Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by yolo666999420 on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @10:34AM
(#43412539)
For whatever it's worth, I'm treated this way as a white American. I'm selected for extra screening every single time I reenter the country. Though, I don't think it's ever been longer that 30 minutes or so. I don't know why but some combination of having a beard, being naturally anxious and having traveled to "unusual" countries -- at least by American standards. Crossing the border makes for a guaranteed panic attack and I've let my passport expire. It's a damn shame, too, because it's depriving my kids of invaluable life experiences and has brought my relationship with my spouse (who loves to travel) to the brink on multiple occasions.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by neves on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @11:34AM
(#43413400)
I'm curious: which were the unusual countries?
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by yolo666999420 on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @01:20PM
(#43414788)
Turkey and India, afaict.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by mrmlz on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @10:59AM
(#43412898)
US Border control is always worse than any EU-country (as a white EU-resident I might add). We have lots of umlauts in our names äöå etc. which can seriously mess up you ESTA or travel booking unless you double and triple check :)
But still India had the absolute worst border control I've ever experienced. I probably rather sleep on a cold prison floor a couple of days than having to manually reenter all my information eight times!
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by stackskipton on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @12:13PM
(#43413943)
I mean, as US citizen I find my interactions with CBP to be easy but it’s because their options are admit me or arrest me vs German guard who questioned me for 15 minutes if my personal laptop was because I was planning on working. Anytime you are entering a country you have right to be in, it’s generally easier.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by graemep on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @11:17AM
(#43413131)
> Or maybe it’s because I was born in an "undesirable" Middle Eastern country and have brown skin. One time I was detained for 5 hours and were questioned about "Islam" (ironically, I'm a Christian so I couldn't answer their questions).
Scary levels of prejudice and ignorance there. Prejudice against Muslims and I am guessing not knowing about Middle Eastern Christians exist.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by vlovich123 on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @11:23AM
(#43413241)
Was traveling to the US that fraught before 9/11? I think people forget just how much 9/11 damaged the national psyche which to me honestly explains things like Trump.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by neves on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @11:38AM
(#43413455)
Does it mean that Al Qaeda won?
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by kdmtctl on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @07:12PM
(#43418217)
That was my first thought. The goal was fear. Here it is.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by creaturemachine on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @12:24PM
(#43414098)
Pre 9/11 we could cross with nothing more than a driver's license, making trips with no reason other than to goof off. I even did the same to Mexico. Passports were for overseas or countries that required visas.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by diggan on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @09:59AM
(#43412112)
I've never been to the US, because I've been scared of these things, for decades, after reading stories about it. I've traveled to Canada and Mexico multiple times, but one time I made the mistake of having a connecting flight in Florida (first and last time).
As expected, I was interrogated by police-looking people about my motivations, yelled at by some other ones to walk faster and use some machine faster, and almost missed my connecting flight because of the "some questions", even though I never actually intended to enter the US, since I was on my way to Mexico.
Re:I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks
by graemep on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @11:07AM
(#43412993)
Me too. A lot of people who are widely travelled have told me that the US is the most hostile country to enter so, although there are places and people I would love to visit, I have never been.
The United States has always been hostile to outsiders—what’s different now is that they’re not even trying to hide it.
As a naturalized Canadian, crossing the U.S. border has always been a frustrating ordeal. Despite holding a valid Canadian passport, I’m routinely subjected to an extra hour of “security” questioning. Maybe I’m just unlucky. Or maybe it’s because I was born in an "undesirable" Middle Eastern country and have brown skin. One time I was detained for 5 hours and were questioned about "Islam" (ironically, I'm a Christian so I couldn't answer their questions).
My belongings are always searched, and I’m treated as less than human by CBP. I suspect that if you’re white, crossing from EU or elsewhere, you were used to an easier time until now.
The gloves are off.