Border Control Too Controlling?

[pastafreak]

It's getting a bit much....

First,Muhammad Ali's son...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/25/muhammad-ali-son-detained-questioned-us-border-control

A former PM of Norway...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/03/former-norway-pm-bondevik-held-washington-dulles-airport-2014-visit-iran

And a well known Australian children's author on her 117th visit to the US...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/25/australian-childrens-author-mem-fox-detained-by-us-border-control-i-sobbed-like-a-baby

[jno]

the little dictator within a lot of immigration people does seem to have been unleashed. I love the USA but I wonder if it's worth the effort of going there these days.

[naomi24]

Sounds like "How dare you! Do you know who I am?"

"Err... no... but we're going to find out!"

Fair enough.

[Mamyalynne]

I think they are trying to cut visitor numbers, from what I've heard it could well work.

[pastafreak]

"The little dictator" is a well known phenomenon. I remember my English in laws talking of somewhat heavy handed treatment back 20 years ago.
I get the impression with some of these cases that visitors are not treated with care or respect.

[naomi24]

pastafreak, in my experience of US border control, care and respect never was de rigueur.

[douglas9401]

And yet the place is full of russki gangsters and ex Somali pirates.

How dat happen?

[New Judge]

Why do people in the UK worry unduly about how a foreign nation patrols its borders?

[Mamyalynne]

Maybe because next time you consider travelling to see family or holiday you may be the one being quizzed for two hours.

[pastafreak]

New judge...I'll worry as I'm a US citizen.
Mamya...exactly. I may be going back with my daughter in the autumn...

[New Judge]

I would not visit a country where I was made to feel unwelcome on arrival. Well not more than once, anyway and not at all in the case of the USA because of their well-known attitude toward arriving visitors. But that's by the by.

In these troubled times I would sooner countries operate robust, even over the top border controls (though that can be achieved without being downright unpleasant as it seems many US Border officials can be). But it's no business of anyone outside the USA how that country controls its borders.

[New Judge]

Do they not treat arriving US citizens differently, pasta? Or are you treated with the same disdain as everybody else?

[pastafreak]

It's been a good few years since I've been back, and obviously things have changed in that time. My daughter,on the other hand, has traveled a lot...including to the US. So far...no problems, but I'd worry in the current climate.

[OldBather]

And so it starts.

[anneasquith]

It's a sad day pasta when an American citizen is wary about entering their own country.

[Zacs-Master]

Love Naomi trying to spin the situation by making out that the people stopped were being prima donnas. Defending Trump. Again. Without any justification.

[anneasquith]

Yep. Like a stuck record zac .

[Samjenko]

Oh, the irony.

[1ozzy]

Now that Trump thinks he owns the U.S of A.

Interesting times ahead ;-/

[waterboatman]

We've visited the US on several occasions while Vera's brother lived and worked there. I can only say we were treated with courtesy and respect on every occasion. But that was quite a few years ago now.

[NoMercy]

I've been to the US since 9/11 and was greeted politely and told to enjoy my stay.

I'm going again in May and I'm not in the least fearful or apprehensive.

I think these stories are being blown out of proportion. But hey, it sells papers, right?