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This anecdote happened today, during "attitude adjustment" services provided by CBP (Customs and Border Protection).
I was flying earlier today from Munich, Germany to Portland with a layover in Atlanta. In Atlanta it was required to go through the passport control and get the checked-in luggage through the customs before proceeding to the next flight.
As usual, I've completed the customs form indicating some agricultural articles (allowed ones), and proceeded to the passport control. Unsurprisingly, the first question was about the country I was coming from. Technically it was already stated on the customs form, but I answered anyway. Second question was about my occupation, which was out of context, but I stated "Software Engineering" anyway... finally the officer asked about my current employer, and that's where it started
officer: What's your current employer ?
me: Why are you asking these questions ?
officer: Why am I asking these questions ?
me: Yes, I don't think it's any of the government's business. I am a US citizen returning home, that's all you need to know.
officer: Everything is government's business. People you are living with are government's business.
me: In that case I decline to state.
officer: you decline to state ?
me: I decline to state...
It was on his face when he said "you decline to state ?" that retaliation is coming. I didn't have to ask. Sure thing, instead of being directed to the agricultural check, I was sent to the "line 1", or the "terrorist line". Apparently they called in the supervisor, and a few other officers to assist. Supervisor quickly realized that he was simply dealing with a smartass jerk (me), and didn't hide his irritation with me "wasting his time". He inquired what was so inappropriate in the questions that I was asked by their "best agent", that it has set me off. After all, he said, I wasn't asked about my sexual orientation. I politely explained that none of those facts have anything to do with my travels. He objected, that anything has to do with everything. "As a software guy working at Google you may run into some people that government wants to know about". Not sure why they decided I work for Google, but he claimed that "it's written here, and there is even a picture" while looking at his screen but not showing it to me. He continued to state that my normal rights don't have any weight at that location, it not even being a US soil. When I asked him, where does he draw the line, "would it be actually okay for them to inquiry about my sexual orientation", he said "Yes, we can ask anything, we can search your body, your bags, your cellphone, your media". He was a bit softer at the end of this encounter, I inquired if I can get a copy of their written policy, but he did not answer.
But the most important thing that CBP agent told me, is that next time they will put me on the "no-fly" list if I refuse to cooperate in the same manner. This should be enough to make this gun related, right ?
I was flying earlier today from Munich, Germany to Portland with a layover in Atlanta. In Atlanta it was required to go through the passport control and get the checked-in luggage through the customs before proceeding to the next flight.
As usual, I've completed the customs form indicating some agricultural articles (allowed ones), and proceeded to the passport control. Unsurprisingly, the first question was about the country I was coming from. Technically it was already stated on the customs form, but I answered anyway. Second question was about my occupation, which was out of context, but I stated "Software Engineering" anyway... finally the officer asked about my current employer, and that's where it started
officer: What's your current employer ?
me: Why are you asking these questions ?
officer: Why am I asking these questions ?
me: Yes, I don't think it's any of the government's business. I am a US citizen returning home, that's all you need to know.
officer: Everything is government's business. People you are living with are government's business.
me: In that case I decline to state.
officer: you decline to state ?
me: I decline to state...
It was on his face when he said "you decline to state ?" that retaliation is coming. I didn't have to ask. Sure thing, instead of being directed to the agricultural check, I was sent to the "line 1", or the "terrorist line". Apparently they called in the supervisor, and a few other officers to assist. Supervisor quickly realized that he was simply dealing with a smartass jerk (me), and didn't hide his irritation with me "wasting his time". He inquired what was so inappropriate in the questions that I was asked by their "best agent", that it has set me off. After all, he said, I wasn't asked about my sexual orientation. I politely explained that none of those facts have anything to do with my travels. He objected, that anything has to do with everything. "As a software guy working at Google you may run into some people that government wants to know about". Not sure why they decided I work for Google, but he claimed that "it's written here, and there is even a picture" while looking at his screen but not showing it to me. He continued to state that my normal rights don't have any weight at that location, it not even being a US soil. When I asked him, where does he draw the line, "would it be actually okay for them to inquiry about my sexual orientation", he said "Yes, we can ask anything, we can search your body, your bags, your cellphone, your media". He was a bit softer at the end of this encounter, I inquired if I can get a copy of their written policy, but he did not answer.
But the most important thing that CBP agent told me, is that next time they will put me on the "no-fly" list if I refuse to cooperate in the same manner. This should be enough to make this gun related, right ?
