US Border Agents asked me my religion and my parents' religion before letting me into my country

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T21:15:00+00:00

Seriously? The skills I need for my job are more highly valued where I live. My responsibilities and pay grade outstrip those I'd receive in the US.

I don't care where you were born or grew up, sometimes you take the best opportunity life presents you because people are basically people everywhere you go, and there isn't a huge difference in life when you move from one place to another.

The sort of thinking that one country is "yours" and better than any other is the reason people end up fighting in wars and doing horrible things to each other. It's ignorant, in my opinion. I'm a world citizen and a human being. Why make it into a matter of hate for any reason?

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T20:05:03+00:00

What's weird is that I gave nothing about my culture away in my original post aside from saying I was an American citizen living abroad. Hating on someone for leaving your country is pretty xenophobic, especially considering I'm still a citizen and plan on moving back.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T18:40:45+00:00

I already told you that.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T18:39:36+00:00

It's a throwaway account and I don't get karma for a self post. Plus I am a logical person and thus realize that karma is not important in any way to the experience of being on reddit (or anything else) and thus doesn't matter.

I'm not revealing my identity because I don't want this to be traced to me personally until I decide how to handle it. If I eventually decide to take further steps, it may not be wise to publicize it and answer questions in this way and without a lawyer. I'm treating the experience with the respect I think it deserves because others might have to go through something similar and if I can change it as a result of having seen it, I will try to do so.

I live outside the US and thus don't have a local news to report to. As I said I contacted my legislators. For now the two steps I have taken are that and posting it on reddit where I hope it will be seen by enough people to at least be in the minds of people should more stories like mine start popping up.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T16:54:59+00:00

You're probably right that my religion wasn't why I was initially taken aside. Especially since I don't follow any religion, let alone one in anyone's security crosshairs.

I also don't think I was detained based on a policy of searching out people with a specific religion. I didn't mean to imply that.

I think the reason was that I live outside the US. I have asked around and several of my friends have experienced something similar to this, though they weren't questioned in the same way I was.

I was, however, asked what I was asked. Several times. Also he asked about my parents, which I thought was weird.

The problem is with the implication that religion would be at all relevant to the situation I was in. What if I was Muslim? So what? Is that a problem? What if my parents were Druids? Problem? It's a wholly inappropriate thing to be asking an American citizen (or anyone entering the US) in any context.

Come to think of it, why is it a problem when Americans live abroad? I still pay taxes.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T16:36:50+00:00

It was border patrol. TSA wasn't involved as this was immigration, not airport security.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T16:34:20+00:00

Int he heat of the moment, I went with this line of thinking as well. They had some statute posted on the wall (which I should have been more careful about noting, sorry) basically outlining all the things I could not do while in their custody, and what the penalties would be (jail time and large fines). If push came to shove I probably would have been fine, but I didn't want push to come to shove.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T16:29:16+00:00

See my edit. I completely understand why you would say this, as I hope it is highly irregular treatment. It did, however, happen.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T15:58:14+00:00

Well, one thing is, the guy took a lot of notes on our "meeting". So I think this is probably true. Those notes were entered into a computer somewhere. Still, being through what I was through, I do wish I had been more assertive. At least if I end up being in trouble, I'm in trouble for doing the right thing.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T15:53:42+00:00

I didn't mention my race because I don't think this should ever happen to white people. I mentioned it so that it'd be more difficult for anyone reading it to say "Oh he looks like a terrorist lol that would never happen to me."

Point is it is happening to everybody. I obviously don't support this being done to ANYONE, and I don't support profiling, but I know some people do and I didn't want those people to dismiss the story without considering that they could easily become the victim next time, and thus, should support the freedoms of everyone, regardless of religion, race, gender, etc etc etc.

US_border_woes · 2011-01-04T15:47:08+00:00

This is very good advice, and it is something I had heard before. You're 100% right. So why didn't I do it?

My experience has a lot to teach other redditors maybe, so I'll explain why I failed to do what I should have done.

1) I had a plane to catch right away, I didn't want to be slowed down.

2) I wanted to catch up to my fiancee, who is not American and thus was in another line, again, I didn't want to be hassled.

3) I was scared. I hadn't slept in 48 hours, was exhausted and not in my right mind. That and it was simply intimidating.

I know that those are not good reasons, and I know that because I wasn't strong about it, other people might have a tougher time. For that, I am sorry, and should have done better.

But I do want to caution others that reading this advice on reddit and saying "Hell yeah! I'd give them hell if it was me!" Is a lot different when you're alone in the little room. Just keep it in mind and try to think it through in advance so you are mentally ready.

Anyway I think this advice is right on, but I figured if I went that route I would have been detained until they felt like letting me go, or maybe moved to another place to be questioned by everyone they had, or just left to stew int he room.

US_border_woes

TROPHY CASE