Bush's bullies at the border

Great article, Sharon. This stuff particularly pisses me off now as a close friend of mine who is a prof in France is now on sabbatical doing research in Harvard, as is his wife. I'd love to go down and visit them and see Boston again, but even returning here to my "own" country has become a bit of an ordeal, with arbitrary searches and questioning ...

One editorial point. PLEASE include dates of original publication when quoting an article!

Thanks, Sharon! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]

I always got the same stuff too, and not just for political reasons but for being a freelance translator (don't even mention visual artist). As if a freelancer with no employer-paid health coverage would long to go live and work in the States ... [img]rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img] .

Though you've got to admit, the warm, dry desert air of Albuquerque does have its charms this time of year, no?

The Customs people at the US border are raised up and trained on a steady diet of first being assigned to the southern borders, then later, when they get some seniority, being allowed to work the northern border.

As a result, they carry the attitude problem that a lot of white Americans have about "immigrants" northward with them, and as a result the ludicrous spectacle of treating visitors from a neighboring industrialized nation as though they were all potentially illegal immigrants is often seen.

Now, I hasten to point out that I don't think that it is fair that customs officials of [i]any[/i] country be excessively, boorishly rude and unprofessional in conducting their jobs.

But nonetheless, the attitude of the officials On High in the USA validates the prevailing suspicion of all outsiders that seems to prevail at US Customs. [img]frown.gif" border="0[/img]

I remember Jan Wong of all people getting a hard time at the Canadian border from a racist customs official. Yeah, race does play a big part these days - a friend of Egyptian origin who arrived here at the age of 3 really doesn't feel like visiting her family in Texas these days.

Italians, well, they can look just as "Mediterranean" as folks from nearby Tunisia - certainly the Arab strain is strong in a lot of Sicilians, and Andalusians from the south of Spain, for obvious reasons. But northern Italians can look like Swiss or Austrians.

We did the Woodstock NB/Houlton ME (about an hour north of the Calais crossing in this article) this summer at about 3:00 am back in August; no problem. We got pulled into the office in Buffalo once and were about to be turned back due to insufficient ID - couldn't prove we were Canadian. The only thing that got us through was being able to identify the number and name of our Territories. It was truly a defining Canuck moment for me.

As for the unpleasantness described in this article, it brings to mind that grand old slight that the imperial British used on the subject of their neighbours: "The wogs begin at Calais."

[ 07 January 2004: Message edited by: praenomen3 ]

I've never travelled with anything but my passport, as I haven't got a driving licence and certainly wouldn't just use my healthcare card. I'm unfailingly polite.

I've certainly always shown tickets if asked, or reservations if I was staying at a hotel for a conference (if not, I'd be staying with friends).

I've had trouble in the past for political reasons, so I wouldn't even try these days.

I've been in 20 countries and the rudest border guards are always the Americans. This is not new. I think they take a course in bad manners. And another course in intimidation. (Can't let GW have all the fun; we want to be bullies too.)

It has all got worse since 9/11. I don't want to go into the US anymore. I'm fed up with American bullying. I don't need to be subjected to their harrassment. My American relatives, and some of my Canadian ones, don't understand my problem. Disneyland is worth the hassle, isn't it Dad? Well, no it isn't.

And I would truely like to get the US border guards out of Canadian airports.

My most recent trip to the US was as uneventful and unremarkable as most of the others I've made over the years have been. No problem whatever at the Vancouver airport. Minimal search of interior walls of bags with a tissue that was subsequently scanned for trace elements, conducted politely, on our return through LA airport during the Orange Lert. Some police and emergency vehicles on some roads around LAX but they weren't holding up traffic when we passed through. We even got off on a wrong road at one point and the armed guy who stopped us was most polite and helpful.

My beloved and I are 55 years old and white. Good luggage, well dressed etc.

This trip was an important reminder to me that I by and large like the American citizens I've met over the years of my life. Then again, I like most people I meet. I'm an equal opportunity liker.

The varying experiences reported in this thread are typical. Some people cross into the US with ease; others get hassled. I get hassled every time. I don't know why. It doesn't happen when crossing into other countries; just the US.

One thing that may be a factor is that my passport, and their records, has stamps from a lot of countries. I've heard that world travelers are automatic suspects (unofficially).

A slight quibble. "Joe Businessman" (or Jane for that matter) probably encounters more hassles from US Customs than your average folks. Issues over if you'll get paid in the US, by whom, who you work for, who is paying for your trip, have waylaid more then a few of my aquaintences. Try getting into LA from Vancouver for 1 day when you're from Toronto. Or driving to Plattsburg from Montreal.

Daytrippers and tourists out for a little vacation don't seem to have much of a problem, either driving, flying, or whatever.

Edit: spelling

[ 08 January 2004: Message edited by: Tommy Shanks ]

I too have lost interest in ever wanting to travel to this apparent distancing land of uncertain developing fascist state. I hope my sister can get out before the walls tumble. American citizens... [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img] WAKE UP !! You are fast becoming a democratic joke before the world but even more important you are fast losing the very fundamentals that you speak of so loudly ... FREEDOM and it has NOTHING to do with terrorism except for that within the hallowed borders.

[ 09 January 2004: Message edited by: dare2win ]

Check out this border-related nightmare: [url=http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/A...

quote:

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FREDERICTON - Residents of New Brunswick's Campobello Island have become virtual castaways in a sea of new cross-border trade restrictions.

Just doing a bit of grocery shopping has become a retail waltz of one step forward and two steps back, with border officials walking on their toes at every turn.

Frustration is breaking out across the island off southwest New Brunswick - which can only be reached most of the year through the state of Maine - now that the mad cow scare has produced barriers to the movement of meat and meat products on both sides of the border.

...

earlier this week, a friend of his tried to bring home a couple of cans of chicken dog food, purchased on the U.S. side of the border in Lubec, Maine.

"He went across, got the dog food and when he got to Canadian customs, they wouldn't let him bring it in," Hooper said.

"He went back to U.S. customs and they wouldn't let him bring it across there, so he went back across to the Canadian side and they still said 'no."'

The man had to return to U.S. customs and was told to call the store in Lubec where he bought it to confirm his purchase. He was then allowed to take it back.

---

This stuff is gettin' outta hand.

That's a relief. My parents are flying to Cuba tomorrow. (And I'm not! [img]frown.gif" border="0[/img] )

I adore the name US customs gives a foreign artist working down there: "Alien of Exceptional Talent."

Canada does not subscribe to the Primary Directive, you know. We are free to beam down and influence lesser cultures with our vastly superior, yet benificent presences.

Brian, you should really write a letter to your local newspaper, detailing in full the lovely bit of harassment you and your father endured. Copy the letter to your representatives in the House and the Senate, and to the chief of the border station in Vermont where you crossed (if you know or can look up the address). One way to stop the random abuses at the border is by exposing said abuses to the USian public and your elected representatives.

(despite my name, I am being 100% serious here)

[ 25 March 2004: Message edited by: Sarcasmobri ]

[url=http://www.rabble.ca/in_his_own_words.shtml?x=74382]"My American border story"[/url] - Keith tells his story about crossing the border from Canada to the US

quote:

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As Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post recently reported, a small, unnoticed regulation slipped into the Federal Register now gives the U.S. government the right to collect information on American citizens coming back over land crossings.

And they can hold and share that information with whomever they please for 15 years.

The Department of Homeland Security notice blandly states public comments are being taken until Monday, when the "new system of records will be effective."

Doubtless those that comment negatively on the new regulation will find themselves put into the greater security database.

So last year having been asked, and I stress asked, by the friendly border guard to sign my passport, this is the treatment I got on August 19 crossing back from Niagara Falls.

---

When I read it, I also thought it wasn't really much different than what happens when I cross the border by bus. The guards are often kind of gruff-talking and they generally open our bags and take a look inside them and then we're on our way. The questions weren't as detailed as the ones I get, either.

But then, I'm not an American citizen. However, the Canadian guards do the same thing when I come back, to Americans and sometimes to Canadians, too. I get asked similar questions by Canadian border guards coming back, although I've never had my bags searched yet. However, I've seen other people have their bags given the once-over.

Maybe Keith is just comparing the difference between previous border crossings and his most current one and noting an increase in security.

Well I'm sure everyone has a border story somewhere and some things have changed since 9/11. But routine hassles isn't one of them. So here are a couple of my examples.

Canadian side - A colleague of mine crossed from the U.S. to Canada with his son. He had foolishly left an old pair of stilts in his trunk. The car was searched, he and his 8 year old son were questioned for two hours. The offensive thing was that his son was interrogated separately without supervision. He told his dad that they spent two hours trying to get him to say his dad was performing in Canada.

A friend of mine from Mexico when she first arrived was questioned about whether she lived with her roommate romantically. They told her it was illegal to live with your boyfriend in Canada.

You think you have it tough? Almost all Mexicans travelling through US airports are kept under armed guard while waiting for connecting flights. The only time the friend of mine mentioned above had an exception made was after she married a Canadian. Rather than being sent to the room under guard separately she was allowed to leave because she was married to a Canadian who was with her at the time. They went to the beach instead.

Returning from Jamaica one year I was taken out of line to have my bags searched. I watched the line up and the vast majority of people taken out of line were either black or young white kids who had their hair in braids. Of the black persons there appeared to be no distinct image other than skin colour. Young people, well dressed moms with kids, older people etc. It even didn't seem to matter whether it was a Canadian or Jamaican passport in their hands.

Returning from Haiti one of our volunteers who travels on his Pakistan passport (he has lived here since he was 10 and was then in university) was taken unceremoniously from the immigration line at Miami and placed in a holding room. We tried to assess how long he would be there because we had the connecting flight back to Toronto. No one would say anything until one official looked at the room, shrugged and said, "He may be five minutes or he may never come out." He was released just in time to catch the flight with a few minutes to spare. He told us that they opened a file on him and was asked to sign a document that when scanned had references to being viewed in future as a threat to the US and possibly barred from re-entry. He refused to sign. (The official told him to just sign it and read it later on the flight to Toronto) A supervisor came over looked at him, looked at the info collected and told him he could leave.

As to the poster above who said he/she doesn't like US border guards at Canadian airports I have to disagree. Putting US customs on the Canadian side of Pearson was one of the best, smartest moves possible. I would rather go through customs for a brief moment on the Pearson side than try and get through customs at any US airport. Miami has convinced me of that. Coming back from Haiti can be a nightmare if you have tight connecting flights. Two or three metal detectors in Haiti to get to the plane and two very long separate security/immigration checks in Miami. In contrast going to Haiti it is a relatively brief line up at Pearson and no lineups in Miami which allows you to get off the plane and go have lunch, a drink and calmly wait for the connecting flight to Haiti.

As to the poster above who rants about US tourism, get a grip on the rhetoric. If US citizens decided to stay home even for a year rather than visit Canada our tourism industry would collapse. I'm sure some Americans resent Canadian actions for one reason or the other but we really have to stop lumping all Americans into the Bush column. I traveled by car with my roommate and his daughter to Disney World in Florida a couple of months after the Iraq invasion and not once did anyone ever hassle us. In fact the further south we went the nicer people were in our case.

I think racism plays a part at all border crossings around the world. So claiming some new changed environment due strictly to the Republicans is futile nonsense. All this would be happening under Al Gore/Kerry/Clinton whoever after 9/11. And it will continue under Obama. "Bush's bullies at the border" is really a ridiculous assessment.

The border kops have given me a very hard time before and since 9-11. Remember that Mulroney TV commercial promoting free trade with the Yanks? The one where the women are trying on shoes state side, and one remarks to the others, "Just think with free trade, we won't have to wear our old shoes back to Canada!!!" Ya, that was all a crock. What they should have said was, "All our finite reserves of fossil fuels and hydro-electric power will have experience zero bureaucratic foulups as they leave Canada for the U.S. and enjoy more rights than actual Canadians themselves. And they'll tell us to shove our lumber up our derrieres at the same time."

At the border, the Yanks used to let me through airports and international bridge crossings with flashing just a Crappy Tire credit card or even driver's licence, never mind a birth certificate or passport and TN visa etc now. And we have to have our "papers in order" before crossing, or else the border KGB will tell you to go home. I think it might have been easier crossing east-west cold war era Europe than this rigormarole.

[ 01 September 2008: Message edited by: Fidel ]

That's what I mean, Canada's energy and raw materials [i]don't need[/i] passports. And we don't inconvenience American corporations and billionaires when they want to scoop up significant pieces of Canada. It's all about the Americanos' security and prosperity not yours. You will pay more on your home heating bills and at the pump in the near future in order that much can have even more. And yes, you and yours won't be sliding over the border near as easily as Canada's precious fossil juices and raw materials. Remember, as far as the political right is concerned the enemy is people and free movement of labour in general. Otherwise, what's our's is theirs' and never vice versa. Rich and powerful Americanos dictate the rules to Canadians while our pliant yes-men in Ottawa stand idly by nodding up and down in rapid agreement to it all.

[ 01 September 2008: Message edited by: Fidel ]

I agree, our stoogeocrats and border bobbies in Canada are [b]much[/b] worse. Happy now?

I'm sorry, those remarks were neither dignifying nor very complimentary of our fearless leaders. They should be regarded more highly, just not by me.

So what's with the barbed wire fences and walling off of America from its trading freely partner countries?