Okay, just came back from the US Consulate. Before I say what happened, I want to say a few other things related to this.
I’m shocked by the blogosphere’s, and the press’s, response. It blows my mind. This is once again a case of me simply having no idea that people would care. I was blogging because I had to tell somebody, and telling “Ensight” was as easy as telling anyone else.
Second, the company in question is not McGraw-Hill. It’s a major media company, well respected, etc. McGraw-Hill owns several major media companies, but is really a publisher.
I’m still not 100% sure what happened at Customs at the airport. Really, totally unsure. However at the very least I was denied entry and flagged for followup any other time I try to enter. As far as I can tell, I am not “banned” from entering. I’m not sure why the border guard said I was, threatened to throw me and jail and sieze my assets, etc.
I don’t know if any of what I experienced is even allowed by DHS (Department of Homeland Security). And I don’t even hold anything against DHS, Americans, etc. At the end of the day it’s this guy’s job to protect the border from, as he said, “ingrates and other seedy characters”.
There are quotes that stick out in my mind, like the “blogging ain’t a job” qoute that everyone’s bandying about. And there were threats. And there was lots of talk and many humiliating moments. There were also jaw-dropping ones like:
Him: Why would you visit someone in the states you’d never met (I mentioned I was planning to visit several people whilst down there)
Me: Well, I have met most of them, but I’ve talked to them dozens or hundreds of times online.
Him: Do you have any of their phone numbers?
Me: No, but I talk
Him:
Me: No, really, I can talk from my computer to theirs
Him:
Me: … (at this point I’ve learned that sarcasm doesn’t help, nor does answering questions he doesn’t want to hear the answer to)
Him: So, you’re trying to tell me that you’re going to visit someone who you’ve never met, never talked to and who knows nothing about you? And I’m supposed to believe this?
Me: … (This was two hours in, and minutes before I demanded to be released)
Anyways, I’m not going to New York. The company basically needed someone there this week, and the only way to get a Visa is through a fairly standard 2 week process. Which I understand, and I’m not mad about, it just means I’m not going.
At the end of the day, I realize the US has to protect their borders. To me, in doing so, there are reasonable limits. If you suspect someone is smuggling drugs, a strip and cavity search is probably appropriate. After all, you can verify whether they are or aren’t. But if you suspect someone of lying to you about their occupation, are you really going to find the answer anywhere on their person? I mean, REALLY?
I guess I just feel that, given the circumstances, he knew immediately he wasn’t going to let me into the country in time for my flight. So, what was the other 2 hours about? If I’d been simply denied entry without all the other fluff and threats I would have turned around and gone home…
Garh, I’m rambling.
Anyways, I really appreciate everyone’s support. I’m doing much better today. Still a bit bent out of shape. But, as everyone who saw me yesterday will attest, I’m basically using humour to gloss that over. It’s been a big week. On Sunday I was living in Winnipeg. Today I’m vaguely stranded 4000 miles away. I’ll be heading up to my folks’ place tonight to spend a few days working on my book, and then I’ll be joining my family in the Toronto area.
I’m looking forward to visiting the US again at some point. I’m sure (almost, anyways) that next time won’t be as big of a hassle. It’ll probably be a hassle, but not a massive one. It’s not like I’m a terrorist or a hair dresser or anything.
#1 by diane - March 20th, 2005 at 09:06
Blogger?
You asshole, they should have shot you on the spot and done the rest of us a favor.
#2 by LeRoy - March 20th, 2005 at 09:59
You should feel entitled to be angry at US Customs and Americans themselves. First, US Customs perpetrated an unreasonable, invasive and humiliating series of questions and searches and restrictions on you. Be angry. Second, Americans *explicitly* support this behaviour with their election votes; that country is falling into an extremely paranoid and evil state, and there is no reason for you to be nice about the effects this has had on you personally. Be angry, boycott American businesses as much as you are able (understanding that living Canada, we are all Uncle Sam’s whores and we depend on him for *everything*), and never, ever go back to that fascist hellhole.
#3 by Geoff - March 20th, 2005 at 11:43
You want to be careful describing yourself as a reporter. You are specifically excluded off the visa waiver program if you intend to do reporting whilst visiting the USA. Check the fine print on the bottom ofthe form. Perhaps bloggers should be wary of calling themselves bloggers at the border
#4 by Karen - March 20th, 2005 at 12:00
Unsubscribe
#5 by Jan - March 20th, 2005 at 12:01
Bottom line is this: regardless of what titles or occupations seem to raise a red flag for a moronic border idiot, it’s a sad commentary on this U.S. that the situation even exists. It hasn’t been that long since “we” boasted of being the land of the free and home of the brave, and put up a statue and sang highminded songs about “give me your tired, your poor”. Now we’re hiring thugs to make sure everyone is tired, and our government’s hellbent on making everyone [else] poor. Pathetic.
#6 by Andrea - March 20th, 2005 at 14:34
I have a hard time believing that someone doesn’t know about IMing but knows what blogging is.
#7 by mc6809e - March 20th, 2005 at 15:49
Ignorant people often think others are being deceptive when those ignorant people hear jargon they don’t understand or when words are used in an unfamiliar way.
Words considered common to you both obviously had different meanings. For example, what does it mean to meet someone online? You don’t usually see them and shake hands. And what does it mean to talk to them? You don’t usually speak to them. You send messages, or chat. But even to chat doesn’t mean you’re speaking to someone.
To those that don’t understand the alternate meanings of “to meet”, “to talk”, and “to chat”, it sounds like you’re BSing.
Oh well. I guess we’ll have to modify an old saying and declare that bloggers and border guards are separated by a common language.
#8 by DaninVan - March 20th, 2005 at 15:55
Aren’t “talking” “chatting” and “BSing” synonymous?
#9 by Dossy - March 20th, 2005 at 19:33
Jeremy, next time say you’re an “Editor of an Online Publication called Ensight” and that you’re “travelling to (City, State in USA) to interview (Person’s Name).” If they harass you for the phone number, tell them “oh, they’ll be meeting me at their office at (give address).” Of course, it’ll be important to have the address of the place you plan on visiting handy, but … well …
So, your story sounds like the Americans managed to keep one more Canadian out of America. Good triumphs over evil, again, I suppose. *chuckle*
Perhaps you should try entering through the Mexican borders. I hear they let anyone through who looks like they can pick a mean berry.
#10 by Doug - March 20th, 2005 at 19:56
look America is going to hell. sorry gone to hell! freedom is dead. Students jailed for terroist threats for stories of zombies attacking his school. good thing you weren’t shot on sight for have a IQ over 70 and we as americans wonder why companies outsorce jobs the people they’d have to hire aren’t smart enough to get online let alone asnwer a question about it. i love america i just hate the stupid people who run it and i don’t have enough money to buy the votes to change that
#11 by a random John - March 20th, 2005 at 20:32
I was detained in Montreal customs for over an hour a few weeks ago. The customs officer went on several rants about the USA, Walmart, and how she is a unionized worker and doesn’t have to be prompt or efficient. She was trying to tax me about $700 on my used personal items I was bringing with me but could only figure out how to get the computer to charge me $260. Then she demanded that I pay her in cash. The story goes on and on. Several times she threatened to keep me indefinitely or to confiscate all my belongings. I have written a three page letter that I intend to send to the customs officials.
Anyhow, it sounds like we have jerks on both sides of the border.
#12 by Mike - March 20th, 2005 at 23:55
I really dont understand how TSA and the border guards get away with this. theres an article out there (i read it on boingboing. i cant remember what it was called. sorry. ) about a man who is questioning TSA security. and it turns out that the laws that restrict your freedoms are classified because they pertain to security. if you can find the article read it. its worth your time.
when i crossed the border at christmas i was irratated. drug dogs sniffed my snack in my bag. all my stuff got searched. my 16 year old sister had her bags checked and searched through at every stop. and her nail clippers were confiscated. these people love power. on a seperate note the best airport transit i have experienced was from Rome to Frankfurt to Calgary. inspections were reasonable and everyone was polite. the last leg however, Calgary to Edmonton was a pain. If your sensors are sensiteve enough to pick up aluiminum foil, then its not terrorists who are opposing your freedom.
#13 by jyl - March 21st, 2005 at 04:00
I had the same problems going in and out of Canada from Washington just last year.
When I went over, Canadian Immigration questioned me about my stay, where I lived, what I was doing there and I don’t think they quite believed me that I was just going to meet a friend from the Internet for coffee. He questioned me for about 10 minutes and did his search on me on his computer. But when he realized I wasn’t wanted or whatever, he let me go to coffee.
Going back, border patrol on the Washington side did the exact same thing and questioned me and searched my purse for another good 10 minutes.
I think it’s all pretty random, but it’s very humiliating and surreal. I want to go back, but I really don’t want to have to go through the whole thing again.
#14 by joaobambu - March 21st, 2005 at 06:40
When I visited Canada in 2000, I entered the country with a Brazilian Passport which clearly had a stamp showing my legal residency. The border guard was very testy and asked me, ‘Why aren’t you a US Citizen yet?’. I responded with dry sarcasm, “Well, because I want to become Canadian, eh!”
Long story short. It didn’t work and I waited a few hours, as we say in Portuguese “cha de cadeira” — sweating you out.
I guess working at a border and wearing goofy customs officials uniforms doesn’t give you much of a sense of humour, nor does it give you the right to badger people with questions about their personal choices (whether I become American or not, which I am doing now, so I can join the Peace Corps or whether or not you can talk to people in other countries through the internet and then visit them)..
uh, i find myself rambling now!
Good luck!
#15 by Yatique - March 21st, 2005 at 06:41
Like Nike
LIE
JUST DO IT.
LIE
Say that you will visit a friend from all your life.
Say that you have lost the phone number
LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE
Everyone does.
#16 by Luiso - March 21st, 2005 at 06:42
If I will go to USA, there are many words that I will leave out. I’m thinking better, and I will not go to USA.
#17 by daniel - March 21st, 2005 at 07:37
yeah, amazingly crap, my dad was searched 3 times by security at atlanta and almost missed his DOMESTIC flight, nice comment about the hairdresser! lol
#18 by david Hume - March 21st, 2005 at 08:22
I was once flying from LA to NYC via Atlanta, and after a redeye flight at night, when we landed in Atlanta to change planes, the captain decided he didn’t like my books, that was back in 1983, pre-911, and ordered me off the plane. just like that. delta then put me on the next flight to NYC. just like that. they later paid me US$1500 with letter of apology. Shit happens.
You was wronged. But these things happen. Morley Someone, forget his name, famous Canadian wildlife writer, used to shoot at planes sometimes, in protest, he also was denied entry to USA once. and BRitish reporter was stopped in LA last year.
I was once arrested and jailed for 41 days in Japan, with a US passport, for minor visa violation, placed in soliary, tried in court, deported in handcuffs and blacklisted for life. all for minor visa problem, no terrorist or embezzlement or dope runner or murder. So watch out for Japan immigration police, too, if you ever go there.
What happened to you should NOT have happened. Total snafu. US gov will apologize, I am sure, and you will be let back in later. Yes, humor helps. Nothing else works. Shit happens. All the time. Everywhere.
#19 by Paolo - March 21st, 2005 at 09:38
Hi Jeremy,
So sorry to hear about this. Just a quick note that you should track down and watch the short film, “Strip Search” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376215/).
I’m not being facetious, it’s actually a very good short film with Glenn Close that’s a commentary on “personal freedoms vs. national security in the aftermath of 9/11″. A must see after what you’ve just gone through.
#20 by C.J. MacDonald - March 21st, 2005 at 12:20
Uh, that was Farley Mowat, he was branded a communist, I’d be surprised if he ’shot at planes’
#21 by Ashutosh - March 21st, 2005 at 16:26
I completely sympathize with you and also, the guard was just pretending to ask you supposedly valid questions, when he really wanted to create trouble for you. However, I wonder whether a few numbers would have helped…I mean it is entirely possible that I would have the phone numbers of a few people I am meeting for the first time and have met only over the internet.
#22 by Aerik - March 21st, 2005 at 16:30
I am a U.S. citizen (born here) and every year for the last 4 years I have flown to Europe for business. I consistently find the customs process to be basically polite and efficient, especially immediately after Sept 11. (The lines for passport control in Heathrow are ridculous, but that’s off-topic.)
Anyway, the worst experience I have had yet was coming back here - it doesn’t compare to yours as I was delayed maybe 10 minutes for a very stupid conversation, but I was so fantastically angry to be rudely questioned by civil servants of MY COUNTRY - I barely contained myself. We must be losing out of millions of dollars in tourism revenue, from the way we treat people. Dear Canadian neighbor, on behalf of my idiotic, fearful countrymen, I’m sorry.
#23 by annlyzer - March 21st, 2005 at 22:28
Jeremy,
I know the truth about your encounter at the Toronto airport! So does the gentleman that was in the inspection area with you, remember him? Did you know he was a OPP officer? and he heard the entire conversation. He has come forward to give his version of the actions of the officers you lied about.
The facts are as follows; You entered the inspection hall at 0518 in the morning, you were asked if you planned to work in the US, and what was your response. You said you were going to a friends place because it was “quite and you could work on your book”. That was a lie, although the inspector did not know what a blogger was, he could tell you were lying. You even admitted it in your many interviews. At 0627, you were allowed to withdraw your application for entry to the US, and escorted to the exit.
#24 by Pirate - March 21st, 2005 at 23:35
Hey annlyzer. You’re a complete pr0ng and so is your little girly guard buddy.
#25 by David Hume - March 22nd, 2005 at 02:53
Wow, my earlier post was deleted. that’s two so far. what gives, maestro? I thought we all believed in freedom of speech? Maybe the US was right to ban you from going in if that’s how you treat people. Explain sir.
#26 by David Hume - March 22nd, 2005 at 02:59
EATING CROW: Wait a minute, I was wrong, my posts were not taken down. I apologize, JW.
QUOTED OUT OF TURN: “Wow, my earlier post was deleted. that’s two so far. what gives, maestro? I thought we all believed in freedom of speech? Maybe the US was right to ban you from going in if that’s how you treat people. Explain sir.”
Turns out that he didn’t delete my posts, they are in another area of the board, still up, and it is me who should be banned from entering the US, for not checking my facts first and getting it all straight before I spoke. Sorry about that, sir.
#27 by David Hume - March 22nd, 2005 at 03:20
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Breaking/Blogger-blocked-by-US-immigration/ 2005/03/22/1111254012558.html
Now the newspapers in Australia are chiming with one side of the story. Still haven’t heard the other side yet. Over to you, George!
#28 by Eric - March 22nd, 2005 at 08:29
I had to apply for a visa today to go to the States. I had to pay 80 Euros for this - and, even worse - I had to pay 15 Euros to get an appointment.
It seems that the poor old US of A is so broke that it’s getting its visitors to cough up to pay for this war to steal Iraq’s oil.
What a sad state of affairs to get into. I feel really sorry for the honest and respectable folks who live in a country where over half of the population are total @$$holes with a communal IQ of just 1.
It gets more like the USSR every day
#29 by Paolo - March 22nd, 2005 at 09:58
Annlyzer,
“I know the truth about your encounter at the Toronto airport! So does the gentleman that was in the inspection area with you, remember him? Did you know he was a OPP officer? and he heard the entire conversation. He has come forward to give his version of the actions of the officers you lied about.”
I think we’d all like to see your source. Give us a link, a reference to an interview or press release, something other than your ramblings.
“The facts are as follows…”
Simply blathering about what you say are “facts,” is actually hearsay. Imagine this were a court of law, and we’re all waiting for your evidence.
“You said you were going to a friends place because it was ‘quite and you could work on your book’.”
For cryin’ out loud! If you’re going to quote someone on what they said, you should probably spell correctly.
Is it possible that Jeremy’s account of what happened differs from what the border guard might say? Yes, probably. Is it also possible that both of their accounts would differ from what really happened. Again, most likely. But it’s very important that if you’re going to call someone a liar you back it up with something more than a display of you sticking your head up your ass for all to see.
Thank you.