I'll show you, customs agent

[il Padrino Ute]

Finderson and Il Pad, what would you say are the motives behind this kind of thing? Just curious.

It's about privacy. If the only thing that is required for a citizen to re-enter the United States is a passport, then why should the citizen be asked about why he/she were in another country?

[EuropeanFootballMale]

I'm sorry I failed you.

This hurts.

I figured that I'm the only person on this board who isn't a world famous lawyer or physician I guess I'm about the only one who thinks this guy is a dink as well.

[UtahDan]

It's about privacy. If the only thing that is required for a citizen to re-enter the United States is a passport, then why should the citizen be asked about why he/she were in another country?

I don't have a problem with them asking. Police ask questions all the time, its good police work. What I have a problem with is them not understanding they aren't entitled to an answer.

[il Padrino Ute]

I don't have a problem with them asking. Police ask questions all the time, its good police work. What I have a problem with is them not understanding they aren't entitled to an answer.

The difference here, as I see it, is that when a cop asks questions, it's after I've been pulled over for a violation, whereas this guy was asked those questions after not breaking any laws.

[creekster]

I figured that I'm the only person on this board who isn't a world famous lawyer or physician I guess I'm about the only one who thinks this guy is a dink as well.

I think he is a dink, too. But I am also not world famous at anything. IN fact, I even have more to learn than Lindsay Lohan, so this probably doesn't give you much comfort at all.

[Tim]

They don't ask the questions as a means of validating your answers, though. Having been through Immigration and Customs checkpoints dozens of times in the last few years, it's clear that they don't really care what you say when you answer the question, they're just trying to HEAR you and SEE how you respond. The agent is the key to getting in, not the passport. Passports can be bought and sold in every black market of the world, but an agent can tell within one or two questions if you are who you say you are. Accents, vocabulary, facial gestures, body language, etc., say more about who you are than the passport does.

This guy operates under the assumption that there's a presumption of innocence at the border, but no such presumption exists. He may be suggesting that there SHOULD BE a presumption of innocence, but to have one would require a change in our laws. Nevertheless, a border station or immigration checkpoint isn't a court of law. The passport is a document that serves to identify on paper who you are, but only in speaking with you can the agent make a determination that you should be allowed to pass.

It's interesting that those in this thread praising this man the most are the people who've most insisted that the government needs to do a better job of securing the border. So which is it? Do you want it secured or do you want people to just be able to walk in with nothing but a piece of paper? If all it takes is a passport, which can be obtained or fabricated in any number of ways, then how secure is that?

[CJF]

I agree with Tim. They're not asking the questions to check off a box, they're asking to see how you respond. And if I had been behind this guy in line I probably would have wanted to fight him. When you fly internationally you know you're going to be asked questions at customs. If he wants to exercise his rights not to answer the questions either don't travel internationally or don't come back from that international trip. If he truly is a law abiding citizen, answering the questions should be a formality to protecting the safety and liberties that he thinks he's upholding. The guy is a dick.

[dabrockster]

As with Tim, I was surprised by the remarks of some here about this topic. It seems that the securing the border would go right into the heart of this issue. I am all for privacy etc, but when re-entering our country I think asking questions is OK and detaining people under suspicion is OK. We want our borders secured in all levels of entry. Including our own citizens who can be a risk to our country.

This guy was being a dick and was looking to make a statement so he could get on his little known blog and brag about how he showed them.. You went through all of that to make such a benign statement... Kudos to you for not having much of a life.