Because freedom means it's the restrictions, not the privileges, the government enumerates. I don't know if there's a reason cell phones shouldn't be allowed there, but if there isn't then they should be.

Because one time when I returned back to US from a vacation the U.S. immigration officer asked me too many personal questions and when I asked why she needs to know my employer and it's location she yelled at me that she has this right. I didn't know at the moment that they do not have this right.

Next time I just wanted to make sure I am recording my conversation with the officer I saw the "no cellphone" sign.

So yes, you should be allowed to record any conversation with government officer to protect your privacy better

I think you need better immigration officers, not more cell phones. It's never taken me more than the wait in line plus a few minutes to go through immigration in Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean...

Last time I had to wait in immigration line for 4 hours, I missed my connecting flight. My wife waited at my destination for a real long time, got intensely worried and basically was clueless up until I was able to get through immigration and call her. Not exactly a minor inconvenience.

That does point to the other problem, that the U.S. runs a completely incompetent entry process. I'm always embarrassed when non-Americans visit the U.S., because we can't operate an immigration system efficiently. Meanwhile, I fly to Germany and it takes me 15 minutes to go through security and customs, not 3 hours.

You're not allowed to use their phones, either.

Here's a case[1] of a carload of US citizens being detained incommunicado for six hours at Niagara Falls for six hours, in a cold room. No explanation.

[1] http://www.onthemedia.org/story/my-detainment-story-or-how-i...