5 ms·

Also known as "how to visit detention centers". The amount of bad advice here is staggering. You are not James Bond or some kind of ninja Seals secret agent.

Also known as "how to visit detention centers". The amount of bad advice here is staggering. You are not James Bond or some kind of ninja Seals secret agent. You are a nobody attempting to enter a country, and you will be pissing off the border police. Have some common sense.

kevin_thibedeau 2y ago
... Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
- BrandoElFollito 2y ago
  Who came for you? You want to go to the US (or any other country) and therefore you align with their rules. Nobody forces you to go there, and especially play secret agent. If you go, you know that what you have can be searched so have nothing, or have something that is not controversial. The same applies to all the countries in the world.
  - hiddencost 2y ago
    [flagged]
  - antris 2y ago
    US has been "coming for us" for decades. What the US does does not fit neatly into its own borders. Extraordinary rendition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition Coups https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_r... Wars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_Uni...
    - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
      What does this has to do with the topic of trying to be clever with the border police with some tricks to conceal information? (as opposed to not having it in the first place) Otherwise yes, you are right - they are bullies.
      - antris 2y ago
        It has to do with your argument of "if you don't like it, don't go there". Also, you specifically asked "who came for you" so it's direct answer to your question.
        BrandoElFollito 2y ago
        Well yes, just don't go there with incriminating devices. They will try to bully us in many other ways but this has nothing to do with the devices and how to hide stuff.
        ryandrake 2y ago
        Exactly. If I plan to visit a country where green shirts are illegal, I'm not going to pack my green shirts into a secret hidden luggage compartment, smug in the knowledge that I'm so clever. I'm going to either not visit or not bring my green shirts. Same for this. Whether we like it or not, some stuff on your phone are now considered contraband at the US border. Either don't bring them or don't visit.
        AstralStorm 2y ago
        Personally I would not go with any device at all I cannot afford to throw in a trashcan. You can buy a cheap one in the US anyway... For now.
        antris 2y ago
        Well, considering that the US considers some political beliefs and journalism crimes, "don't go there with incriminating devices" implies restrictions on free speech and journalistic freedom. Also, privacy is not only for hiding crimes. Equating privacy with criminality is a great way to get undermine people's rights further. It's perfectly ok to think that some random TSA agent shouldn't be seeing my family photos etc. when I have done nothing wrong. If you believe these rights are not important, that's your own opinion. But I think it's perfectly valid to criticize attacks on human rights.
  - necovek 2y ago
    This a quote GP posted from a novel or opinion piece: I don't know off the top of my head, but it should be simple to look it up :)
    - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
      Yes I know - but this has nothing to do with the topic at hand (about playing clever trying to hide/smuggle stuff through the border) The source is here: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-first-they-came-for-the-socialists https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-nie...
  - kstrauser 2y ago
    Bluntly: fuck that. I'm many generations deep in this country, and when I travel to visit other places, I have the right to return here to the home where I was born. No part of our Constitution says I have to kiss law enforcement's butt to be permitted to come back to my house. I understand that they're trying to do their job, but the government also needs to understand that I'm not interested in participating in dragnet searches. I feel no moral or legal obligation to let them search through all my stuff just because of their policies, which don't seem at all compliant with our highest laws and ideals.
lawlessone 2y ago
>Have some common sense. The common sense would be don't go to countries where you risk being immediately sent home or to a slave colony in El Salvador for writing something mean about its president.
- BrandoElFollito 2y ago
  Oh yes, this is one of the possible solutions with common sense. This is what I decided to do BTW.
  - lawlessone 2y ago
    You made the right choice, I didn't mean to sound critical of you, more the situation. Its sad but people taking these other measures are rolling dice every time they go. Negotiating the leopard. my biggest worry entering and leaving my own country is that my bag was lost, or theres a queue.
    - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
      I used to travel to the US once a month for years and years (from Europe or Asia). It was either for business, or for vacation with the family. The larger the airport, the shittier the border but at least this was a moment to go through and that's all. Now, as a French, I seriously consider being detained for something trivial and getting into a net of bureaucracy which would certainly extend my stay in the US. And I will not do that. My grown-up children are suggesting vacation in New York and some other places, we will go to Asia instead where I was lucky enough to have only good experiences (especially in some countries). Nobody will care in the US but this is one less person to visit. I would love the Americans to continue visiting us as nothing changed for them but I can totally understand that they will slow down as well, expecting unpleasantries.
- justinhj 2y ago
  [flagged]
- qwerpy 2y ago
buyucu 2y ago
Common sense is suspending US travel. I did that last month.
- BrandoElFollito 2y ago
  So did I - and I kinda liked the place (not the border police, it seemed as if they hated me and hated the fact that I was coming to spend money there).
  - wat10000 2y ago
    CBP hates everybody, citizen and non-citizen alike.
    - Maultasche 2y ago
      Agreed. As a citizen, most interactions with border control are unpleasant. The only positive experience I've ever had was at a quiet border crossing in Maine where I met what was probably the country's only friendly CBP agent.
    - kashunstva 2y ago
      Indeed. I'm a dual citizen - U.S. and that country to the north that Dear Leader keeps threatening. I have to cross the border relatively often and have noticed shift in tone in the last few months. Instead of asking me where I'm going, they have been asking me "where do you want to go." It's inconsequential, really; and they've never truly harassed me. It's just a subtle power flex that seems new, as if they would really prefer to deny me entry.
- jesterson 2y ago
  Would you elaborate why? (without being vague) I assume it's not common sense just because you did it? Issues with border patrol can happen in any country. If they have bad mood, or you suddenly decided to piss them off, they will do their best to make your life harder. The US is not the best or worst to that matter. People who chose working as border patrol are not the smartest people out there (otherwise it is unlikely they would choose working at border patrol). So I understand all precautions but saying its "common sense" not traveling there is a huge stretch IMHO.
tootie 2y ago
The US is deporting grad students with visas and green cards. They are absolutely going after nobodies right now.
- sipofwater 2y ago
  "With more than 300 student visas revoked, international scholars worry as the government expands reasons for deportation": https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/us/us-immigration-student-visas-revoked/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/us/us-immigration-student-vis... (www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/us/us-immigration-student-visas-revoked/index.html)

kevin_thibedeau 2y ago

... Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

BrandoElFollito 2y ago
Who came for you? You want to go to the US (or any other country) and therefore you align with their rules. Nobody forces you to go there, and especially play secret agent. If you go, you know that what you have can be searched so have nothing, or have something that is not controversial. The same applies to all the countries in the world.
- hiddencost 2y ago
  [flagged]
- antris 2y ago
  US has been "coming for us" for decades. What the US does does not fit neatly into its own borders. Extraordinary rendition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition Coups https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_r... Wars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_Uni...
  - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
    What does this has to do with the topic of trying to be clever with the border police with some tricks to conceal information? (as opposed to not having it in the first place) Otherwise yes, you are right - they are bullies.
    - antris 2y ago
      It has to do with your argument of "if you don't like it, don't go there". Also, you specifically asked "who came for you" so it's direct answer to your question.
      - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
        Well yes, just don't go there with incriminating devices. They will try to bully us in many other ways but this has nothing to do with the devices and how to hide stuff.
        ryandrake 2y ago
        Exactly. If I plan to visit a country where green shirts are illegal, I'm not going to pack my green shirts into a secret hidden luggage compartment, smug in the knowledge that I'm so clever. I'm going to either not visit or not bring my green shirts. Same for this. Whether we like it or not, some stuff on your phone are now considered contraband at the US border. Either don't bring them or don't visit.
        AstralStorm 2y ago
        Personally I would not go with any device at all I cannot afford to throw in a trashcan. You can buy a cheap one in the US anyway... For now.
        antris 2y ago
        Well, considering that the US considers some political beliefs and journalism crimes, "don't go there with incriminating devices" implies restrictions on free speech and journalistic freedom. Also, privacy is not only for hiding crimes. Equating privacy with criminality is a great way to get undermine people's rights further. It's perfectly ok to think that some random TSA agent shouldn't be seeing my family photos etc. when I have done nothing wrong. If you believe these rights are not important, that's your own opinion. But I think it's perfectly valid to criticize attacks on human rights.
- necovek 2y ago
  This a quote GP posted from a novel or opinion piece: I don't know off the top of my head, but it should be simple to look it up :)
  - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
    Yes I know - but this has nothing to do with the topic at hand (about playing clever trying to hide/smuggle stuff through the border) The source is here: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-first-they-came-for-the-socialists https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-nie...
- kstrauser 2y ago
  Bluntly: fuck that. I'm many generations deep in this country, and when I travel to visit other places, I have the right to return here to the home where I was born. No part of our Constitution says I have to kiss law enforcement's butt to be permitted to come back to my house. I understand that they're trying to do their job, but the government also needs to understand that I'm not interested in participating in dragnet searches. I feel no moral or legal obligation to let them search through all my stuff just because of their policies, which don't seem at all compliant with our highest laws and ideals.

lawlessone 2y ago

>Have some common sense. The common sense would be don't go to countries where you risk being immediately sent home or to a slave colony in El Salvador for writing something mean about its president.

BrandoElFollito 2y ago
Oh yes, this is one of the possible solutions with common sense. This is what I decided to do BTW.
- lawlessone 2y ago
  You made the right choice, I didn't mean to sound critical of you, more the situation. Its sad but people taking these other measures are rolling dice every time they go. Negotiating the leopard. my biggest worry entering and leaving my own country is that my bag was lost, or theres a queue.
  - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
    I used to travel to the US once a month for years and years (from Europe or Asia). It was either for business, or for vacation with the family. The larger the airport, the shittier the border but at least this was a moment to go through and that's all. Now, as a French, I seriously consider being detained for something trivial and getting into a net of bureaucracy which would certainly extend my stay in the US. And I will not do that. My grown-up children are suggesting vacation in New York and some other places, we will go to Asia instead where I was lucky enough to have only good experiences (especially in some countries). Nobody will care in the US but this is one less person to visit. I would love the Americans to continue visiting us as nothing changed for them but I can totally understand that they will slow down as well, expecting unpleasantries.
justinhj 2y ago
[flagged]
qwerpy 2y ago

buyucu 2y ago

Common sense is suspending US travel. I did that last month.

BrandoElFollito 2y ago
So did I - and I kinda liked the place (not the border police, it seemed as if they hated me and hated the fact that I was coming to spend money there).
- wat10000 2y ago
  CBP hates everybody, citizen and non-citizen alike.
  - Maultasche 2y ago
    Agreed. As a citizen, most interactions with border control are unpleasant. The only positive experience I've ever had was at a quiet border crossing in Maine where I met what was probably the country's only friendly CBP agent.
  - kashunstva 2y ago
    Indeed. I'm a dual citizen - U.S. and that country to the north that Dear Leader keeps threatening. I have to cross the border relatively often and have noticed shift in tone in the last few months. Instead of asking me where I'm going, they have been asking me "where do you want to go." It's inconsequential, really; and they've never truly harassed me. It's just a subtle power flex that seems new, as if they would really prefer to deny me entry.
jesterson 2y ago
Would you elaborate why? (without being vague) I assume it's not common sense just because you did it? Issues with border patrol can happen in any country. If they have bad mood, or you suddenly decided to piss them off, they will do their best to make your life harder. The US is not the best or worst to that matter. People who chose working as border patrol are not the smartest people out there (otherwise it is unlikely they would choose working at border patrol). So I understand all precautions but saying its "common sense" not traveling there is a huge stretch IMHO.

tootie 2y ago

The US is deporting grad students with visas and green cards. They are absolutely going after nobodies right now.

sipofwater 2y ago
"With more than 300 student visas revoked, international scholars worry as the government expands reasons for deportation": https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/us/us-immigration-student-visas-revoked/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/us/us-immigration-student-vis... (www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/us/us-immigration-student-visas-revoked/index.html)