Harrassed by the Border Patrol today.

[Rubix cube]

Having been pulled over twice by US Customs agents when returning to the US from Canada, and being asked by the INS folks on i-10 to stop, I can tell you it is a little perturbing.

On the other hand, I cheerfully submitted and suffered 30 minutes delay at the longest. These people have a tough job. They deal with a lot of upset people, some deservedly so. I don't feel like my rights are infringed upon in any of the three cases, nor did I feel like they attacking me personally. BUT, there have been times with the TSA where I'd swear those folks enjoy causing issues.

Once, while river rafting in Canada we got sunburnt, and as a result were inordinately thirsty. So, we bought an 18 can box of diet Coca-cola. My wife overdid it with her thimble sized badder as we approached the border. It didn't help that the lanes were backed up on this particular Sunday afternoon, as we approached in our car. We made the mistake of saying we had oranges, which got us pulled over for a search. My wife zipped into the building to relieve herself, as I parked the vehicle and filled out the paperwork. After entering the building she found the bathroom locked. She asked for a key and the agent wanted to know why she wanted to go in the bathroom. To which my wife said she had to go to the bathroom. I told her it was a good thing she didn't tell the agent she had to get rid of some coke.

[Sequim Guy]

Originally Posted by baraff

See how easily we give up our rights? "Where are you coming from?" What?! How is it acceptable to be asked that by our government? What business is it of theirs' "where we are coming from"?
What if I told them it's none of their business "where I'm coming from"? How is that a crime?
And LadyFitz' point about asking if you are a citizen is right on target. Talk about Security Theater.
If our government did it's job about not allowing illegals into this country in the first place instead of giving a wink and a nod and then harassing retirees at checkpoints miles from the border than we wouldn't have this problem.

Yup, I figured someone would jump on that bandwagon because I wasn't all
upset like they were about "giving up my rights" because I answered the all
invasive question of "Where you coming from?". Whatever....

If you don't want to tell them where you are coming from, LIE TO THEM,
they'll never know and you will feel soooooooo much better....

Were you this worried about giving up your rights when your Dr. office,
electric company, bank teller, insurance company, etc., asked for your
SS # or picture ID, or BOTH? And they aren't even the govmnt.

The govmt doing their job of not letting illegals in, well that ship has already
sailed, so all they can do is try to clean up the mess we have now. And
that includes checking to see if you have 17 illegals in your MH bathroom.

(moderator edit)


Oh, and the next time a cop pulls you over for speeding and asks, "Where
you going in such a hurry?", I hope you stand up for your rights and tell
him it's none of his business...


.

[jdoc]

I live about 4 hours from this checkpoint. It is located in the small town of Sierra Blanca. One of the local tv stations is currently running a special news segment on this checkpoint. This checkpoint is open 24/7. The vehicles come through there at the rate of one every thirty seconds. The Border Patrol Officers are out there for 8 hours a shift. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be in that uniform in over 100 degree heat that is happenning now and having to try and be polite to people that feel like their lives have been so bothered for 30 seconds, while you are sitting there in your air conditioned vehicle. Last week the drug sniffing dog signaled to his handler on a truck. That truck was carrying 900 pounds of marijuana. Coming from? Mexico, nope, California. I have been through this checkpoint myself and I have always been polite and was sent right on through. So, complain all you want to about being searched but, remember this; they are out there protecting us.

Jerry

[hamguy]

Originally Posted by RovinOn

Welcome to the United Socialist States of America,,,, Folks we get what we ask for! Protection from the Government, so they can trample over your rights as American Citizens.
Because of these Maroons at the Border and the Airports, I'll probably never leave this country again....
Just wait til they start pulling this crap traveling between states!

OK, Mr. Constitutional expert, what rights were violated? And bring your ire to Phoenix and blast it at the widow of the officer who was killed by the illegal running away from a cop. Or the kids of the ICE agent killed by the gun that was walked into Mexico illegally by (moderator edit) and those charged with protecting the citizens of the US.

My SIL's Step Father is an ICE agent in Why. He tires of getting shot at every day by inseen/unknown shooters on the Mexican side of the border. He also discussed what happens to those high and mighty 'attitudes'. Get my drift? They have the power to use/abuse almost what ever they want to do.

Sorry Mr. Moderator, but people like this absolutely make me sick. I am offended, as is my right.

[sgtjoe]

When they ask you questions they are listening to how you answer to determine if you are a possible non-citizen. My wife and I were going Northeast out of the San Diego area in the early 70's when we hit one of the Check Points. They asked where I was born, I replied and then he asked the wife where she was born, I replied for her and was quickly told to let her answer for herself. Reason being was obvious to me as she is Hispanic and as for me I always upset the locals in Mexico when I don't respond to the language. For some reason everyone assumes I am Hispanic just because I look like it. I have thought of driving through Maricopa County in my Grand Am Toad wearing a black cowboy hat just to see if I would get a profiled pullover by Sherriff Joe's deputies.

[TXiceman]

I get a little tired of the poepl sreaming anout Socialist State, Big Brother is watching and so on... We have to have some of these inconveniences in palce inorder to protect us from the nuts trying to ruin our lives by blowing up places. In addition, we are being over run by drug runners and illegal aliens.

SO like the sign says :quityourbitchin" and enjoy the life we have.

Ken

[cb5300]

Originally Posted by GG1

Another reason to stay the ---- out of Mexico, as for the Canadian border we were in Canada a few yrs ago going into Canada from the US was smooth coming back to the US they came into the coach and searched our refrig took our baloney and dog food,,,NEVER ASKED OUR NAME, NEVER ASKED FOR ID NEVER CHECKED CLOSETS, WE COULD HAVE HAD A STASH OF MACHINE GUNS, they only wanted to see our food.

For God sakes...It was lunch time and the border guards were hungry... and you know how the govt is trying to cut down on expenses, so they just grabbed the dog food for the border fido....

[Grimesy]

Different agents have different responsibilities and I would assume each days orders focus on different aspects of the entry. The last time we crossed in from Mexico they were very careful of our dogs papers. Made sure the vet papers were up to date and the dogs matched the description. Seems like some idiots were smuggling in sick dogs. Were also careful about food stuffs.

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by shooterdad

#1. If they were this diligent 30 years ago ,our country would be much better off.
#2. If you had nothing to hide, then you had nothing to worry about.
#3. For those of you who don't live in the Southwest, smugglers from border towns such as El Paso will in some cases hide drugs under vehicles of unsuspecting people and have a Chase vehicle follow them to there next stop and retrieve the dope!
#4. I for one am glad to see there presence, they are there for our benefit.....Scott

It really, really frightens me that people in this country think #2 above is OK.

[Dick Noble]

One of the things about this thread that is bothersome is that the moderators allowed SequimGuy and Hamguy(pg 5) to go on about the current administration as if they are responsible for the problem of searches of RV's. This is a political rant and should have had at least a warning given. (moderator edit)

[RickO]

Ok folks...

The staff has allowed this discussion to go on because it concerns social situations and constitutional rights which are very important to many RVers. However, it's started to get partisan and we have to draw the line.

If the discussion remains civil and focused on the issue of rights which impact us all we'll be fine but please don't post about particular politicians or political parties because it only invites rebuttals and we'll have to take action. There are countless other forums on the internet where these types of discussions can take place.

I have edited a number of posts from this morning to remove such references.

Thanks for your help.

Rick

[RovinOn]

hamguy, I really feel sorry for you folks out in AZ and the other border states that have to put up with that border crap, but some of that crap blows east as well. But as much as I hate to say this the border folks are fighting a losing battle because they aren't getting the backing they need and of course they are not being allowed to do what needs to be done.... With that being said I will not surrender my rights as an American citizen for some feel good policy by the inept people in charge who say they want to make me feel safe.(I'm trying to type this and not get polictical here.) But what really scares me about this stuff is the statement coming from a badge,,,

He also discussed what happens to those high and mighty 'attitudes'. Get my drift? They have the power to use/abuse almost what ever they want to do.

This kind of statement tells me that if he has a bad day and I don't answer properly he's going to bust my cookies....sorry don't buy into the program. I don't like wasting my time for this kind stuff and as an American I'm not going to be treated as a possible criminal possibly by some LEO who may of had a bad day.
You want to stop and search me I better have had committed a crime. You want to search my coach,,,Get a warrant!

[steelheadbluesman]

That was nicely done, Rick, and I'm being sincere. Border patrolling is damn tough, like being a cop or any other kind of social control work, and protecting the public from the crazies is never easy. But there are definitely two basic sides to the questions of constitutional rights vs. public safety initiatives. I think both sides have some worthwhile points, and this has been an interesting, and at times enjoyable, thread. However.... Name-calling and shaming really have no legitimate place here.... My opinion, alright? Color me 'unsubscribed'.

[TXiceman]

RovinOn, without living close to the southern border, the rest of the country does not understand the issues faced with all of the illegals and drug trade. It has to be stopped and it has to be stopped at the border.

Would you rather give up 30 minutes and let them look at your rig or have a drug dealer waltz in with his gun toting buddies. They have no qualms about shooting innocent people.

Ken