returns. Every country I have been to basically says "Welcome to <insert country here>, enjoy your stay". It has always been a pain to return to the US and go through customs, but now you can't even leave the U.S. without being harassed?
-z
Last edited by jamar; Oct 20, 2008 at 4:26 am
Oct 20, 2008 | 4:08 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 3
What airport was this? What agency were they with? Was she going to Latin America? (My guess is they're trying to catch illegal immigrants returning home, as a great many have been doing lately.)
If it were USCIS or CBP, I'd refuse to answer their questions. If they were persistent, I'd have them speak with my attorney.
(Mods: should this be in Travel Safety/Security?)
If it were USCIS or CBP, I'd refuse to answer their questions. If they were persistent, I'd have them speak with my attorney.
(Mods: should this be in Travel Safety/Security?)
-z
Oct 20, 2008 | 4:46 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Rewards Platinum, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,406
TSA squad screens CO 62
A bit off-topic - apologies - but perhaps dimly related to the OP's incident. Last Friday boarding CO 62 (EWR-MAD) after having their boarding passes scanned at the gate, passengers were met at the top of the jetway by a squad (at least 5, perhaps more) of TSA professionals -- all male.
I was first onto the plane and only had to show my passport. Don't know what other passengers had to show or explain.
Had not seen this before. Possibly they were waiting for a specific passenger? These were TSA, not police.
I was first onto the plane and only had to show my passport. Don't know what other passengers had to show or explain.
Had not seen this before. Possibly they were waiting for a specific passenger? These were TSA, not police.
Oct 20, 2008 | 4:54 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Posts: 255
Oct 20, 2008 | 5:09 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Boston Suburbrs
Programs: AA ExPlat, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 1,221
What airport was this? What agency were they with? Was she going to Latin America? (My guess is they're trying to catch illegal immigrants returning home, as a great many have been doing lately.)
If it were USCIS or CBP, I'd refuse to answer their questions. If they were persistent, I'd have them speak with my attorney.
(Mods: should this be in Travel Safety/Security?)
If it were USCIS or CBP, I'd refuse to answer their questions. If they were persistent, I'd have them speak with my attorney.
(Mods: should this be in Travel Safety/Security?)
I always enjoy the big talk on these topics. Talk to your attorney? What, as you try to reclaim the few hundred $$ the airline charges you to reschedule the flight you miss after arguing with the "officials" about whether you need council present to tell them where you live?
Oct 20, 2008 | 5:31 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 167
And what exactly would they do with these captured illegals trying to go home? Force them to stay?
I always enjoy the big talk on these topics. Talk to your attorney? What, as you try to reclaim the few hundred $$ the airline charges you to reschedule the flight you miss after arguing with the "officials" about whether you need council present to tell them where you live?
I always enjoy the big talk on these topics. Talk to your attorney? What, as you try to reclaim the few hundred $$ the airline charges you to reschedule the flight you miss after arguing with the "officials" about whether you need council present to tell them where you live?
And my only purpose for putting up a fight would be to make their lives difficult. I wouldn't argue with them long enough to miss my flight. (What I'm basically saying is that I don't think they'd detain me if I refused to answer, so I'd be obstinate about it. If they actually detained me I'd answer the questions.)
Oct 20, 2008 | 5:34 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 167
A bit off-topic - apologies - but perhaps dimly related to the OP's incident. Last Friday boarding CO 62 (EWR-MAD) after having their boarding passes scanned at the gate, passengers were met at the top of the jetway by a squad (at least 5, perhaps more) of TSA professionals -- all male.
I was first onto the plane and only had to show my passport. Don't know what other passengers had to show or explain.
Had not seen this before. Possibly they were waiting for a specific passenger? These were TSA, not police.
I was first onto the plane and only had to show my passport. Don't know what other passengers had to show or explain.
Had not seen this before. Possibly they were waiting for a specific passenger? These were TSA, not police.
Oct 20, 2008 | 5:40 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 167
This was in Honolulu outbound to Asia. She didn't pay attention to which agency it was, but she said they were definitely US government and not security guards (like the ones that compare passport to ticket on the way in). They have always had officers poking around the boarding area, but this interrogation thing is new.
-z
-z
Oct 20, 2008 | 5:59 am
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
Hi,
My wife left the country today to visit family, and when she called to let me know she arrived safely, she mentioned that everyone leaving was interrogated before being allowed in the boarding area by some U.S. customs or immigration officials. She was asked how much money she had. Where she was going/why/how long. How long had she been here. When did they start this? Next they are going to want DNA samples and 10 years of tax returns. Every country I have been to basically says "Welcome to <insert country here>, enjoy your stay". It has always been a pain to return to the US and go through customs, but now you can't even leave the U.S. without being harassed?
My wife left the country today to visit family, and when she called to let me know she arrived safely, she mentioned that everyone leaving was interrogated before being allowed in the boarding area by some U.S. customs or immigration officials. She was asked how much money she had. Where she was going/why/how long. How long had she been here. When did they start this? Next they are going to want DNA samples and 10 years of tax returns. Every country I have been to basically says "Welcome to <insert country here>, enjoy your stay". It has always been a pain to return to the US and go through customs, but now you can't even leave the U.S. without being harassed?
EDIT: As far as doing it to everyone, perhaps they were looking for a passenger of interest?
Oct 20, 2008 | 6:08 am
#14
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YOW
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