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| Subject: harrasment by Canadian airport officials |
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I have been visiting my best friend in Canada for over 15 years now and everytime I enter Canada, I am been asked where are you coming from? Who are you staying with? Where are you staying? How do you know your friend? A reply to my friendly good evening is never forth coming.
As always I answer the questions asked, and the usual routine to write the number (one) on the form and draw a red line across the back and front of it is done - with vengeance.
Then I´m being told to go this was were an officer sends me into a glass case to stand for at least 30mins. when called for next I am being asked the same questions to be followed by what do you do in your country. The answer always seems to lessen my visit with the officer and have me sent to a baggage inspection area.
Of course the same questions again after been told to put my bag on a table. My profession will again lead to a quick end of the interrogation.
It has gotten so routine, I said to an officer, " my profession involves training in security, trafficing, terrorism and the like, I know when I am being profiled, my question is why? The officer said to me maybe it´s your bag. I told him the airline damaged my bags and replaced it with this. What´s wrong with it? He states its the type of bag drug dealers in colombia uses.
Strange? I think so. Bags made especially for Colombian drug dealers and issued by airlines.
I visit your country for vacation your records will show I never overstayed my visit.
I eat I pay taxes, I shop I pay taxes, I leave I pay taxes obviously I am a contributor to the development of you country.
Should I consider not returning to Canada? After 15 years and I am now complaining should say something, I have had enough. Certainly there are other places on earth to visit.
It costs me less to visit the USA and goods are much cheaper.
This is too much to bear any more.
[30-09-2011,03:34]
[***.59.96.38]
Clifton Roberts |
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(in reply to: harrasment by Canadian airport officials)
our border security is in response to US concerns so it seems a little sad that you would abandon us to visit that exact same country.
[30-09-2011,09:22]
[**.180.239.117]
Sharon |
Sorry to hear that (in reply to: harrasment by Canadian airport officials)
I´ve been to US and I know how you feel. I went to US and exactly as you say - visiting wonderful places like Vegas, Grand Canyon, Florida, California - all beautiful, enjoy, pay taxes, but the border people are f*** nuts. I have clear record. I am Caucasian. Canadian Born. Never had problem in my country. Never had problems in US. But for some reason they like to check my bags, strip me down... I had it enough. But at the same time I do have friends in US and I just need to go there. Every time I go I prepare myself mentally to cross the border.
Someone told me that in situation like this - my name could be the same (or similar) to someone elses that they have on the list and then they have a procedure what to do, OR there was something suspecious the first time I was crossing the border and it stays in the record.
Hope this goes away for me and for you, Clifton.
Pam
[30-09-2011,10:04]
[**.232.202.45]
Pamela |
(in reply to: harrasment by Canadian airport officials)
Pam - Have you considered applying for a Nexus card?
[30-09-2011,10:21]
[***.205.241.253]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: harrasment by Canadian airport officials)
Clifton,
What you described is a routine screening. That is the officer´s job.
Those are the rules of the land. If you decide that due to the entry procedures you don´t want to visit Canada anymore, that would be your own issue.
Really is not much different for Canadians when cross into the US. Homeland Security officers, may make it a straight forward procedure or NOT. I am not too sure about the story with the bag, but in any case the officer has the authority to check it as many times as required, even it means everytime you enter Canada.
One thing that might expedite your entry would be a Nexus Card. Look into it if you are a US citizen who visits Canada on a regular basis.
[30-09-2011,14:23]
[***.115.153.178]
DocD |
(in reply to: harrasment by Canadian airport officials)
Agree with poster here. Routine scrrening may be the officer´s job, but not rudeness to foreign visitors and immigrants.
When I landed a few years back, my excitement and exuberence was tempered by the total lack of civility of the Canadian customs agent processing us. I went into the border office to complain, and another agent told me "yeah, he´s our nazi officer" - as if that was acceptable and sort of funny. I wondered at the time why doesn´t Canada train its border people to be able to do both - do their job yet be civil (not even asking that they somehow be polite).
U.S. agents can be tough, but they were always civil when going back. There´s no excuse for Canada´s border service behavior that I´ve seen on occasion, especially since that´s the first impression visitors and new immgrants get of the country. It´s as if they have a small country complex and need to show they´re as tough as their larger neighbor.
[05-10-2011,12:13]
[***.131.12.0]
Richard |
(in reply to: harrasment by Canadian airport officials)
wish your statement was true about the US agents. In the last 2 weeks there has been a new item here about an over zealous/control freakish agent that was responsible for almost half of all the permanent bans into the US at the Peace Arch Crossing.
A group of lawyers got together and finally managed to get him fired.
[05-10-2011,13:30]
[**.180.239.117]
Sharon |
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