Those suggestions are spot on. Even better, both asylum seekers and those denied entry should have the express right to return on a flight immediately unless they're being held on suspicion of a felony.

They should also automatically have the right to communicate with their lawyer, embassy, and any other relevant person/s. The legal construct of them not being considered to be in US soil is simply for administrative ease and is certainly not in anyone's best interest.

Is the US trying to make itself into a non-destination? It seems more like that with every piece of news like this we see.

Posted By Jack from eyeflare travel tips on May 15, 2008, 8:14 AM

The US government is out of control. The bureaucratic incompetence is unbelievable. There is no concept of "common sense" and these government employees act like "gods" because they do not have to worry about any type of discipline or oversight. You can't even sue the sobs. Travellers have no rights and must act like sheep. We have lost many of our rights and our way of life is seriously erroded. The terrorists must be very happy...they have scared us into submission.

Posted By Dan on May 15, 2008, 12:36 PM

I am not surprised; I would like to be outraged, but so many outrageous things are going on now that my passion is blunted. The suggestions for improvement all seem reasonable and not injurious to our national security--so they probably have no possibility of taking effect.

Posted By Erik on May 15, 2008, 12:36 PM

I agree i have friends the live in Europe and they tell me that a lot of Europeans don’t like coming to the US due to the way they are treated when they get here by the immigration people

Posted By Mark on May 15, 2008, 12:36 PM

gee, the next thing we're going to hear is that the NY Times is a creditable source..you hear one side of the story and that makes it true..of the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our country every year and this one incident makes is comparable to all who enter our country?

Posted By gene on May 15, 2008, 12:40 PM

One would think that in difficult economic times the US would do anything to make visitors welcome.
After all, they bring their money to this country and are ready to spend!
Judging from the often overly authoritarian and hostile welcome I - a middle-class, middle-age educated white woman - got at immigration, I frequently asked myself about the treatment other people might be getting.
If this was Germany, the world would be screaming out at the resurrection of some evil ways. But this is the Land of Freedom and smiling faces, right?
Having said all this, I totally appreciate the officers who do not see their role as putting people off and worse, but are friendly and courteous, and KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE WORLD OUTSIDE! They exist also, and should be put in charge of training the bad apples.

Posted By Erika Jakubassa on May 15, 2008, 12:41 PM

I was recently on a flight from Rome to Dulles and at Dulles ALL passengers with non- USA passports had to wait a very long time because the computers that read the scanned passports were down. Don;t know if there is any connection here. Maybe just a coincidence. But when computers crash, one always thinks of the possibility of corruption of data files.

Posted By John Cane on May 15, 2008, 12:45 PM

No doubt the tinge of colour in this man's complexion may have had a strong influence on the treatment he received. America and Canada in its wake are becoming hotbeds of anti-Muslim/anti-Islamic Zenophobia when it comes to people whose colour suggests that they may come from the Middle East, including parts of the Mediterranean. What has become of the ethic of racial tolerance? And what will become of all of us if we lose it? Must we all just stay home and keep our heads in the ground? It is good that you have spoken up about this incident in hopes of putting a stop to this. Pray that it is not too late.

Posted By laura leah allan steiman on May 15, 2008, 12:50 PM

government policy makers and employees are like postal workers and airline employees. remember fema? dumber than a box of rocks; in it for the ease, security, and pension and bennys. only exception is at the utmost highest level of government and politics. God help us. dg

Posted By dan grem on May 15, 2008, 12:52 PM

Before I got my U.S. passport, I was routinely dealt with in a hostile and suspicious manner by INS, even though I was just flying in from Canada. Once I got my passport, that attitude disappeared. U.S. citizens have no idea how surly INS can be with visitors and it clearly puts the lie to "Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free". The message now is "go away and don't come back".

Posted By John on May 15, 2008, 1:02 PM

I read The NY Times article and was appalled! I travel to Italy often, and the agents there are pleasant, non-threatening and professional. What ashame our agents are horses' asses. I can't imagine that the Italian word for asylum, asilo, would be used by a gentleman coming to visit his girlfriend. And then to hold him for 10 days without benefit of an attorney or his embassy's notification! Unacceptable in a civilized society.

Posted By Vince on May 15, 2008, 1:12 PM

Are not these government officials in Homeland Security employed by the US Government and therefore Civil Servants? Civil Servants work for and are paid for by the citizens in taxes. Therefore why are the citizens allowing these unpleasant characters at the border to still be employed and abuse their authority.
It is time to ask for and make changes. Does nobody remember what happened in Germany? The Holocaust was nobody's fault!! Just one man's madness?

Posted By F Rumford on May 15, 2008, 1:12 PM

I understand the need for tight security, but as a potential tourist to the US, I have to say this kind of story is off-putting. Surely the economic benefits overseas visitors bring should be welcomed?

Oh well. I'm Australian. Tourists, come to our place instead.

Posted By Michelle on May 15, 2008, 1:28 PM

I have heard horror stories about being treated unfairly by immigration in NYC and DC from friends who travel back and forth between the US and South Africa; even when you complain to the immigration authorities, no one seems interested in hearing what you have to say. While you can appreciate their gusto for their jobs, they need to be held accountable for their actions. As a legal permanant resident, I too approach any immigration situation with butterflies in my stomach after having heard these awful stories.

Posted By Ushan on May 15, 2008, 1:34 PM

This is and will not be the first case, thousands of people had been arrested since 2003 for no reason, most of them had their own passports and visas in order, even happened with European citizens, which they don’t need a visa to visit the USA. I will tell you a short story about the abuses that immigration authorities may commit. On May 22, 2005 an Argentinean citizen who went to Miami, Florida, with the goal of visiting a friend, was arrested for 15 hours in Miami International. Apparently he was denounced by a woman inside the USA, to Homeland Security, because he “had been working illegally for her husband as a polo player in Massachusetts.” He was subject to a lengthy, disgusting and cruel interrogation; they denied him the chance to call the General Consul in Miami, or even a lawyer. His family, when they knew what was going on, called right away an attorney in Miami Beach and the Consul Mr. Gowland. He did not have any criminal record in the States or in any other country, he showed that he graduated from a well known university in Boston and has a perfect track record. He was playing in Massachusetts invited for six weeks by an American friend, the woman acted as she recognized six months later just because she want to destroy his reputation because he did not accept her “demands”. When he went back to Argentina for two years he was denied the specific visa, until he went to live in London. Only when he was in England and thanks to a very smart American consul plus his attorneys in the UK was able to demonstrate that everything was fabricated by one person. The American consul in London, gave him back his visa and everything was clarified, but It took three years to know the truth, and for the USA authorities to recognize that he was a victim of a revenge. Sounds like Germany in times of the Nazi regime, or the Soviet Union, a person maybe subject to such an ordeal, just because a simple false charge, which was never corroborated by immigration authorities. The moral damage that he had suffered was never repaired, and he had chosen instead of playing in the USA the UK where he is currently playing with Princes William and Harry. By the way, the immigration authorities who stopped him, were mostly born in the Dominican Republic and they mistreated him more because they said “you aren’t Latin-American, blond, blue eyes” he answered all the time in English (his family is originally from Ireland and Scotland) and they forbid him to speak in the official language of the USA, what kind of people works for the immigration service? The worst of all, as a family’s friend I spoke later to a high ranking official of the Department of State and he told me that the “education level” of most officers of Immigration in many airports within the US were too low, because the wages were low. This answer is unacceptable. I hope that this kind of episodes will not occur again in a country, which is the cradle of modern democracy.

Posted By Louis Ferdinand on May 15, 2008, 1:34 PM

I completely agree with the comments from Jack from Eyeflare Travel Tips:

"... those denied entry should have the express right to return on a flight immediately unless they're being held on suspicion of a felony....Is the US trying to make itself into a non-destination? It seems more like that with every piece of news like this we see."

We look like fools and rubes to all the rest of the world. I often travel in
Europe & especially Australia/NZ, where the local folks say mournfully:

"We love Americans, but we hate your government, how could you
all have gotten it so wrong? Where is the heroic & confident USA? "

We need a national wake up call from this bad dream we're having!

Posted By PAtrick Stansfield on May 15, 2008, 1:35 PM

As a German citizen (permanent resident alien) living in the United States I have been witness to the way the immigration officers treat foreigners at the "former" Immigration and Naturalization" office in Arlington, VA and Baltimore,MD.

My english is flawless having been here since 1960 so noone tried to be flip or rude to me, but I saw many elderly Asian couples, Latin Americans, Eastern Europeans ordered about as if they were unwelcome fleas at a picnic. I felt embarrassed! The rude behavior is the reason why I have elected not to apply for my American Citizenship - and to retain my German passport. Writing letters to address this problem goes nowhere! They do not respond to letters, phone calls or any other mode of communication.
A true shame because Americans are usually the friendliest people on the planet!

Posted By Gabriele Mecca on May 15, 2008, 1:44 PM

I agree with Gene--one story among thousands of people entering the US. No one knows the story. What was in his luggage? What else did he say? I do agree that he should have been allowed to contact the Italian consolate, however, no matter the reason for his detention.

Posted By Sharon on May 15, 2008, 1:57 PM

Its not only foreigners being abused- we as American Citizens (our Family) before 9/11 experienced abusive power on our way back in the US from Canada, because we weren't carrying passports (and it wasn't required then) The immigration power was unchecked then and still is... it was scary then and is more so now. Our land of "Freedom."

Posted By Carrie on May 15, 2008, 2:07 PM

I live in Guatemala, and last month I met a couple from the Netherlands who were strip searched in the U.S. en route to Central America. The reason they were given was that they were from the Netherlands and "everybody from there smuggles drugs." Not surprisingly, they intend never to visit the U.S.

What kind of impression are these and other people getting about the U.S.?

It's embarrassing at best.

Posted By Carol on May 15, 2008, 2:08 PM

The border-bullying happens to US citizens, too, and it began way before 9/11... I--a blue-eyed, WASPy, short-haired gringo--used to cross the Tijuana-San Isidro border frequently. One day, without explanation, customs/ immigration 'detained' me--I was marched to a room brimming with cameras and microphones, strip-searched, questioned and held for several hours while my rent-a-car was torn apart. Drug and gun smugglers were captured and released during the time I was held--I watched them come and go, but no one ever explained why I was 'detained' or said 'sorry'... I've crossed many borders, even a few hostile ones, but have never encountered customs and immigration officers so rude and condescending as here in our US. It's an attitude that comes with the arrogance of absolute power. They can do whatever they want to do to you. And it's much worse now that they can argue that they are just protecting us from terrorists...

Posted By Jamie on May 15, 2008, 2:17 PM

To "wake up from the bad dream, we need to elect a president who recognizes the importance of diplomatic relations and they must extend to immigration officers. A recent visit from Dutch friends made me wonder who's in charge. They were asked several times WHO they were visiting, WHERE we met us, HOW they us, and then fingerprinted twice. Good grief! We "look like fools and rubes" to the rest of the world.

Posted By Barbara on May 15, 2008, 2:24 PM

This kind of high handedness is not new, but certainly worse under the Bushies. Homeland Security indeed!

Posted By Stephen Part on May 15, 2008, 2:43 PM

We came through customs in Charlotte, Virginia on our way back from Saint Martin. My husband, a U.S. citizen, was detained with no explanation for 2 hours. When I asked when he might be released, I was told "It could be minutes, it could be hours, it could be days." They refused to give me any information. Immigration is out of control!!

Posted By Pam on May 15, 2008, 2:43 PM

The stories retold here are, hopefully, embellished. I cannot pass judgment without reading both sides of the story.

Posted By cookie on May 15, 2008, 2:51 PM

Ah, yes, more evidence of the growing American police state. Every oppressive regime uses fear of outsiders to control the "unwashed" masses. We hear about these things happening all the time (not just with foreigners, but also U.S. citizens), but most people don't seem to care. All they say is, "Well, if it makes us safer, it's OK with me." Sorry, folks, but it doesn't make us safer. All these acts mean one thing: our government is trying to control us through paranoia and intimidation. And, apparently, it's working.

Posted By Brent on May 15, 2008, 2:55 PM

This is far from a horrifying story. What about the rest of the story----the other side? Has the writer of the article forgotten that one needs to know the whole deal beforing leaping to judgement?.I am very weary of so called violation of rights for non US citizens. Do you think Mohammed Atta was screened well enough?! I appreciate the efforts of our government to try to keep us safe, although nothing is perfect, or ever will be. And I believe our country protects human rights at least as well as the best.

Posted By nancy Q on May 15, 2008, 3:06 PM

What happened to "government by the people and for the people?" Or the concept of civil servant? Civil and servant. I guess the old cliche applies, absolute power corrupts absolutely. But how did they get to be absolute? Wow! So bad!!! Make sure you vote for a Democrat in November.

Posted By Alberta on May 15, 2008, 3:18 PM

Have any of you people thought for a moment that maybe this guy did something that caused this whole mess??? Right away people are quick to believe a "wronged" person who is just looking for his "15 minutes" of fame. Sorry but I have traveled to Europe numerous times & have property in Canada that I visit 8+ times a year & sometimes they ask extra questions but as long as you are not rude to them they are polite to you. Look at how you approach the officer & then ask yourself "am I looking for a fight or am I being courteous to him or her" then you will see how the officer respond. People today are too sensitive & jump at anything that might hurt their feelings. Grow up & accept responsibility for yourself.

Posted By Dawn C on May 15, 2008, 3:30 PM

I'm Canadian and I avoid going to the States because of their immigration rules - even driving across the border can be scary. People need to just stop visiting the States and go where they're welcome. But Canada is getting just as bad - after being segregated in a room for 10 hours in the Vancouver airport, a European man who spoke no English got very upset - he was tasered by the police, and he died. Welcome to our countries!!

Posted By Sharen on May 15, 2008, 3:33 PM

An awful lot of people in our government especially in Homeland Security and Department of State have forgotten what America is all about, and why we have Constitutional and Human Rights. Among other things they either do not realize or don't care about is the fact that their improper treatment of non US citizens negatively affects all Americans as well since under the principle of quid pro quo or reciprocity the way we treat others is used as the standard under which we will be treated!

Posted By rsisson on May 15, 2008, 3:47 PM

I think this doesn't help the US internationally as a friendly, democratic state if we are so paranoid that anyone coming from aboard is a potential terrorist. We just need anew administration and fast!!!!

Posted By S.Glover on May 15, 2008, 4:22 PM

This is absolutely outrageous! While they do a lot to keep our borders safe, they have too much leeway in their power... It could have happened to me...in fact, in 1998 I was flying back from Heathrow to SFO, and immigration stopped me, took away my passport, took away my bags, and I just sat there... about 10 mins later they came back..and they said they had the wrong person...since then I have added my mother's maiden name to my passport and have not been bothered since... this was before 9/11...I can't imagine what my fate could have been now if the same scenario happened again....hey, what about the polish guy in the canadian airport a few months ago? they "tasered" the guy and he died... that was canada..but still that was excessive force... God forbid I had an arab surname.... or if I flew in from Bogota to Miami... good luck!

Posted By Alvarado on May 15, 2008, 4:54 PM

As a Briton living in the US with a boyfriend in the Netherlands who's just gone home after visiting me for 5 weeks, this is a truly scary story. I told him before he left Amsterdam to make sure they knew he had a return ticket, money in the bank, and a job to go back to. And not to mention he was visiting his girlfriend! I've heard a lot of stories of EU citizens being turned away so I'm not surprised to hear about this Italian being treated so badly. With my boyfriend, I know he's going to get flagged the more he visits me, and on a British passport, it's just easier for me to visit him. I guess it's going to be me racking up the frequent flyer miles not him!

Posted By vic on May 15, 2008, 4:56 PM

THE NEW YORK TIMES WOULD BE THE FIRST TO CONDEMN HOMELAND SECURITY IF AND WHEN ANOTHER 9/11 HAPPENS, OF THE MILLIONS OF TRAVELERS GOING THROUGH SECURITY IN THE U.S WE ARE TALKING OF LESS THAN 1% WITH COMPLAINTS, LEGITIMATE OR NOT. WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE IT'S BEST NOT TO BE SO JUDGEMENTAL.

Posted By BILL on May 15, 2008, 5:07 PM

Sounds like an immigration hit piece to me. Not enough info to make an informed comment.

Posted By Norm on May 15, 2008, 5:17 PM

Maybe when the administration changes, there will be a change in attitude at Immigration. Let's hope so. I made the mistake of going into the INS station at the US end of the Rainbow bridge in Niagara Falls to ask a question, and was hassled by the agent for a half hour because I didn't have a passport with me. I entered from the US side, was trying to exit the same way. She was just letting me know who was in charge. If they do that to middle-aged US citizens, what must they do to foreign guests?

Posted By Jim on May 15, 2008, 5:25 PM

To those of you who keep saying there's not enough information to make an informed comment, try reading the actual story. The government had many opportunities to explain, but, in its usual arrogant fashion, it chose not to. If they truly had a good reason for jailing this man, do you really believe they wouldn't give it? And as for Dawn C's comment, do you honestly believe that the guy was jailed for 10 days with no due process because he wasn't "nice" to the screeners?!? Give me a break! And if that were true, it just proves the point that the screeners have WAY too much power.

Posted By Brent on May 15, 2008, 5:30 PM

The United States Government needs to practice what it preaches in regard to human rights and human dignity. This is no way to treat foreign visitors, and U.S. citizens will pay the price when visiting other countries. The practice of our government harrassing foreign visitors is more widespread than we would like to belive. It wasn't long ago that it was reported that foreign business travelers are having their computers confistcated by TSA and never returned to them. And these are legitimate business travelers with no intent of malice. We've let 911 open the door to government thinking everyone is a terrorist and treating them as such until proven otherwise. It's time to put government back in the bottle. Terrorist activities did not begin at 911, and this event should not have such an negative impact on our lives. Otherwise, the terrorist have won.

Posted By Dennis on May 15, 2008, 6:00 PM

I got the same treatment from Russia, Germany Great Britain and the Czech Republic. No one country is perfect

Posted By karas on May 15, 2008, 6:32 PM

I have visited the U.K. nearly every year since way before the current security threat. During most of those years they were suffering from IRA terrorists. Yet their immigration and security people are ALWAYS courteous and reasonable. Our people have no excuse for harassing foreign visitors.

Posted By T Sloan on May 15, 2008, 6:38 PM

A friend of ours recently told us a somewhat similar story, but without these horrible consequences. Also an Italian visiting an American girlfriend. He was only detained several hours (either BWI or IAD); both he and his American girlfriend were questioned and he was apparently being accused/threatened with coming to the U.S. to deal/deliver drugs. Needless to say, this gentleman has no plans to re-visit the U.S.

Posted By Loie on May 15, 2008, 7:08 PM

A friend of ours recently told us a somewhat similar story, but without these horrible consequences. Also an Italian visiting an American girlfriend. He was only detained several hours (either BWI or IAD); both he and his American girlfriend were questioned and he was apparently being accused/threatened with coming to the U.S. to deal/deliver drugs. Needless to say, this gentleman has no plans to re-visit the U.S.

Posted By Loie on May 15, 2008, 7:18 PM

They do have a right to contact their Embassy - and in fact, it normally happens without them asking. It's called the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

The NY Times article neglects to detail the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. Whether or not this traveler was a "great guy" is pointless. What matters is that he was making repeated trips to visit his girlfriend on the visa waiver program. He likely demonstrated an intent to immigrate or overstay. Immigration officers were just doing their jobs.

If there was derogatory info about this traveler the government never would have released it to NY Times, as that is prohibited.

I'm tired of Budget Travel getting so worked up on this blog about our government, but using one-sided arguments. Tsk tsk.

Posted By Bow on May 15, 2008, 7:19 PM

Not even a single time I've went through US migration, I've encountered a welcoming, amiable, courteous or reassuring attitude; on the contrary, they are systematically rude and suspicious and make you feel a delinquent.
The last time, this past May 10th, I boarded an AA plane in London, bound for Mexico, where I live.
I made a technical stop in Dallas and had to clear migration there. Although my passport had a visible stamp telling that my bags were bound straight to Mexico and that I didn't have to collect them in Dallas and pass customs there, the migration officer wanted to know what was it I was carrying in my bags and posed his question in a very rude manner, after he reprimanded me for carrying in my hand bag the next flight boarding pass of one of my travel companion friends.
I told the man that since my bags weren't going to be collected and already were satisfactorily inspected and sealed in London, it was none of his business to inquire about it's contents and that I had absolutely nothing to declare in such regard.
Maybe I was just lucky that I was not delayed or detained, because I was only in transit through the airport, towards my destination in Mexico.
Two things are absolutely clear to me:
1.-Those bastards are rude and discourteous and one blames the country because of their behavior and bad manners.
2.-One is legally defenseless and at the whim and bad temper of such despicable individuals.
Next time I fly to Europe, I will avoid having to make technical stops in the US at any cost. That bully country, that police state should be avoided like the plague.
Land of the free? Who they think are kidding?
In fighting terrorism they have become a terrorist state.

Posted By Gabriel Valdes on May 15, 2008, 9:09 PM

I have friends that share the opinion that it is ok to give up some of our rights to keep us safe and I always say "Not necessary" if we give up our rights the terrorists have won. Our current government using the Patriot Act has taken most of the rights we had and if they suceed in giving immunity to the phone companies we will lose our right to free speech. I travel at least twice a year to other countries and have only been challenged once in Brazil and they were just doing what we have done and believe it was a scary forty five minutes and I was just happy I was on a tour and not alone. Vote Democrat and stay informed.

Posted By Gerry on May 15, 2008, 9:17 PM

I refuse to let my young adult children travel in and out of the U.S. alone for fear that U.S. Customs will abuse or harass them on re-entry. Last summer, we begged and pleaded for their new passports for over three months when caught in the ignorant and incompetent trap of the U.S. Passport office in New Orleans. We also were incorrectly advised by our U.S. senator's office that the children could re-enter without the passports from a non-U.S. island territory. The passport official in our senator's office actually was so incompetent in her own job that she thought a foreign island was U.S. territory.
No pride in doing good work and being kind. The first step in doing a good job is being open to learning and making a good impression. The U.S. would make many more foreign friends with honey rather than with the overflowing vinegar our leadership wants to display. Two wrongs will never make a right.

Posted By Maggie on May 15, 2008, 9:42 PM

Subjectivity apart, personal interpretations or valuation of facts, one thing stands crystal clear in regard of this anecdote: visitors of the US lack an objective legal recourse that protects their rights, if violated by the unrestricted whim or temper of immigration personnel. This fact is uncontestable: no visitor has any legal instance to appeal to, in case he believes his basic human rights have been violated.

Posted By Gabriel Valdes on May 15, 2008, 9:45 PM

Doesn't the italian word for 'asylum' - "asilo" - sound a lot like the vulgar term for a rude person? You know, the 7-letter word that starts with 'a' and ends in 'hole'? And, could it be that after a few hours (or days) of being detained for no reason, this Italian gentleman used this vulgar term, and his captors deliberately mis-heard it as 'asilo' or asylum, to give themselves an excuse for their behavior? Just a thought...

Posted By bp on May 15, 2008, 10:37 PM

It's ridiculous. We've already made most of the world hate us and keep giving them more reasons. The treaties on consular relations are also likely being broken in cases like this. Not that the Bush administration has cared about adhering to treaties thus far.


All American travelers should realize that abuse of visitors to the USA is making it that much more likely we will have problems abroad.


I'm fairly certain that I am regularly treated better by the immigration and customs officials of foreign nations (including 3rd world ones) than I am by the US ones (and I'm a US citizen). I can only imagine how terrible the experience is for non-citizens visiting the US.


Everyone should read the recent articles in the Washington Post about the prisons "detainees" are sent to, including visitors refused entry. It'll make you sick and wonder how that could happen in a country that claims to be part of the first world.


We absolutely have to get the an administration into place that cares about both Americans and the world; our current despotic regime doesn't care about much other than rewarding its insiders, certainly not the rights of innocent visitors, nor the ripple effects its abuses have on American travelers abroad. We won't be able to fix anything, including this, until we kick the bums out.

Posted By omars on May 16, 2008, 2:02 AM

Gosh! My wife and I are travelling to the US for the first time next week. That's really scary.

We had heard some terrible tales about the airport officials, but thought they were urban myths.

Posted By Paddy Browne on May 16, 2008, 7:16 AM

I am an American living in England with my new husband, who is British. His family and I recently came back to America for a wedding reception and they were suprised what they had to go through...a retinal scan, fingerprints, and a digital photograph.

I understand trying to keep the borders safe, but is detering people from visiting the US because they get interrigated and made to feel like they are criminals.

My friends in England who have not been to the US have heard the horror stories and are "nervous" to travel to the US.

I, too, get questioned at European airports, but they always seem happy that I am helping the tourist economy in their country.

Posted By Karla on May 16, 2008, 8:45 AM

For every horror story there may be thousands of more happy travelers. That being said, CBP is not as competent, logical, well managed, or friendly as the old INS was.

Also with their "One Face at the Border" concept you can't even identify which part of the CBP, Customs, Agriculture or Immigration is to blame when things go wrong.

Bring back the separate agencies, Customs Service, Dept. of Agriculture and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. At least then you will have some kind of idea where the problems lie.

By doing this the USA will be protected by Experts and not "Jacks of all Trades". With true "Experts" manning America's borders mistakes like the one stated in this article will be less likely to happen because the Officers performing the activity will know what they are doing.

If Americans want to fix this problem they should start by doing away with CBP and return to actual "Expert Agencies". CBP, because of it's failed mission plan, is losing employees faster than it can hire them.

A November 2007 Government Accountability Office report showed that low staffing, training, and overwork is a large problem within CBP, and an average of 71 officers leave the service every two weeks.

SEE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs_and_Border_Protection

The lines will get longer, The waits will get longer, and because few with any experience remain, expect more wrong doing.

Posted By B.C. on May 16, 2008, 8:48 AM

I'm a Canadian who lived a few minutes drive from the Peace Arch and other Wash./B.C. borders for several years. I now reside in Europe (family commitments).
I met the most helpful and the most 'full of themselves' border-crossing staff. Pre-9/11 I've been asked for my passport at a time when we did not need to do so and was nearly refused entry.

I've had visitors from the UK and Malta. Same thing - sometimes the visitors were made very welcome and comfortable. Once, again pre-9/11, one officer was being so difficult that I commented 'I'm just taking my visitors to enjoy your beautiful State', no sarcasm. He placed his hand on his gun. Still don't know why.

The last experience was in summer 2007. I took my Maltese wife and her son across the border while we were visiting. I had no questions asked as I had my Canadian passport. Despite valid visas, my companions were subjected to questioning, fingerprinted and photographed. The boy was 14 at the time. The person doing all this was very pleasant, explained that this was standard procedure for security reasons. could have been very traumatic for a 14 year-old had he met some jerk.

I suppose we all have our bad days but when you are dealing with the public all staff, regardless of whether it's a business, law-enforcement or ?, need to exhibit some consistent behavior. Unfortunately with US immigration personnel I met some very good ones and observed others, especially at airports, being unreasonably heavy-handed.

Posted By John on May 16, 2008, 10:57 AM

One more example why I wouldn't wrap a dead fish in the New York Times or the Washington Post. I've seen better reported articles in the Enquirer.
So much for reporting the truth or even a believable version of the truth.
To the editors of the Times.....GOOD JOB!!!NOT!
Go Green!!! Stop wasting your money on newspapers.

Posted By Joe Loiselle on May 16, 2008, 11:12 AM

I have my own nightmare i.e. horrifying story about US Immigration but I am sick about the fact that nobody cares so I keep my mouth shut.

Marie

Posted By Marie on May 16, 2008, 12:21 PM

Amazing that they can do this to someone with proper identification yet can't do anything about the MILLIONS of illegals roaming this country!

Posted By Coloradogirl on May 16, 2008, 1:02 PM

I have read the monumental list of comments that have been sent in - as usual there are those that try to make the who thing political and then there are others who would defend the immigration officials without question.
Well I am speaking from experience. I am now a permanent resident (green card) and I am always greeted with a smile and the words "welcome home". BUT, this has not always been the case - before I had my Green Card I was treated to the same surly remarks and abusive behavior as has been detailed in a lot of the other comments above. In one case when arriving in Tampa FL, I was told that I should go back where I came from and I should stop making life difficult for the immigration officials. Unfortunately when processing aliens and visitors entry there is additional work involved - this is no excuse for bad behavior!
Yes the USA does not give visitors a very good impression, but when one meets the "real" people then it is a whole lot different - Americans are a great nation - that is why I chose to live here.

Posted By Harry on May 16, 2008, 2:06 PM

I'm Canadian and have a similar horror story at a land crossing in Sarnia/Port Huron. American Border agents took my son and daughter in law in handcuffs in front of their terrified children and myself. They were released about 20 min later with some vague explanation that his name was SIMILAR to some "black" (thier description)convict in the US. My son is blond, has blue eyes and very fair complexion. We were one of 3 families in a 2 month period at the same border that were terrorized. Odd that it coincides with an intense training program in the US. The US is bankrupt yet have the audacity to shun and terrorize tourists and visitors who come to spend. Canadians are fed up with the bullying.

Posted By Karen on May 16, 2008, 2:29 PM

Well, hopefully this country will change for the better as soon as President Bush leaves office....you have to admit that we started to go downhill as soon as Bush was sworn in as President!!

Posted By Jake on May 16, 2008, 5:29 PM

I do NOT see the New York Times as a credible source, unless you hear of this from other media I would not get too worked up...its probably false. Shame on you for blogging accusations that cannot be confirmed.

Posted By bonnie on May 16, 2008, 7:51 PM

I noticed all the cheap shots being taken by those contributors who be must suffering from BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome). Sure, go ahead and vote Democrat. You'll virtually guarantee another 9/11.

Posted By Mike on May 16, 2008, 9:40 PM

We Americans are also fed up. We are just holding our breaths till Jan 20 09, then we will try to move away from our incipient police state status as quickly as we can. I am horrified by all the biometric data that is being collected: at the border, in Iraq (as reported in US News and W.R.) and even at Disneyworld!

I also visited France and Britain at the time of terrible terrorism, and was treated well. I was even carefully searched once in Switzerland, during the era of hijackings. But the officials were civil and professional. The US is now like the horribly rude border officials I encountered in East Germany (but worse, when I see the TSA interacting with foreign nationals.)

Posted By S N on May 16, 2008, 9:42 PM

dan grem has it exactly right. The problem isn't with the government or the policies--we should have tighter security nowadays. The problem is with these idiots we have working for the government. These morons cannot get a job in the private sector, but once they latch onto the government teat, you cannot fire them. You have morons in the private sector too, but eventually they get fired!

All you people who blindly side with those Immigration officials probably have never been outside of your trailer.

Posted By Fred on May 17, 2008, 1:34 AM

We recently returned to the US from Norway and connected in Dulles. I can only imagine what is is like for someone from another country. The very first "American" to appear was a woman who kept shouting to everyone to move, ugly expression, nasty tone, no eye contact. Granted, she may have had a long day, her feet may have hurt, all kinds of things, but there is no excuse for the US to present that kind of picture to a first time visitor - in our nation's capital, no less. It didn't get much better soon. I realize that's just a tiny little factor compared to the horrors people have suffered. Surely thare is a better way.

Posted By Carol Rodhouse on May 17, 2008, 11:10 AM

I am sorry for this mistake; the man should receive an apology and compensation. However, this is a one in a million mistake and I am not sorry for the vigilence shown by Homeland Security. I want terrorists and illegal immigrants stopped at the border. I used to be a left-wing liberal but *everything* changed after September 11, 2001. I see too lax security at the airport, and millions of illegals who do NOT want to become tax-paying Americans living in my country.

Posted By Eden on May 17, 2008, 3:32 PM

The only objective phrase in the New York Times article says, "Mr. Salerno's case may be extreme."

Posted By Duane on May 18, 2008, 11:37 AM

I just came back from a trip to Berlin. What a difference in the agents in Germany and the ones in JFK. I disembarked in Berlin, walked to the agent ,he looked at my passport and stamped it. There was not any screaming or hollering as it was at JFK ,on my return. The US agents know that they can reach and create a problem where is none ,and they abuse their authority. The thing that I don't understand is,why have agents and personnel that only speak English,on an international terminal. And then they have the ones working for TSA,checking bags . Incompetent and abusive. Since we where continuing to another destination,we had to go thru another inspection of carrying on. And that was the worst,probably a good 50% of the passengers on my flight where older passengers and quite a few of them could not understand the taking of shoes,and opening bags as TSA wants it. They should have all this written in three or four languages and have the passengers look at it. This could be posted on the wall,and as people walk around they could read it.I have friends and heard all thru my last trip,that they are not coming to the US ,for this reasons.

Posted By Frank on May 18, 2008, 4:58 PM

Sigh. I read the story the day it came out in the NY Times. I'm grateful that we are shining a light on the evil in this government. There is no disconnect, no accident, no corrupted computers. I've travelled all over and this is an outrage. Absolute power does corrupt abolutly.

Posted By Bruce on May 19, 2008, 10:37 PM

The two most incompetent (and idiotic) govt. agencies are CBP and CIS. This should be no surprise.

I am currently in the last stage of the "green card" processing so I need an "Advance Parole" document to re-enter the US. My wife's AP had arrived, but mine had not, so my lawyer opened made an enquiry with the CIS. A few days later I received a letter from the CIS stating that my AP was mailed on Feb 1, 2008, but since I am reporting that I have not received it, it must be concluded that it has been lost (yes, all immigration docs are sent by regular US postal service!!!!!). There is no easy way to get a "duplicate copy" of the AP - I have to re-apply. The catch - Form I-131 (Permission to Re-enter) has an application fee of $305 and a processing time of 4 months. The alternative - Form I-824 (Action on an approved Petition) has an application fee of $340 and a processing time of 1 month (yes - open the file, hit the print button, pick up the paper, put it in an envelop and post it - $340 to do that). Govt. at work - what can I say...

Posted By SB on May 20, 2008, 12:15 AM

Not only are they out of control, but they need interpreters available by telephone. The poor guy might have been asking for the restroom and they guessed it was asylum.

Posted By Angela McEwan on May 20, 2008, 3:51 AM

Omars mentions the Washington Post series, but I am going to link to it so that others can find it easily:

Careless Detention: Medical Care in Immigrant Prisons

This piece complements the NYT article well, as it fills in a lot of the missing background about where these prisons are located, who is held there, how long they usually stay, and how they are treated while detained.

If you were disappointed by the one-sidedness of the NYT article, please take the time to read the WP series. Thereafter, I believe you will find it difficult to deny the systematic abuses of detainees in U.S. custody.

The NYT piece illustrates how deeply our own bias runs. It is outrageous that an *Italian* be treated this way (and, indeed it is) -- but more to the point, it is outrageous that ANY detainee is treated this way. That article quotes the girlfriend's father as saying, “[Our powerful friends] were pretty shocked that the government could do this sort of thing, because it doesn’t happen that often, except to people you never hear about, like Haitians and Guatemalans.” The Italian had well-connected Americans looking out for him and had personal resources he could have called upon in his defense; most detainees ("the people you never hear about") are not so privileged. Are we really so blithe about our government's treatment of "Haitians and Guatemalans" as well?

Posted By poetloverrebelspy on May 20, 2008, 3:58 AM

I recently visited Scotland and England and remarked to several people there that with the current exchange rate, a visit the US would seem a bargain. Was told by more than one that previous unpleasant experiences entering the US have caused them to not want to travel here. How embarrassing and not good for the economy, either.

Posted By Linda on May 20, 2008, 5:15 PM

If anyone thinks this is a "one in a million" mistake is deluded. These apologists who post here don't seem to actually have read the article. I guess their browsers only point to Fox News given their antipathy for the Times. There are others who don't have the resources to contact a reporter for the Times.

No one claimed this man was a terrorist. There was no reason to stop him, let alone detain him. He was from ITALY, for chrissake. This is not safety in the name of 9/11, this is audacity of the greatest degree by GS-9 civil service employees who think anyone who doesn't speak English must be evil. I wouldn't even say this was a mistake. A man was deprived of his basic liberties as a human being and people who think this is OK need to examine what the cost is of this ridiculous false sense of security. It is not all about you.

Posted By Jennifer on May 21, 2008, 12:18 AM

A few years ago, I was the target of intense searching and questioning at Dulles/Ft. Worth airport in Texas. Though I am a caucasian, my Spanish surname arose plenty of suspicion. Moreover, the fact that I was a licensed pilot made the inspectors even more antagonistic. My wife (of Anglo-saxon extraction) had already boarded the plane. I was to be the last to board while the jet aircraft was withheld from takeoff for at least 30 minutes! Wonder what the airline'
s fuel bill rose to?.....And the problem worsens for those of us who are diabetics and are carrying needles, etc. Groan. At the Atlanta airport, I noticed the inspectors are minorities hired right out of the streets with little training. How could this happen at a major airport? Oh well. By the way, I was never given an explanation for my interrogation, etc.

Posted By Erik Moraga on May 21, 2008, 11:51 AM

I want terrorists and illegal immigrants stopped at the border. I used to be a left-wing liberal but *everything* changed after September 11, 2001. I see too lax security at the airport, and millions of illegals who do NOT want to become tax-paying Americans living in my country.

Posted By Eden on May 17, 2008, 3:32 PM

Justs to let you know.. illegals DO PAY TAXES the same way you and the rest of us do; when we shop for our groceries, clothes, etc., when we get our paychecks and when we pay at the gas pump...we all do.. they all do. BUT. guess what... THEY DO NOT GET ANY REIMBURSMENTS OR TAX RETURNS because they do not have a legal status.. ALL their monies are withheld and goes to our roads and to people on many government assistance programs... Medicare, Medical, Food Stamps and so on.. we can't hide the sun with one finger..
Whatever wing you are on now... IGNORANCE... is a bad thing... ;-)

ABOUT ALL THESE INCIDENTS AT THE GATES OF OUR COUNTRY..IT SHOWS THAT A PRETTY BAD THING IS HAPPENING TO OUR GREAT NATION...

GOD BLESS AMERICA..!!

Posted By Neenah on May 22, 2008, 6:44 AM

Our daughter-in law came with our son for Christmas as she does every year. She is of Spanish nationality. The agents pulled her aside and kept her in custody for much of the afternoon and evening without allowing our son to talk to her or have any communication. They said she had never been here before which was not true. She did have a new passport as her old one had expired. Finally before midnight she was released. No explanations. No apologies!

Posted By Gale McCall on May 22, 2008, 8:15 PM

I traveled through South America last summer and met a lovely couple from London on their Honeymoon. The wife explained to me how they flew to Peru (several stops instead of one stop through Miami) and I asked her why. She explained that she, many years ago, had traveled to Iran and had that stamp in her passport and everytime US customs officials saw that, they incessently questioned her and retained her for hours at a time. She has stopped flying to and through the US. This interaction occured before all of these articles have been published, and I can really believe the stories they are telling. This is just sad.

Posted By Alison on May 23, 2008, 1:53 PM

I use to work for INS and I can tell you that at the airport there are many sadistic INS officers who love to torture people and they do racially profile people. But also too they are under alot of pressure from superiors and many times are out on the floor for long hours with no breaks of any kind. Miami airport is notorious for INS workers passing out from lack of food or water. Which would also explain why they are so mean and nasty. But the system in general is greatly flawed and there is no political will to fix it. I can honestly say I get much better treatment abroad as an american than I do in my own country! I have witnessed first hand how disgraceful and dispicable some INS officers abuse their powers. But since foreigner have no legal rights or recourse here in the US the abuse continues! Trust me this doesn't happen on the diplomatic level they get much better treatment in general.

Posted By Daniel on May 26, 2008, 10:24 AM

I just came home yesterday via Newark from French West Indies and I was actually embarrased by how insensitive and "all powerful" the customs agents were acting towards the many people from India, families with older people and babies, and really anyone who had dark skin and hair. They let the rest of us just fly thru the line but they were rude and "intimadating" to our foreign guests. They probably never get out of the USA to see how wonderful we are treated almost everywhere else.

Posted By Denise on May 26, 2008, 5:42 PM

I too have had nothing but harassment whenever I go through US customs. I am a dark skinned (half filipino/half brazillian) canadian male who travels the world frequently. I can count in one hand the times that I was not searched or treated badly. Unfortunately, the times I have been searched and pulled aside, I stopped counting after fifty ( no exaggerating!).

My last experience was one month ago when my partner and I had to pass through Sea Tac airport coming from Australia. On the declaration card, it states that only one card is needed per family. So I let my partner ( who is a white male, and my husband for 5 years) fill the card and we approached the customs officer together. Right away I noticed the officer scowl at us. Before I even said anything, the officer said, "travelling together? You two are brothers right?. I am not even going to comment on how ludicrous this statement is. I should have just bit my tongue and said yes but I was just angry. I said "no, he is my husband. Are you telling me that you do not consider us a family since my partner happens to be male?". My partner then went ahead since it was his name that was on the card. The officer then told me to get to the back of the very long line and fill out another card. This is when I lost it and politely told him that I will not go back to the end of the line. I filled out another card infront of his booth while he was going through the rest of the people on the line.

How much training do these people get? I had one experience where one officer could not figure out one stamp in my passport. He then called over another officer, then two more. After about15 min. of attempting to decipher the letters, he then turned to me and asked me where in the US have I travelled. I told them that I have been in many places, one of them being Hawaii. They did not know that the HI stamp in my passport was for Hawaii!

If I wrote about all the times I was pulled aside for my skin color it would take forever. Yet, when I go to the area to get searched, 90 percent of the people being searched are minorities!

I decided that whenever I have to fly anywhere, I would rather pay more money and fly direct from Canada and avoid US altogether. We also stopped vacationing in the US and have advised friends, colleagues and family to do the same.

Posted By JT on May 27, 2008, 4:24 AM

Panama, 27 May, 2008

I am writing to formally file a complaint about the treatment I recently experienced when going through customs and immigrations upon entering the United States after a long trip from Europe. My name is Alanna Zelaya, I am 24 years old and was born and raised in Panama, Republic of Panama. I work as an industrial engineer for Tetra-Pak, S.A., a Swiss-based company that develops, manufactures and market systems for processing, packaging and distribution of food, at 43 plants worldwide.

On May 22, 2008 I took flight CO101 from Manchester, United Kingdom to Panama, through Newark. I needed to go through immigration, pick-up my luggage, check-it again and wait for my flight to Panama. When I handed my passport and immigration form to the immigration officer, he asked me “why do you have so many entries to the United States?”, to which I responded: “I have passed through the US several times in transit to Europe.”. This officer (whom I would say is about 50-60 years old, wears glasses, has white hair) then took me to the inspection area and a new officer took over, in a very unprofessional and rude manner.

After awhile without a word from anyone, I decided to ask this new officer how long this would take, since I didn’t want to miss my flight to Panama, and he responded: “shut-up and sit down”. Later, this individual (male, around 30-40 years old, wears glasses), asked me to get my luggage, which I did, but escorted by a security guard. Once back in the inspection room, he started to ask me questions and proceeded to inspect my luggage. He threw my clothes at the side and asked me several times if I had drugs. He finally asked for my boarding pass, which he looked at and threw it to his desk for me to pick-it up.

I felt humiliated and discriminated to say the least. I can now understand the “quid pro quo” principle Brasil is applying to US citizens. Regardless from where you are or coming from, we have constitutional and human rights. This abuse of power is only contributing to the general hatred there is worldwide towards the US.

From now on I will avoid going through the US en-route to Europe and as far as I am concern the US is now a non-destination for me and also for members of my family. I will spend my money in those countries that treat me with respect and welcome me.

Alanna Zelaya
Processing Equipment Division
Telephone – Main: +507 208-5800
Telephone – Direct: +507 208-5889
Mobile Phone: +507 6781-3506
Tele fax: +507 263-9786
Email: alanna.zelaya@tetrapak.com

Posted By Alanna Zelaya on May 27, 2008, 1:00 PM

Homeland security is doing a fantastic job. I hope they continue their fine work keeping America safe and keeping the bad people out. Occasionally, mistakes will be made. This kind of story is not "journalism", it's nothing more than hearsay. Most Europeans sail through our customs in 5 minutes and are treated very professionally. Voting for Barack Obama is not going to make this country any safer or more attractive to visitors.

Posted By Ray on May 30, 2008, 1:54 PM

The employees that work for Homeland Security/Immigration are an embarassment to our country. Many of them are young people that are acting like they are above everyone and have no one to answer to for their ignorant actions. My fiancee was from Canada, his father was a U.S. citizen that had sponsored him , he was an employee of Sears Long Haul and traveled between the U.S. and Canada for yrs. for work reasons without incident. We were coming from Canada to the U.S. and when The Immigration cowboy heard I was his girlfriend and that he stays with me when visiting Chicago, it started a chain of events that ended with a 5 yr. do not enter for him, followed by Immigration losing his file for 18 months by sending the wrong papers to the wrong city. I tried to straighten this out but after the unbelievable ignorance by our govt., my fiancee had no intentions of ever moving to this country. Apart from this incident, I travel extensively and have witnessed the behaviour by our govt. employees to the visitors that sometimes borders on cruelty. When I was trying to straighten matters out in regards to my fiancee's case, I spoke to a senior officer of Immigration out of Buffalo who himself said he is aware that the younger hires are acting like cowboys and not taking into consideration that their actions sometimes have devastating effects on people's lives. This needs to be addressed.

Posted By Chris on May 31, 2008, 12:17 PM

I just returned from Aruba on vacation with my wife and had a bad experience with a custom's agent who was terribly rude to me over a simple incident w/ my flight number. We had a ticket w/ United operated by US Air. I told him I must have mistakenly wrote down the US Air flight number. He said I was traveling on United, not US Air. I told him that when I printed out my boarding pass, it stated that my flight was on US Air along w/ a US Air flight number. He started to get angry and began acting like a smartass belittling me in front of my wife. I quickly saw that this punk was trying to pick a fight over a simple issue. Understanding the situation and where it was going, I decided to do the smart thing and move on.

This is not the first time I experienced this before w/ US Customs. The people who work in US Customs have become a bunch of Nazi supremacists trying to intimidate the very citizens that pays their salary!!! I would love to come across one of these senseless idiots when they are out of their uniform to give them a piece of my mind. Lets see how powerful and god almighty they are as a ordinary citizen.

Given the number of complaints in this blog, is there anything we can do as Citizens to voice our concerns and experiences? Our US Customs are a disgrace to our country and a bad first impression to anyone coming to visit.

Posted By Jim on June 1, 2008, 10:09 PM

I suspect that they are overworked and underpaid like most low level government workers. There very well may be underlying reasons for the detainment of the Italian traveler that you are unaware of.

Posted By fm alley on June 2, 2008, 11:50 PM

Well, this is no news folks, we can go back in history, from Natives, Black and now Latinos and others, US doesn’t discriminate, they just hate them all, shame on us American people to treat another human in such manner, sad thing that people forget their history and tend to repeat it, that officer might be of an Italian descendent, if he knows anything about history or if even left the US (majority of Americans do not even have passports) to Europe, Asia or Africa, I doubt it.
My cousin who worked and lived legally in this country for more than 30 years, he came last week to visit his kids and was integrated at Washington airport for more than 5 hours and then they confiscated his passport and gave him a case number to attend a court on date set 6 months later, how can he go back to his country and back to his family and job. This reminds me of the person above who wrote about the “Holocaust”, the Vatican was there, watched the whole scenario happening, but looked the other way like its doesn’t concern them, so what happen to the natives here, people just do not care, unless its happening to them, the world will have no sympathy for us if we continue this behaviors.
This abuse of power is only contributing to the general hatred there is worldwide towards the US.

Posted By USA on June 5, 2008, 7:50 PM

I went to Aruba with my family for a week vacation.
Our time in the island was great in every sense. My wife is a naturalised American citizen and my two teenage sons were born in the U.S.A. I'm a Colombian national residing legally in the U.S.A for 20 years. when i submitted all the passports he looked a little bothered because i had mine in a plastic cover, i didn't initially heard that he wanted the document out of it. He checked my wife's and sons, then put them aside and proceded to inspect mine. He asked how long i have been a legal resident and why i haven't become an American citizen like my wife did to which i responded matter of factly that i haven't had considered doing it so far. Anyhow, in retrospective i think i could've responded better because this officer changed the tone of his voice and started interrogating me in the most antagonistic manner to which i said if there was a problem with my documents let me know what is it. He then asked for my drivers license and made a comment along the lines , let's see if you are what you said you are. At this moment we are all beffudled to the tone and the direction this conversation is leading to. Then the officer throws the documents at me in a disrespectful manner and adds that that if i haven't become an American citizen is because i must be hiding something, he also says that not considering or caring enough to become a citizen of the U.S.A was an insult to the country that i reside in and then as a parting shot (And believe me at this point we all want to get away from this guy, the sooner the better)He says that if i want better treatment coming thru US customs that i better become a US citizen to which i reply what's that have to do with my documents which seem to be in order. The officer then picks my alien card out of the other documents and waves it in front of me with a smirk in his face and says you want me to cut in half and see what you do about it. Obviously this officer is looking to bait me into some sort of fight so he can made my life and my family's as miserable as it can be. At this moment i'm so upset that my son grabs me by the arm and and takes me away. I can hear him in the background yelling yeah go away before i let you stuck over here. Neddles to say i was so humillated and bothered by the whole incident that the last 40 minutes before the plane departed seemed like an eternity. I know that worst things have happened to other travelers, but for the love of God is this type of behaviour proffesional or human at all. I will leave that to the experts to answer. That being said i think the United States of America is , has been and will be the best country in the whole Universe to live in, even if i haven't been more pro-active in becoming a US citizen.

Posted By Diego Carreno H. on June 19, 2008, 11:09 AM

I am Brazilian Business man, who made Business with USA companies for about 8 years and European companies for about 10 years , I had Business Visa B1/B2. Last years I went in USA for 3 days only to close a deal with a American company located In Pompano Beach-FL, but on the immigration check point, I was held by a immigration officer , who took-me to a interview and after Hrs he said that will send-me back because I had intention to stay illegal in USA, I looked him and asked "are you serious ? ", I explained my intention in USA, I provided the companies phone numbers that I will have meeting ,also my companies information's ,also I asked him to look my passport and see how many trips I made to Europe and Canada and USA in 12 moths (total of 14 ),also I show to him that I had Business class tickets and I don't bealive who had intention to stay illegal in USA will travel to so many places in so sort time , the answer I had from the immigration officer was so professional " I sent back rich people same as you are back to they country every day ",I asked to talk to his supervisor , the officer answered me, I'm the authority here, than I asked what was my rights , the officer answered that I had no rights at all, so I answer if I have no right this means that I don't have any obligations, so don't ask-me anything else because I am not going to answer. To conclude.The immigration sent-me back in the next flight after 24 Hrs . In Brazil was in touch with the American chamber and explained the abuse, they offered to help-me giving a recommendation to the US embassy, but I just wanted to report the abuse ,I had no intentions at all to have Visa again , I called to those 2 companies in USA after I arrived in Brazil , I explained the situation and told that I never again planning to step inside of USA, I never had been treated like this in any other country, all the time very welcome , I had been in USA almost 12 times ,almost all the time via Miami international airport and all the time looks like the immigration was doing a favor let-me get in USA, I just was making Business in USA, importing luxury cars and auto parts for luxury and exotic cars ,after that I decide to never step again in USA and never make any business with any American company, the US economy ruining ,tourist and business man bring money to USA and the immigration officers treat than like a terrorist ,I truly bealive that I terrorist have money enough to get in USA with out any problem ,if you compare with those poor Mexicans who cross the border running and stay in USA . Go to Germany and you going to see the difference of the immigration treatment , they really are professionals .

Posted By Luis Carrera on July 1, 2008, 12:39 AM