This is about power, not security
Detained by the feds for not answering questions about international travel.
15 Responses to “This is about power, not security”
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September 13th, 2010 at 9:59 am
i spotted that same article on BoingBoing.
the whole situation is absurd. “what is your purpose for entering this country?” is a perfectly reasonable question to ask of a foreigner wishing to enter; “what was your purpose for entering that other country you are now returning from?” doesn’t even make sense to ask of a citizen returning to their home country. U.S. CBP does not enforce the laws of, nor keep the peace in, whatever other country you’re coming home from, so how could — should — any conceivable answer you might give make any difference to them?
September 13th, 2010 at 10:16 am
the same guy had the most awesome comment of the day today that i’ve seen in an awfully long time.
September 13th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Sounds like a guy with a lot of time on his hands who has never come back with a baby that needs changing and a wife who needs to use the bathroom.
September 13th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Forgot the smiley. 😉
September 13th, 2010 at 11:43 am
He’s returning from a country that has stated their intent to destroy the US. What does he expect?
September 13th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Saturday, as I was returning home with the Wife from some shopping, she noticed a fancy new green and white Dodge at our local gas station. While waiting at the light, she said “What Police Force is that?’ I looked to the right and saw it was Customs and Border Protection. When I told her, she said “What are they doing here?” I looked to my left at the shores of Lake Erie about a half a mile away, and said “They’re here because the Canadian Border is about 30 miles away in the middle of Lake Erie, and the Feds have the authority to patrol a 100 mile zone from any U.S. border”. She sat quietly for a while, then asked “So does that mean I have to carry a Passport if I go to the Mall?” “Nowadays, under this Administration, we probably do”, I replied as the light changed. When we got home, she said, “When you get done with your University classes, we REALLY have to find a better place to live out West”. I agreed, and we then checked our various I.D.s to make sure none were going to expire any time soon. For me, it looks like I found an Abusive Fed Agency that scares me more than BATFE.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I agree with Robert. China is a communist country, communist are the enemy, I may be a liberal but I am still an American and capitalist. Why would travel to China be any different from travel to Cuba or North Korea?
September 13th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
When I was a truck driver I had to go to canada. Getting into canada was easy. Getting back into the US was a different matter all together. After I presented my paperwork and id to the border agent he asked me what was my business in the USA and what country was I originally from. My friggin birth certificate was in his dirty paw… Little weasel pissed me off. I did not realize I had that bad of a temper until I had to fight off the overwhelming urge to pull him through his little window and beat the crap out of him. Guess he saw the sudden look of murder in my otherwise disgustingly polite demeanor and told me to pull to the inspection zone and contact the broker. Funny part is he failed to give me the paper to have my truck inspected in his haste for me to move on. I talked to the broker and he told me if the guard failed to give you the proper documentation then I was under no obligation to tell the inspectors. So I got my brokerage papers went back to my truck and left. Now to all of you who think it is ok to interrogate americans who are coming from a foreign country since when has canada become the enemy??? Come on you weenies give me an answer….
September 13th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Apparently people are lacking basic politeness today.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Bubblehead Les, I don’t understand—what is it about the US border patrol that terrifies you? Are you an illegal alien?
September 13th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Guav, you obviously don’t live in a border state, and have not dealt with the gentlemen of the BP and CBP. The “guilty until proven innocent” is only mildly changed to “guilty until PROVEN citizen”, and most citizens don’t carry proof of citizenship. Try leaving El Paso by car in any direction, and you’ll be stopped at a checkpoint within 30 miles, and your further travel is at the BP’s discretion, unless you happen to carry a passport or similar proof of citizenship.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:32 am
“Why would travel to China be any different from travel to Cuba or North Korea?”
Because we are not technically at war with China the way we are with North Korea?
Because there are no travel restrictions for Americans who want to travel to China, like there are for Cuba?
Because we engage in billions of dollars of free trade with China, unlike North Korea or Cuba?
September 14th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Ok Mu, but I thought that what just about everyone on the right and center and much of the left wanted was increased border security—we can’t have it both ways. Am I missing something?
September 14th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
I’m all for increased border security – at the border. We’re talking about privileges for 100 miles inland, or for roughly 10% of the US land mass.
September 15th, 2010 at 10:45 am
OK, but you’re complaining about how restrictive the security is in El Paso, which is about as close to the border as you can get. If you don’t want them doing those things in El Paso, where do you want them doing it?