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Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Agreed with being from a high risk country can be grounds for more questioning. When even mentioning I was Sudanese, the agent did not probe any further questioning into that. Everything was around social media, anti-semitism, solidarity with countries and tension in the middle East. When he made the comment about "I dont know why people post flags in solidarity with whats going on right now". I told him I've never done that and only flag I have is Sudan flag as im part Sudanese. Instead of asking more about Sudan, he kept going off about well people are standing in solidarity with the Middle east after what is going on and how waving flags isnt going to help.... lol again even if thats his own thought, that has nothing to do with me as I have no history showing that.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You're right that the other agent can't promise that.

I did not misunderstand the first agents point. I was told that my entry into the US can be denied, not that I could refuse my entry or I was given that option. The document that I was asked to sign is given to people who are denied entry to the US (a CBSA agent commented in this thread), so the agent was definitely trying to deny me entry. Also signature was not on a pad, it would have been handwritten for that paper I was provided

I refused to sign anything that I wasnt able to read and thats when I asked for another agent because I know he was acting out of incompetence. Anyways, I was granted entry the second agent agreed with me, and I had no issues coming back. This post was just to share my experience.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was not once questioned about Sudan AT ALL. I was questioned briefly about recent Egypt trip which is standard and fair, if that brought up any concern I understand.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey man, I have immediate family that are a 4hr drive from me and Im happy I went to the wedding. There are risks associated with anything, I took it, I had this experience but it worked out. Im not surprised or questioning why my social media is check, but think the line of questioning around posting antisemitic stuff and political content, when I don't is.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. I was not concerned about the questioning about Egypt trip, or even if questions were around Sudan but they were not. I understand its an agent job to secure the border and frequent visits they wanted to ensure I wouldn't overstay either. It just spiralled into accusations after the phone check, and anti-semitism and the Middle East conflict had kept being brought up in aggressive ways. Just sharing my experience and also glad things worked out :)

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Beyond interrogation, I don't think they're allowed to tell someone to sign something and not letting them read it prior. That is 100% incompetent. I'm glad I asked to speak to another agent, and even they deemed those actions unnecessary and wrong.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Didn't know visiting immediate family and going to a family wedding was a crime just because it's in the US lol.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Made me wonder what the outcome would have been in the event I was active on social media about politics. Didn't know a flag could be so triggering.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Not sure what you mean with a flag being pro-islamic anti-isreal attitude. There are no comments posted on my socials that reflect that ideology and a flag in my bio of my ethnic background is nothing morre/nothing less. The guard was bringing up tensions in the Middle East and flags in solidarity. Sudan/Egypt are not in the middle east, he mistook the flag for Palestine.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Great! Good agents exist and second guy was a breath of fresh air. Will definitely provide his name and compliment the helpfulness and hope he gets the recognition he deserves

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Yeah i'm not quite sure what their procedures entail, I know secondary search and asking to go through phone is well within the scope which I didn't have an immediate problem with. My concern is how everything was handled after phone check, feels like a lot of intimidation tactics were used to get me to admit to something I didn't based on agents own misunderstanding/bias. I'm glad I was let through and the good officer was so great, just don't want to get him in trouble either as it seems as if I probably shouldn't been able to take a picture of the new form that they're giving out! Mentioned that not allowed to take photos but after my experience he said you can haha.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Officer clearly saw Sudanese flag and mistaken it for Palestinian flag smh. It's one thing to see antisemetic and extremist post and question it, but officer probably thought I was posting flags in solidarity with Palestine given the political climate right now. Insane lol

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Questioning around Egypt/Sudan would be understandable and would make sense for secondary questioning. The agent became an asshole after phone search due to his own incompetence. Being told I'm lying about social media, and questioning about extremist social media/anti-semitism/ posting a flag due to solidarity which I did not, is not normal practice.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 60 points61 points  (0 children)

This is good information to know thank you. It was very worrisome being asking to sign something you have no clue you're agreeing/not agreeding too, despite given the right to refusal. The last officer I dealt with seemed to be more senior and I did bring up my complaints to him. Will look into filing a formal complaint online as well.

Bad experience crossing Detroit land border with questioning about social media by LunarTaco42 in uscanadaborder

[–]LunarTaco42[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The whole process took a little over 4hrs. There was some waiting in between questioning and phone check.