4 ms·

New America? I beg to differ. The United States has always been hostile to outsiders—what’s different now is that they’re not even trying to hide it. As a nat

New America? I beg to differ. The United States has always been hostile to outsiders—what’s different now is that they’re not even trying to hide it. As a naturalized Canadian, crossing the U.S. border has always been a frustrating ordeal. Despite holding a valid Canadian passport, I’m routinely subjected to an extra hour of “security” questioning. Maybe I’m just unlucky. Or maybe it’s because I was born in an "undesirable" Middle Eastern country and have brown skin. One time I was detained for 5 hours and were questioned about "Islam" (ironically, I'm a Christian so I couldn't answer their questions). My belongings are always searched, and I’m treated as less than human by CBP. I suspect that if you’re white, crossing from EU or elsewhere, you were used to an easier time until now. The gloves are off.

busterarm 2y ago
It's mutual for Americans going the other way and has been for at least the 20 years plus that I've been regularly visiting Canada.
diggan 2y ago
I've never been to the US, because I've been scared of these things, for decades, after reading stories about it. I've traveled to Canada and Mexico multiple times, but one time I made the mistake of having a connecting flight in Florida (first and last time). As expected, I was interrogated by police-looking people about my motivations, yelled at by some other ones to walk faster and use some machine faster, and almost missed my connecting flight because of the "some questions", even though I never actually intended to enter the US, since I was on my way to Mexico.
- graemep 2y ago
  Me too. A lot of people who are widely travelled have told me that the US is the most hostile country to enter so, although there are places and people I would love to visit, I have never been.
yolo666999420 2y ago
For whatever it's worth, I'm treated this way as a white American. I'm selected for extra screening every single time I reenter the country. Though, I don't think it's ever been longer that 30 minutes or so. I don't know why but some combination of having a beard, being naturally anxious and having traveled to "unusual" countries -- at least by American standards. Crossing the border makes for a guaranteed panic attack and I've let my passport expire. It's a damn shame, too, because it's depriving my kids of invaluable life experiences and has brought my relationship with my spouse (who loves to travel) to the brink on multiple occasions.
- mrmlz 2y ago
  US Border control is always worse than any EU-country (as a white EU-resident I might add). We have lots of umlauts in our names äöå etc. which can seriously mess up you ESTA or travel booking unless you double and triple check :) But still India had the absolute worst border control I've ever experienced. I probably rather sleep on a cold prison floor a couple of days than having to manually reenter all my information eight times!
  - stackskipton 2y ago
    I mean, as US citizen I find my interactions with CBP to be easy but it’s because their options are admit me or arrest me vs German guard who questioned me for 15 minutes if my personal laptop was because I was planning on working. Anytime you are entering a country you have right to be in, it’s generally easier.
- neves 2y ago
  I'm curious: which were the unusual countries?
  - yolo666999420 2y ago
    Turkey and India, afaict.
graemep 2y ago
> Or maybe it’s because I was born in an "undesirable" Middle Eastern country and have brown skin. One time I was detained for 5 hours and were questioned about "Islam" (ironically, I'm a Christian so I couldn't answer their questions). Scary levels of prejudice and ignorance there. Prejudice against Muslims and I am guessing not knowing about Middle Eastern Christians exist.
vlovich123 2y ago
Was traveling to the US that fraught before 9/11? I think people forget just how much 9/11 damaged the national psyche which to me honestly explains things like Trump.
- neves 2y ago
  Does it mean that Al Qaeda won?
  - kdmtctl 2y ago
    That was my first thought. The goal was fear. Here it is.
- creaturemachine 2y ago
  Pre 9/11 we could cross with nothing more than a driver's license, making trips with no reason other than to goof off. I even did the same to Mexico. Passports were for overseas or countries that required visas.

busterarm 2y ago

It's mutual for Americans going the other way and has been for at least the 20 years plus that I've been regularly visiting Canada.

diggan 2y ago

I've never been to the US, because I've been scared of these things, for decades, after reading stories about it. I've traveled to Canada and Mexico multiple times, but one time I made the mistake of having a connecting flight in Florida (first and last time). As expected, I was interrogated by police-looking people about my motivations, yelled at by some other ones to walk faster and use some machine faster, and almost missed my connecting flight because of the "some questions", even though I never actually intended to enter the US, since I was on my way to Mexico.

graemep 2y ago
Me too. A lot of people who are widely travelled have told me that the US is the most hostile country to enter so, although there are places and people I would love to visit, I have never been.

yolo666999420 2y ago

For whatever it's worth, I'm treated this way as a white American. I'm selected for extra screening every single time I reenter the country. Though, I don't think it's ever been longer that 30 minutes or so. I don't know why but some combination of having a beard, being naturally anxious and having traveled to "unusual" countries -- at least by American standards. Crossing the border makes for a guaranteed panic attack and I've let my passport expire. It's a damn shame, too, because it's depriving my kids of invaluable life experiences and has brought my relationship with my spouse (who loves to travel) to the brink on multiple occasions.

mrmlz 2y ago
US Border control is always worse than any EU-country (as a white EU-resident I might add). We have lots of umlauts in our names äöå etc. which can seriously mess up you ESTA or travel booking unless you double and triple check :) But still India had the absolute worst border control I've ever experienced. I probably rather sleep on a cold prison floor a couple of days than having to manually reenter all my information eight times!
- stackskipton 2y ago
  I mean, as US citizen I find my interactions with CBP to be easy but it’s because their options are admit me or arrest me vs German guard who questioned me for 15 minutes if my personal laptop was because I was planning on working. Anytime you are entering a country you have right to be in, it’s generally easier.
neves 2y ago
I'm curious: which were the unusual countries?
- yolo666999420 2y ago
  Turkey and India, afaict.

graemep 2y ago

> Or maybe it’s because I was born in an "undesirable" Middle Eastern country and have brown skin. One time I was detained for 5 hours and were questioned about "Islam" (ironically, I'm a Christian so I couldn't answer their questions). Scary levels of prejudice and ignorance there. Prejudice against Muslims and I am guessing not knowing about Middle Eastern Christians exist.

vlovich123 2y ago

Was traveling to the US that fraught before 9/11? I think people forget just how much 9/11 damaged the national psyche which to me honestly explains things like Trump.

neves 2y ago
Does it mean that Al Qaeda won?
- kdmtctl 2y ago
  That was my first thought. The goal was fear. Here it is.
creaturemachine 2y ago
Pre 9/11 we could cross with nothing more than a driver's license, making trips with no reason other than to goof off. I even did the same to Mexico. Passports were for overseas or countries that required visas.