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U.S. Border and Immigration

Norman Alexander said:
Didn't miss it the first time. Which is why I said you exaggerated. I'm betting they are not police or military on those control points, but officials from some Agriculture Dept.
Indeed. I have visited the USA a number of times, driving from CA to AZ and back. So I have also been through these "border gates". I have a foreign passport and was driving a rental car, and yet I've NEVER been asked "what is your purpose for visiting California". I was asked only if we had any fruit or veg. Nope. Have a nice day!

Besides, what's so violating about being asked politely what the purpose of your visit is? Isn't that precisely what you would expect people to ask of "illegal immigrants" in cars and trucks? How do they know you aren't one of them?
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Border patrol is only allowed to operate near the border of the country. They have no authority whatsoever at the crossings between state lines.
 
Craig4 said:
The highlighted is a lie You don't get asked about your purpose at those checkpoints, just your snacks. I've been through them before too.
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As have I. Lived in San Diego, dated a girl in Flagstaff.

Of course, border protocol may have changed in the decades since.
 
Craig4 said:
The highlighted is a lie You don't get asked about your purpose at those checkpoints, just your snacks. I've been through them before too.
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Regnad Kcin said:
As have I. Lived in San Diego, dated a girl in Flagstaff.

Of course, border protocol may have changed in the decades since.
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Unless they've recently changed their line of questioning, if you enter California at the I-40 gate without a California licence plate on your vehicle, you WILL be asked the "Purpose of your visit" in addition to the "fruits and vegetables?" part.
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
I don't think that's disputed. "People" are certainly not illegal. However their status inside the US can be deemed "illegal" if they don't have permission or a legal right to be here.
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Oh, you mean Chinese and Indian visa overstayers. Who arrived by plane and were vetted by Border Security at the airport. Those illegals, yeah?
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
Unless they've recently changed their line of questioning, if you enter California at the I-40 gate without a California licence plate on your vehicle, you WILL be asked the "Purpose of your visit" in addition to the "fruits and vegetables?" part.
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You saying that doesn't make it true. Are there any Americans you can vouch for your claim?
 
Probably not the only person this has happened to, but...

A friend (and diplomatic service person's wife) after a long flight to the USA with many delays, was asked something along the lines of:

"Do you intend to overthrow the government of the United States of America by force or stealth?"

To which, she replied: "Er... Is this multiple choice? Erm... Stealth I guess."

The questioner (a marine in uniform if I'm remembering the story correctly) looked at her, her husband, and her husband's official passport and said: "Nevermind maam, as you were" and waved them through.

It made me suspect that they have to deal with tired and confused passengers all the time.
 
novaphile said:
Probably not the only person this has happened to, but...

A friend (and diplomatic service person's wife) after a long flight to the USA with many delays, was asked something along the lines of:

"Do you intend to overthrow the government of the United States of America by force or stealth?"

To which, she replied: "Er... Is this multiple choice? Erm... Stealth I guess."

The questioner (a marine in uniform if I'm remembering the story correctly) looked at her, her husband, and her husband's official passport and said: "Nevermind maam, as you were" and waved them through.

It made me suspect that they have to deal with tired and confused passengers all the time.
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could you give me her contact info?

We might soon need someone who can legally overthrow the government.
 
novaphile said:
Probably not the only person this has happened to, but...

A friend (and diplomatic service person's wife) after a long flight to the USA with many delays, was asked something along the lines of:

"Do you intend to overthrow the government of the United States of America by force or stealth?"

To which, she replied: "Er... Is this multiple choice? Erm... Stealth I guess."

The questioner (a marine in uniform if I'm remembering the story correctly) looked at her, her husband, and her husband's official passport and said: "Nevermind maam, as you were" and waved them through.

It made me suspect that they have to deal with tired and confused passengers all the time.
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I'm sure I've mentioned this on here many times before but the nicest immigration official I've ever met was the one I spoke to at Melbourne Airport. I'd done Geneva - Zurich - Bangkok - Sydney - Melbourne and was somewhat tired and confused; she asked me a couple of questions and then pointed me towards the taxi rank and told me to get to my hotel and get a good night's sleep.
 
On the border control front, in France the customs agencies are entitled to spot check within a 40 kilometre perimeter of land borders. This has been interpreted to also mean within 40 kilometres of airports receiving international flights, leading to the strange phenomenon of seeing occasional - and clearly targeted - checkpoints not far from Lyon.
 
malbui said:
I'm sure I've mentioned this on here many times before but the nicest immigration official I've ever met was the one I spoke to at Melbourne Airport. I'd done Geneva - Zurich - Bangkok - Sydney - Melbourne and was somewhat tired and confused; she asked me a couple of questions and then pointed me towards the taxi rank and told me to get to my hotel and get a good night's sleep.
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Not immigration, but border control. The very best airport service I've ever had was at Hervey Bay airport, Queensland, Oz.
Hand baggage check turned up my old Swiss Army knife that I'd lost some weeks ago. The guy said " Are you parked outside?", "Yep" said I. "Well, you'd better run outside and put it in your car". So I did, got back to the desk and he he whisked me past the queue and I sprinted across the ramp to board my 6 seater plane.
 
Two of us, crossing from the US into Canada by automobile, were asked to state our destination and purpose of visit (camping and hiking).

"Do you have any weapons?"

"No firearms. A couple of knives, in the back with our cooking gear. Bear spray."

"Why do you have bear spray?"

"Bears."

"That's the right answer."

(Nova Scotia has a law that says
Survival equipment

75 (1) No person shall enter any woods for the purpose of hunting
unless that person possesses survival equipment that includes
(a) a compass in working order;

(b) a hand axe, or hunting knife or jack-knife;

(c) a supply of waterproof matches or matches in a water-proof container or a source that is capable of producing a flame; and

(d) any other item prescribed by regulation.​
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That law goes on to say those who are required to carry the above are also required "to demonstrate ability to operate the compass to the satisfaction of a conservation officer". Several sources of information about hiking in Nova Scotia suggested hikers should carry those things even if they aren't hunting.

My companion was not in the habit of carrying any of those things and didn't know how to use a compass but, after reading about coyote attacks and the presence of bears, she insisted we carry bear spray and a knife. I always carry (a), (b), and (c) when hiking or backpacking. I had never before carried bear spray, but it seemed like a reasonable precaution, and my companion was willing and eager to carry the bear spray herself. Upon seeing the Mora knife I proposed to bring, however, she said she wanted a bigger knife. So I bought a bigger knife. When I tried to give it to her, she said "Oh no, I wanted you to carry a bigger knife." Which I did, even though it felt ridiculous to be carrying that thing on my belt. She carried the Mora.

The Canadian border folks had no problem with it.)
 
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Norman Alexander said:
Oh, you mean Chinese and Indian visa overstayers. Who arrived by plane and were vetted by Border Security at the airport. Those illegals, yeah?
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For future reference, you may assume I mean exactly what I post and those words have meaning that is not subject to your fantasies of interpretation.
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
For future reference, you may assume I mean exactly what I post and those words have meaning that is not subject to your fantasies of interpretation.
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No fantasy at all. Visa overstayers are indeed "illegal aliens" by proper definition of that term. By far the majority of these come through airports and are vetted by border security there. Most visa overstayers are not from Mexico, although more recently a greater proportion are. But as I wrote, most official "illegal aliens" in the USA have been already properly vetted by border security and permitted into the USA. They did not have to swim a river. They just overstayed their visa for whatever reason. It happens in lots of countries, by the way.

Perhaps you are miffed that the pejorative you "posted exactly" was actually wrong. As was your understanding of the term.
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
For future reference, you may assume I mean exactly what I post and those words have meaning that is not subject to your fantasies of interpretation.
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You needed correction. I suspect that will continue without regard to your wishes.
 
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