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I'm a Muslim American (and Arab!) myself, and I'd like to chime in. Firstly, let me state that I did not travel back to the US during the Muslim ban. Nonethele
by Cyph0n 10y ago
I'm a Muslim American (and Arab!) myself, and I'd like to chime in.
Firstly, let me state that I did not travel back to the US during the Muslim ban. Nonetheless, I couldn't help but feel that the author was a bit too paranoid. According to a quick Google search, she likely wasn't wearing a hijab, which drastically decreases the amount of "attention" she'd receive during security checks. More importantly, she's American! The way I understand it, there is simply no way for her to be denied entry to the US. I understand her being worried about the content of her laptop, but again this would even worry a "true American". Remember the guy who was kicked off a plane for working on a math problem? It's important to note that the brunt of the Muslim ban was aimed at foreigners and US visa holders.
My experience has been nothing but positive to be frank. Granted, I'm a male, so it's slightly more difficult to do "religious profiling". On my trip on Delta to Paris in late Dec 2016, I was comfortable speaking Arabic on the plane: I was seated next to a older Libyan lady who was traveling to visit family, and we had a nice chat as the plane landed. She was wearing hijab, and also had nothing bad to say about travelling to/from the US.
Of course, this does not at all mean that I'm fine with the ban! On the contrary, I think it was an extremely stupid and short sighted decision, and I'm honestly quite disgusted that POTUS is still pushing for it.
- altendo 10y ago> there is simply no way for her to be denied entry to the US As was proven when Trump instituted his executive order, people with valid visas and even green cards were denied entry into the US[1]. That's since been reversed in the courts... but that doesn't mean that the current, or even a future, administration won't try again in the future. (I doubt Trump will, after getting blocked in the courts... but you never know.) [1] http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/trump-muslim-ban-green-card-holders/ http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/trump-muslim-ban-green-c...
- Cyph0n 10y agoI am aware of that, but from my understanding she is a US citizen.
- lukeschlather 10y agoHer precautions sounded totally reasonable. Being a US Citizen with security clearance won't even protect you from unreasonable searches if you don't seem white enough: http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/12/14583124/nasa-sidd-bikkannavar-detained-cbp-phone-search-trump-travel-ban http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/12/14583124/nasa-sidd-bikkann...
- Cyph0n 10y agoI've heard of such cases, but they seem to be the exception. Actually, a security clearance makes the chance of this happening higher from what I understand. The last people you'd want to get compromised are the people who work in sensitive fields.
- lukeschlather 10y agoHis phone was confiscated and searched. The people doing the searches don't have clearance to access the information on his JPL phone, so on the contrary, the search constitutes a breach of national security.
- Cyph0n 10y agoNever said I agree with that. It was a stupid decision on the part of the CBP officer. But what I am saying is that a person with security clearance should expect further scrutiny when travelling abroad or arriving on US soil. Part of the job I guess.
- moioci 10y agoTell that to Muhammad Ali, Jr. http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/28/us/muhammad-ali-son-ex-wife-detained-at-airport-don-lemon-cnntv/ http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/28/us/muhammad-ali-son-ex-wife-de...
- wyldfire 10y agoThat's the most astonishingly nuts part of it all. "Hi we recognize that you are legit and you can now come and go as a resident alien. This is a milestone towards becoming a naturalized citizen. Oh, oops -- rules just changed I know you only went to visit your grandma but you can't come back in now. Please pay your mortgage and property taxes on time and stuff, though."
- maxerickson 10y agoIt was done with purpose -- to be maximally disruptive. Now idiots in the media will sell a new and still morally repugnant ban on refugees and other reasonably vetted immigrants as an improvement over their first attempt and in the meantime the administration gave a big chunk of their base some service.
- projectramo 10y agoThis is a weird response. Firstly, no one is arguing that it happens every time, the argument is that it happens sometimes, and is allowed to happen. I don't think most CBP people, or cops, or ICE agents or anyone else is bad. They aren't out to hurt or harass. However, within that group there are a few -- whatever percent of the population happens to be sociopaths -- that do want to hurt people. And now, they can.
- Cyph0n 10y agoI don't think I said anywhere that I agree with such a policy. All I'm pointing out is that her reaction was exaggerated, given that she is a US citizen.
- jedikv 10y agoThe whole 'it's fine for me therefore it's fine for everyone' rationale is somewhat a short-sighted, 'I've got mine' attitude. There's been quite a few high profile incidents where people who've already been granted legal rights to enter/live in the US are being harassed at the border for. In this age of security theatre, one is too many frankly.