4 ms·

I find it appalling that US citizens are forced to such measures to enforce their rights and I'm glad that there are people both patient and stubborn enough to

I find it appalling that US citizens are forced to such measures to enforce their rights and I'm glad that there are people both patient and stubborn enough to play out scenarios like this. However, as a non-US citizen I always wonder to myself when reading such stories if there are any international rights/laws that may be applicable when entering the States as a foreigner? My understanding is that there are absolutely none, and I would have to submit to any and all egregious and invasive 'requests' (with NO limits) that are demanded of me in order to gain entry (which is why I haven't been there in a while and have no plans to go back). Does anybody have any information to the contrary?

mthoms 16y ago
I believe you are correct that there are no limits to what U.S. Customs can do so long as you are being processed within the physical borders of the United States. At a land crossing, once you attempt to gain entry you cannot simply decide "it's not worth it" anymore and return back to the originating country. You have no rights, not even the right to turn around and leave. In an airport setting (most mid-sized and larger Canadian airports have US Customs processing stations before you depart), you can indeed decide to turn around and not proceed with the crossing. From a legal standpoint I believe it has to do with the fact that at a land crossing you are already on U.S. soil by the time you reach Customs. In the airport scenario above you are subject to the laws of the originating country since you haven't left their territory. It goes without saying that refusing to proceed with a crossing at an airport once it has commenced would likely have other very serious implications. The local authorities would almost certainly want to have a word with you and you'd be flagged by U.S. Customs as suspicious.

mthoms 16y ago

I believe you are correct that there are no limits to what U.S. Customs can do so long as you are being processed within the physical borders of the United States. At a land crossing, once you attempt to gain entry you cannot simply decide "it's not worth it" anymore and return back to the originating country. You have no rights, not even the right to turn around and leave. In an airport setting (most mid-sized and larger Canadian airports have US Customs processing stations before you depart), you can indeed decide to turn around and not proceed with the crossing. From a legal standpoint I believe it has to do with the fact that at a land crossing you are already on U.S. soil by the time you reach Customs. In the airport scenario above you are subject to the laws of the originating country since you haven't left their territory. It goes without saying that refusing to proceed with a crossing at an airport once it has commenced would likely have other very serious implications. The local authorities would almost certainly want to have a word with you and you'd be flagged by U.S. Customs as suspicious.