Comments on: Popular war blogger handcuffed, detained at Seattle airport

By: Jon Quimbly

Jon Quimbly — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:01:23 +0000

Aha, something I can maybe shed a little light on – today I passed through a Customs and Border Patrol checkpoint at Philly Int’l, returning from a warm and sunny place down south. And, a friend of mine is an immigration attorney.

Prior to my trip, I searched for info on CBP, and came up with ACLU’s “Know Your Rights” pamphlet, which is a very slim bit of info, when it comes to CBP.

It says that CBP are allowed to question you, citizen or not. It’s unclear whether citizens have the legal right to not answer those questions (as we do with nearly all other types of LEOs) — but the pamphlet also says you have the right to have an attorney present (*only* if you’re a citizen.)

My friend the attorney says that CBP can basically ask you anything. I didn’t think to ask what would happen if you refused to answer (I’ll send her this page’s link, in the hopes that she can speculate as to what went wrong with the war blogger’s CBP encounter.)

My experience today: CBP asked me what I do for a living (decent job), where I work (well-known news org), what I did on my trip (relax/destress), and whether I visited the major city nearby my vacation location (no.) As I always try to be with LEOs, I was courteous, cheerful, and told them what they wanted to hear (not necessarily the entire truth.)

It was over in about a minute, which kind of surprised me, given that I probably look like a dope smuggler AND a terrorist, with long hair (and seven-day beard growth.) Attitude has something to do with it, I feel. The fact that I’m white may also factor into their decisionmaking.

By: Theywantyoufired

Theywantyoufired — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:57:55 +0000

Cops are trained to ask employment information. If you give them the least resistance they will call your employer and plead with them to terminate you. Sadly many employers comply as they respect law enforcement. Without income most people cannot afford legal counsel and end up pleading guilty to something they didn’t do. What’s pathetic here is he did nothing wrong in the first place to warrant this. In my case the cops were mad about a website I created that lampooned city hall. Eventually they did get me fired after two years of trying. Cops never give up, they just retire eventually. I left that state and have been cop free for ten years now.

By: Pinandpuller

Pinandpuller — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:53:08 +0000

They can just merge the TSA with the IRS.

By: Sky Captain

Sky Captain — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:33:03 +0000

Again, this is why I’m not flying to the USA, period. Or driving there.

By: John Howard

John Howard — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:12:37 +0000

A guy on terror watch lists can light a crotch full of PETN on fire before anyone pays him any notice, but who do they catch? The guy who dares to think his personal income is private information.

By: genewitch

genewitch — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:51:26 +0000

TSA isn’t government is it? He should sue for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment. even if they are government, nothing says you have to answer questions to any authority. in fact, the fifth amendment guarantees protections from having to answer questions.

Carlos, as much as i love your blog and the first amendment, it seems as though a lot of people need a refresher course on the fourth and fifth amendments.

4th: without substantial reason or cause you cannot be detained for an extended period of time; nor can you be searched without consent.

5th: No person shall be compelled to be a witness against themselves; this amendment is the reason we have the “Miranda Warning.”

By: Tom Jankowski

Tom Jankowski — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:39:54 +0000

In October of 2006 a Customs agent asked me what I did for a living and I told her I worked at Wal-Mart. She asked me if Wal-Mart said I could come to the U.S. and asked for the store’s number. I gave it to her, but she never called.

Yet I don’t know why she bothered to ask. Is anyone really going to say “I’m from Al Quada and I’m here to attack America”?

By: mepsipax

mepsipax — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:38:53 +0000

Who cares what he was saying, unless he was a threat (actual not perceived), then he did nothing wrong. He is right, his salary and employer have nothing to do with security.
Epic Fail guys.

By: theBulldog

theBulldog — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:54:04 +0000

was he maybe wearing a turban, male aged 17-35, bearded, from the middle east, screaming bullshit about allah? no? oh, then i have no idea…