US Immigration on Tonight with Trevor McD

[benfilo]

the trouble is in all walks of life there are bullies who abuse there authority, some people get a kick out of being able to push people around who are powerless to resist. I remember your posting about your mum in law Nostromo, I imagine it's probably ruined a large part of her holiday.
benfilo

[sandra777]

A few US Immigration officers (but by no means the majority)do have a very unfortunate approach to visitors. I worked in UK customs for years and we always recognised that the job would attract a small minority of bullies who fancied themselves in a uniform. Fortunately, because this was recognised procedures were in place to weed them out as quickley as possible, usually during their basic training or probation. Any uniformed force should should be aware of this danger and deal with it. In fighting terrorism we need to cultivate our friends not alienate them. I can think of no better way of helping the terrorist than abusing someones human rights.

[sonofsos]

On entering Washington Airport last year my 7 year old daughter was picked out for a search and an interview. We were taken to a seperate area were the rest of us were seated and she had to stand with her feet in 2 footprints marked on the floor. She was then searched (including having to remove her shoes to be searched) and asked a few questions. All our hand luggage was emptied on to a table and searched including her cuddly toys. The 4 people who done this could not have been nicer and made my daughter out to be special. She really enjoyed the attention and wants to know if she can have the same treatment this year.
Althought the immigration officers were really nice and pleasant what was the point of doing this to a 7 year old. What security risk was she ?

[Angua]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sonofsos
On entering Washington Airport last year my 7 year old daughter was picked out for a search and an interview. We were taken to a seperate area were the rest of us were seated and she had to stand with her feet in 2 footprints marked on the floor. She was then searched (including having to remove her shoes to be searched) and asked a few questions. All our hand luggage was emptied on to a table and searched including her cuddly toys. The 4 people who done this could not have been nicer and made my daughter out to be special. She really enjoyed the attention and wants to know if she can have the same treatment this year.
Althought the immigration officers were really nice and pleasant what was the point of doing this to a 7 year old. What security risk was she ?
[/quote]
I'm glad that your daughter found the experience so much fun and that you made her feel special. It could have so easily spoilt her holiday if you had got Immigration Officers with the wrong attitude. I suppose, the sad fact is that some children on flights are used as "Mules" by adults who are hoping that Immigration don't think they are a security risk either.

I've always had good experiences at Immigration. The officers, although severe, were polite and efficient. I agree that these security measures are in place to protect passengers but I do think that these basic Human Rights issues should be dealt with immediately. By denying these rights, it's only adding "fuel to the fire" for terrorists.

[alfie]

On one hand i feel this as unnessassary and could cause distress to a child and i know as a parent i would hate the idea but on the other hand sends a clear message that age, colour, status all are suspects, the GOOD thing about your story is that your daughter and yourselves where dealt with respectfully and rightly so. I have absolutely no quarms about being stopped, searched or even questioned to aid the security of any nation but would hope to be treated in a civilized, respectful manor. In the past the stern faces as passport control seem quite the norm but often a smile and a wink have been reserved for my kids.

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sonofsos
On entering Washington Airport last year my 7 year old daughter was picked out for a search and an interview. We were taken to a seperate area were the rest of us were seated and she had to stand with her feet in 2 footprints marked on the floor. She was then searched (including having to remove her shoes to be searched) and asked a few questions. All our hand luggage was emptied on to a table and searched including her cuddly toys. The 4 people who done this could not have been nicer and made my daughter out to be special. She really enjoyed the attention and wants to know if she can have the same treatment this year.
Althought the immigration officers were really nice and pleasant what was the point of doing this to a 7 year old. What security risk was she ?
[/quote]

I agree with you on both counts. I think it was silly of them to think a 7 year old girl was a potential security risk, but at least those people were nice to her. I did not claim at the time that our own humiliating experience was race-motivated, but it does make one wonder in retrospect.

[anna maria freak]

Having been involved in the fight against terrorisim I can see the need to be cautious, terrorists are no respectors of anyones human rights and have in the past been guilty of using children and elderly to carry explosives, by showing that the authorities are prepared to subject children and the elderly to search and questioning may go in some way towards deterring attacks. this can be embarassing for the families concerned and I would sympathise with sonofsoss and nostromo but, better to have some annoyed travellers than an attack.
I unfortunately did not see the programme but can assure everyone that the UK was just as over zealous during the recent past in order to protect their citizens,we shoul be happy that security is seen to be working and making us all safer.

[rainyday]

Anybody seriously concerned about the possibility of this happening to them could consider travelling via Ireland. The US immigration service have outposts at Dublin and Shannon airports where you can pre-clear immigration - I hope there would be no chance of being chained up and deprived of food and water there! It's a great service - you breeze through the immigration area when you reach the US.

[sandra777]

Unfortunately the people who smuggle drugs and explosives will deliberately try to place them where they know it is embarrassing for officers to look. I've seen them in babies nappies, the inner tubes of wheel chairs, artificial limbs, childrens toys and sweets etc. Most people have no idea just how common the problem is. At Gatwick and Heathrow more than a thousand drug smugglers are caught every year. At Gatwick alone I've seen as many as seventeen caught in a single day. But all that said, it costs nothing to do the job in a polite and friendly manner.

[Ray9]

Being in Florida..did not see the program..but presume it was people just giving their version of events..Could it be there was some exaggeration.. most stories like these get more elaborate as times goes on.. and of course the TV crews are not above telling people to add more spice to the story..