6 ms·

As an immigrant (with legal status), I couldn't imagine showing the slightest bit of resistance to any sort of CBP officers. I cannot put myself at risk trying

As an immigrant (with legal status), I couldn't imagine showing the slightest bit of resistance to any sort of CBP officers. I cannot put myself at risk trying to combat unfair policies due to the imbalance of power. Thank you to those US citizens who are doing what they can.

Someone1234 8y ago
Even just speaking out is getting dangerous, particularly for the people just entering the pipeline now as you have to provide all of your social media accounts so they can keep and eye on your speech. It is only a matter of time before you'll sit down in a citizenship interview, and they'll have a print out of your social media posts and a bunch of questions about any that seem to criticize the government.
- digi_owl 8y ago
  I seems to recall a story where a couple of people were denied entry after reaching a US airport because they had tweeted a joke that got misunderstood.
  - fmihaila 8y ago
    > I seems to recall a story where a couple of people were denied entry after reaching a US airport because they had tweeted a joke that got misunderstood. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16810312 http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16810312
- jellicle 8y ago
  > It is only a matter of time before you'll sit down in a citizenship interview, and they'll have a print out of your social media posts and a bunch of questions about any that seem to criticize the government. What you describe has been the case in the US since the early 2000s. The "matter of time" is about negative 15 years or so. People on HN often seem to think the government is insanely slow-moving and incompetent. While there are various snags, the whole system moves constantly and is staffed by many perfectly competent people who ask questions like "why aren't we checking the social media accounts of citizenship applicants to weed out the terrorists and commies?" and before too long, they are.
madeofpalk 8y ago
This is why I have zero interest in travelling to or through the US as a tourist. The risk to reward ratio is too great for me - there's much better places to go visit where there's a smaller chance of being fucked over by a border patrol agent.
- spiznnx 8y ago
  Just hand over your papers. As a tourist people will be nice enough, but you should expect searches and to obey authority like if you were visiting China or Russia. This kind of thing happens to residents who are trying to push for change in their country and accepting personal risks.
  - GordonS 8y ago
    I've been to the US plenty times on business, and once as a tourist - every time the border guards were deeply unpleasant and behaved like egomanical bullies. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but a lot of people seem to have a similar tale. I should also add, I've been to dozens of countries and never experienced anything like this.
    - jdavis703 8y ago
      I can concur. As a U.S. citizen I find that foreign immigration agents treat me better when I'm entering their country, than American agents do when I'm returning home.
    - mattlondon 8y ago
      Same experience here. Standing in a queue for 3 or 4 hours and occasionally getting shouted at by aggressive guards with their hand on their gun holster because you had the temerity to use your phone to let your colleagues/family/hotel etc to let them know why you're 3 hours delayed despite the plane landing on time. Then you finally reach the booth and are given Interrogation Lite (tm) about why you are there, if you have a return ticket paid for, where you are staying and generally eyed suspiciously before being finger-printed and having mugshots taken like you've just been arrested. But you know, welcome to the land of the free! FWIW, Global Entry for non-US citizens has made it so much better. You just whizz right through in about 30 seconds without having to deal with anyone apart from just give them a receipt from the machine.

Someone1234 8y ago

Even just speaking out is getting dangerous, particularly for the people just entering the pipeline now as you have to provide all of your social media accounts so they can keep and eye on your speech. It is only a matter of time before you'll sit down in a citizenship interview, and they'll have a print out of your social media posts and a bunch of questions about any that seem to criticize the government.

digi_owl 8y ago
I seems to recall a story where a couple of people were denied entry after reaching a US airport because they had tweeted a joke that got misunderstood.
- fmihaila 8y ago
  > I seems to recall a story where a couple of people were denied entry after reaching a US airport because they had tweeted a joke that got misunderstood. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16810312 http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16810312
jellicle 8y ago
> It is only a matter of time before you'll sit down in a citizenship interview, and they'll have a print out of your social media posts and a bunch of questions about any that seem to criticize the government. What you describe has been the case in the US since the early 2000s. The "matter of time" is about negative 15 years or so. People on HN often seem to think the government is insanely slow-moving and incompetent. While there are various snags, the whole system moves constantly and is staffed by many perfectly competent people who ask questions like "why aren't we checking the social media accounts of citizenship applicants to weed out the terrorists and commies?" and before too long, they are.

madeofpalk 8y ago

This is why I have zero interest in travelling to or through the US as a tourist. The risk to reward ratio is too great for me - there's much better places to go visit where there's a smaller chance of being fucked over by a border patrol agent.

spiznnx 8y ago
Just hand over your papers. As a tourist people will be nice enough, but you should expect searches and to obey authority like if you were visiting China or Russia. This kind of thing happens to residents who are trying to push for change in their country and accepting personal risks.
- GordonS 8y ago
  I've been to the US plenty times on business, and once as a tourist - every time the border guards were deeply unpleasant and behaved like egomanical bullies. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but a lot of people seem to have a similar tale. I should also add, I've been to dozens of countries and never experienced anything like this.
  - jdavis703 8y ago
    I can concur. As a U.S. citizen I find that foreign immigration agents treat me better when I'm entering their country, than American agents do when I'm returning home.
  - mattlondon 8y ago
    Same experience here. Standing in a queue for 3 or 4 hours and occasionally getting shouted at by aggressive guards with their hand on their gun holster because you had the temerity to use your phone to let your colleagues/family/hotel etc to let them know why you're 3 hours delayed despite the plane landing on time. Then you finally reach the booth and are given Interrogation Lite (tm) about why you are there, if you have a return ticket paid for, where you are staying and generally eyed suspiciously before being finger-printed and having mugshots taken like you've just been arrested. But you know, welcome to the land of the free! FWIW, Global Entry for non-US citizens has made it so much better. You just whizz right through in about 30 seconds without having to deal with anyone apart from just give them a receipt from the machine.