question

[P6590]

Thank you for that bit of hard data.

 

[Tanysha]

I'm tired of secondary.

For about 3 years I never was sent to secondary. Then one night they sent me secondary because they detected gamma radiation. The inspector said it was low level and sent me on my way. (He never figured out the cause.) Then two of the next five times I crossed I also ended up in secondary. (I had similar troubles a few years ago after reporting a passport missing.)

 

[Rio]

I have crossed back into the U.S. more than 50 times by auto in the 2 1/2 years since I started mongering. While usually I'm only asked about my citizenship and what items I was bringing back with me, maybe a third of the time I've been asked what was the purpose of my visit.

I've always responded "To spend time with the chicas" as I flash a broad smile. Mostly I get no reaction from the inquiring border agent, but sometimes they just joke back.

I've been asked which bar I visited?...
Who my favorite bar girl is?...
Was it busy in Adelitas?...

One time a young hispanic-looking BPA went into an extended conversation with me as he looked through my cooler. "Bar girls or street girls?...Was I 'well serviced' on my trip down?...

I really don't think this "honesty" has gotten me profiled. I've been sent to secondary only twice, never diligently searched there or detained for more than 15 minutes 'till they dealt with me in secondary, nor sent to secondary during my last 15 to 20 crossings.

 

[T.O.Rider]

Sounds about right.

I posted (long ago) about a trip I took to Mexicali. About 10 miles away from the border at Calixico I was stopped by the Border Patrol. (Back then I drove a full size American car.) They wanted to search my car. I refused permission--and they held me about an hour before deciding I was free to go. (Without ever getting to search my car. Which I believe violated my civil rights.)

 

[coolcow]

Personally, when coming back across the border, I just casually wave my hand and say, "These aren't the droids you're looking for."

Then Luke and I are free to move along.

Seriously though, why would anyone want to draw attention to themselves?

 

[read it and weep.]

LOL. I like that one, I think I'll use it next time. I usually bring back a bottle of scotch from the Duty-free anyways. "Just shopping, sir." Sounds perfect.

 

[Carolyn]

well if that story doesn't convince a monger to behave, nothing will.

there may be an interesting theoretical question as to what extent the flag follows her citizen, but whatever it is, nothing in the newspapers convinces me that the DHS is for expanding our constitional rights.

I should think shopping is sufficient. I read over 100,000 people go to TJ each day to shop, which sounds high to me. but there ought to be enough room in that number for an obvious looking monger to hide.

 

[natesando]

Okay, dude. You are correct that you never said that. I just want to get the point out. You are not just opened to being searched. You could spend the next 16 hours in a little room somewhere trying to prove to federal agents that you were not in TJ to fuck 12 year olds or to bring back dope. Mikedude covers the point well enough. He is 100% correct!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Why the hell are we trying to make rocket science out of border crossing ? All you need to do is the following.

You : Good moring sir(assuming it's past midnight)
CBP agent : What were you doing in Mexico ?
You : Just a tour sir.
CBP agent : Bringing anything from Mexico ?
You : Nothing sir.

Now you are out the door in 30 seconds. Try to make it simple and be polite. Never had any problem with this script.

 

[Walt]

My apology to both Fireball and K-Freak. I believe it was early AM when I posted my statement and before my morning coffee. Of course, EVERYONE wishing to enter the country is open to be searched. I thought any twit knew that. Guess I was wrong twice.

In defense of my statement I also believe that in 5 - 6 other statements made in my post that one clearly is open to search. Maybe you didn't read that part

 

[halifax666]

Sorry, dude. I hate to pull rank but I am a member of the CA bar so I will. This is a question of your right against unreasonable search and seizure -the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that you basically have no rights at the border.

In United States v. Ramsey the court determined that a person may be routinely stopped at the international border and her belongings searched without a warrant, in the absence of individualized suspicion of wrongdoing."

The issue was later revisited by the court in a case where customs agents reasonably suspected a pregnant woman at the border of having swallowed balloons full of heroin.

The woman refused to undergo AN XRAY DUE TO HER PREGNANCY so the agents compelled her to remain incommunicado for 16 HOURS in a small room with only a hard chair and a table while they waited for her to defecate. She sued. The court concluded the detention was reasonable and that her individual interests in personal freedom were outweighed by the substantial government interest in preventing the importation of illegal drugs. Please note, she ultimately was proven to have no drugs on her. She probably just pissed the border agent off by something she said, no kidding.

This is the US Supreme Court talking. Any attorney worth talking to will admit to you, if you ask, that the 4th Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure is all but dead at the present time. Especially at the border. This is especially true in the post 9/11 era.

Don't assume that pulling the "You can't do this to me I'm an American Citizen" act will save your ass. That just cracks those assholes up. They act like assholes at the border because they are and they can. In their minds you are a powerless little tourist attempting to enter the USA and they have ALL of the power in that context. This is no fucking joke. A surly customs agent could fuck you over big time if it hairlipped them to do so. You've been warned.

 

[Jennifer M]

I just say i came for a massage. Innocent enough..

 

[Alessandro]

Basically the 4th Amendment doesn't apply at the border. Routine searches of persons and effects aren't subject to any requirement of reasonable suspicion, or probable cause or warrant. I understand they are now searching laptops, and could keep them for a short period of time to inspect them.

The same with fixed checkpoints near the border as expectation of privacy at or near the international border is less than in the interior land. The courts say, you are giving them permission by the mere facts you are driving up to the check point, however if the BP stops you out in the open, they need probable cause.

 

[cupcake41]

I have a personal observation on re-entry that I would like to offer. It is working for me so it should work for you.

For the first 8 -9 years of " crossing over " the ID presented was my CDL. The photo of me on my license was in a casual, slip on shirt ( neat, clean but casual ). During that period I was lucky if even 2 of 10 times my trunk was not searched.

Nov 05 I had to go in to DMV for renewal; test, eye exam and pic. Decided before hand to put on a long sleeve dress shirt and tie. For the past 14 months that is the ID presented to entry officer(s). They look at it, look at me ( dressed casual or grub ) hand it back and send me on my way. Not once in this time frame have I been asked to open the trunk .

I hassled these guys/gals for years as there were many questions asked that ticked me off. One clown who I could barely understand his english ask me if I was a U S citizen. I answered, " No, I'm an American citizen . What's a U S citizen ? ' Back then I would not give them a inch ...

For the most part re-entry is painless now as I've taken the game to them.
Drive up.... Look them in the eye....Say good morning... Hand them my CDL while at the same time saying I am an American citizen and bringing back a carton of cigaretts
It works for me

 

[Dark]

Respectfully, I disagree with the view " we have limited rights " . As a U S citizen we have every right guarranteed by the Constitution, that includes re-entry to our own country. They can't keep you out . Naturally, smuggling people or drugs will get you confined and terrorist are another subject all together.

There are many jerks at the border that may wish to play with your mind. Simply, don't give them a reason to. If one wishes to brag or share an experience re-entry is not the time or place, try this forum instead. So, is the cup 1/2 full or 1/2 empty ? Keep re-entry as friction free as possible otherwise the frustration of entry only adds to the 45 -90 minutes ( auto crossing ) of shit it took to get you to that point then the two hours of turmoil that one goes through while driving home thinking about it. Might require having to bite your tongue but it will save frustration. Life is too short~

 

[sydney m]

I usually point at one of my friends and say "We were looking for a wife for this guy."

works

 

[Jingjing]

Generally speaking, most people don't think highly of you when you say you traveled outside the country to have sex with prostitutes. Well, I am not proud of it myself. So keep the dirty secrets to yourself. There is no point to open a can of worms or to throw shit towards the fan.

 

[aussiegeezer]

This is all very true. Actually we have very limited rights with regards to border crossing. They can detain you on little or no evidence. They can give you a very hard time on a whim. The agent could "red flag" you and put you through hell if he felt like it- including full cavity searches and hours of questioning. Especially in this post 9/11 era, the border is not the place to fuck around, you are very vunerable at that moment. Just use your brain.

 

[Barcode]

My experience is as follows:
- Most times I have had no problem. The general question as Fireballs mentioned is "Whats your citizeship" and Why did you go there.
- I found the Asian Officers courteous and helpful
- About the others I have a mixed opinion
- I had a couple of guys with bad attitude. One of them mentioning "Why the fuck you cant get pussy in the US, you have to go to TJ"
- Another guy took me aside for special questioning bragging "We just want to give a tough time so that you wont go there next time !"
I could have very well answered back, that their job is not to question moral issues or give that high ground !
But all in all it was less than 5% of the time.
Best thing is to be polite and firm, not be too smart and arrogant, nor subservient.
Legally they cant touch you unless you have committed a crime, but who wants the hassles, and frankly speaking neither do they. Because its more problem for them to hold you without valid reason. A simple lawyer can rip them apart. Remember from Godfather "A man with a briefcase (lawyer) is more powerful than a 100 men with Guns" and May i add "with stupid brains"

 

[Pompal 09.]

tell them you were there for the lesbians.

seriously, it depends on what you mean by getting busted. my threshold is very low.

but as far as american agents go, i disagree that the dhs doesn't have jurisdiction to hold you for questioning, in this case in order to ascertain whether that "cunt" was not underage. and that could take a long time.

when your lawyer finally arrives, he ask, "why are you holding my client?

the agent will say because he said he traveled to another country to have sex. we just need to make sure that he didn't have sex with anyone under 18. it shouldn't take long.

now, for me, that's busted.

as far as mexican border patrol goes, it amazes me to read the self-righteous tone of many americans take when asking about thier rights to visit another nation.

the appropiate disposition, IMO, is as guest in the home of a friend whose welcome i want to maitain.

but, gosh, that goes for my own house too, since i don't live here alone.