Searched Leaving The US

66 Replies to “Searched Leaving The US”

1. Since when do you get questioned by US border agents when leaving the US? It’s always upon entering a country that you get questioned, not leaving. Explain.

2. Kate…you must be ‘tagged’ by homeland security…do you think it was something you’ve said?….heh…

3. I live right near the border and the place is crawling with the Border Patrol’s SUVs, helecopters, boats, etc. I have never heard of anything like that, ever.

4. Wow Kate did you make the list of right wing potential terror suspects under the Obama administration?

5. We had that happen to us at the Sweetgrass crossing about 6 months after 9/11. They were firm but polite and asked pretty much the same thing. It sure backed up the traffic heading home tho.

6. WOW!!!!SDA really does git results:-))))

7. Questions b4 or after asked for ID? Were you in your own vechicle or riding in someone elses vehicle?

8. I don’t see why they believe that Canadians are a greater threat to them than Mexicans. We’re not illegally entering and staying there. We don’t have massive, incredibly-well-armed, head-lopping drug gang armies, either. And our food doesn’t normally make one run to the crapper.

9. To think that the US/ Mexico border is wide open and unguarded (save for some few patriotic minutemen that have zero authority except to follow and report the movements of illegal’s).
   Complete unbridled sanctioning of the importation of drugs, infectious diseases, violent gangs, Jihadists, pedophiles and cheap exploitable labor.
   But stop those damned Canadian female conservative bloggers! They are a threat to national security.

10. It’s heartening to here the FT report state that Obamba has risen in the approval ratings of all the Islamic & socialist countries of the world. Unfortunately he’s lost confidence with all of America’s historical allies and trading partners.
    “When it came to economic issues, however, most countries surveyed saw the US as having a negative impact on their local economies – rising to 78 per cent in the case of neighbouring Canada.”
    Oh well what should that matter as long as the Muslims and communists are happy, no?

11. Likely the agent was thinking “Please, god, don’t leave…”

12. I was subjected to the same treatment in March when we came back from Arizona.I asked the guard when this started and he said that it was just a random thing.When the USSR erected their walls and fences they said it was to keep the people out,it changed to keeping the people in.

13. We had the same exact thing happen on our family vacation in July. We are pulling up to the Coutts (CAN) / Sweetgrass (US) crossing and the USBP has a stop sign on the road. The same two agents who questioned us on the way in did the same interrogation of us as when we first entered.
    As well the one agent actually started opening the doors of our vehicle with out even asking us. It was a bit intimidating… well this is the same crossing where the same agents were doing target practice with their service revolvers on the side of the road on a previous visit… so perhaps not that intimidating.
    I think we might skip the US next time and go to Cuba. It’s safer then Mexico and a bit less socialist.

14. Just recently did a little traveling in the US and out in Eastern Canada. Funny thing… I passed through the ports in Saskatchewan/Montana and I got drilled with all these questions while the entire time the border agent held his hand on his hip ready to draw the gun. But yet when I was in Niagara and Sarnia crossing back into the US, the US border agent merely asked me where I was going and how long I expected to be in the US in more of a casual curiosity.
    Very strange…

15. I live very near the U.S. border in northern Ontario and for the last year the u.s. have been building gates that they can close and stop cars leaving u.s. and they do at least twice a week I know this because I cross every day that was started under bush go figure.

16. Doug,how is Kate expected to explain the actions of the US border service.Go to the US,be questioned,then YOU explain.

17. Are you sure they were Border Agents and not BATF? The US has STRICT rules about taking anything related to a firearm out of their country without proper permits. BATF often sets up checkpoints just inside the border in order to check those exiting the country. If you’re seen at a gun show or even if your vehicle has been parked at an outdoors store, you will greatly increase the likelihood of being searched on the way out.

18. Kate occasionally says “the world is being run by crazy people”. More evidence that the USA is going insane. Other evidence is who they just elected president.
    If you Love America you will eventually be an abused spouse. No matter how much they apologize, they will do it again.
    Best thing … don’t go there.

19. I have posted about this issue about a month ago when I (an American living in SASK) was stopped going north. I was annoyed and did some research of US Border policy and found they have always had the right to control “Exports” from the USA, but it was low key & depended on self declaration. The New US Border building at North-Gate (Hiway #9) has bi-direction control which suggests that the New policy was planned for ~ 4 years.
    The question I found unusual was “did I have any US military Equipment” which may have had something to do with the Military activity at a Missile Silo in the area (armed Convoy & Helicopters). It looked like a de-activation.
    They will stop drug Money moving to Canada or Mexico with the New Policy.
    BTW: The US agent was a belligerent A-hole when he first thought I was a Canadian (License Plate). A fine example of an UGLY American

20. Several points to ponder….
    1) The USA IS AT WAR…..extra procedures can be expected….
    2) The USA is like a ship without a rudder currently…..check out the competance of the administration especially the head of Homeland Security…..it took her 6 months to retract her contention that the 911 people came in through Canada…..perhaps the word has yet to trickle down…..
    3) The DHS is very much aware of the presense in Canada of open support of terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and the Tamil Tigers among a very sizable unassimilated immigrant community….they have the same thing in the USA and don’t need more…..
    I recall having the US border people inspect my lunch to ensure no beef….during the BSE scare thing….ham OK….no balogna…..literally!!!!

21. I wonder what kind of authority these agents actually have. When you enter the country, you either submit or come back to Canada. But your rights are different when you’re actually in the country. I don’t see how the vehicle search laws would be any different from a regular LEO.

22. Geez….get a hassle leaving a country and get a hassle coming into your own…is it really getting that bad?

23. Not sure this “juxtapose” makes any sense, Kate. Crossing the border has been like this since 9/11.

24. I’m with Doug on this one. I need to know a little more about this “encounter” with US customs. I’ve crossed the boarder many times and have NEVER had to talk to US border agents upon LEAVING the US. More please.

25. I’ve crossed the border literally dozens of times since 911, at various crossing points – including about a week after the towers fell – and have never been stopped and questioned leaving the US. One wonders when they’re going to start doing it at airports.

26. Since 9/11 we have crossed about 18 times. Never ever stopped leaving the USA.

27. Flapjacks says, “when I was in Niagara and Sarnia crossing back into the US, the US border agent merely asked me where I was going and how long I expected to be in the US in more of a casual curiosity.”
    My wife and I could easily be singled out as seniors and we don’t fit any sort of racial profile that might or might not exist but I do live in Niagara Falls,Ontario and can testify to the similar increase in vigilance that Kate describes.
    We flew to Florida out of Buffalo, New York last winter and had to produce proof of our flight tickets and subsequent cruise. They’ve been asking for flight tickets for years now but the verification of the cruise was new.
    There’s also an newly launched American drone that travels the length of the US border with Ontario and into Quebec. It can zero in on a license plate from more than a thousand feet.
    Some people along the Ontario side of the border are planning a mooning party.
    Mind you, I crossed once last year and the border guard offered a caution when I told her that I was going to Tops supermarket to take advantage of their ten cent a pound turkey deal. She told me to only buy one as the Canadians were pulling people over who bought two or more.
    When I returned to Canada after shopping at Tops I declared my single turkey and was waved through.
    On the other hand, I also had a USBP guy scare the crap out of me as he fingered his gun while demanding to know why I had wandered across the Rainbow Bridge to pick up a brochure of US importation rules. It took everything I could do to stop from gulping.
    That’s the difference between us and them. We collect taxes whereas they hassle (or scare the crap out of) law-abiding visitors.

28. I had it happen to me at the Pacific Highway crossing near Blaine, Washington. They asked me to leave my vehicle and wait inside the border post, while they searched the vehicle. There was nothing there for them to find, and after about 20 minutes they apologized for delaying me and let me carry on. They never fully unloaded the vehicle, but they did have a sniffer dog go over it, so I suspect the search was drug-related. All they told me is that it was a random check.

29. Neil D – go back to your fantasy comic books. What is your problem? “It took everything I could do to stop from “GULPING”???
    You must have been one of the extras on ” Midnight Express”.

30. That was beyond weird. The questions asked were ALL about things that would have been of GREAT interest to the Canadian authorities. Could it be that the border control folks on both sides of the border are collaborating?

31. In 1885–I traveled to France. About an hour before Paris, the PA system came on advising us that we would landing in Geneva, Swiss.
    We got out on the tramac at least 100 meters from the main terminal, using a ladder truck. Guards were standing along the plane carrying UZI type weapons. In 2009, I still don’t know what happened. We were delayed four hours, after I hr. they let us shop and walk around freely.
    Kate, you may have matched the description of a wanted suspect. Who knows? Obviously you’re OK, you’re typing your blog. And Kate, that was no Obama’s fault. Just cops doing their jobs!!

32. Armed US Border Patrol Agents questioning and searching Canadians just going back home?
    Why those racist bastards! Bet they’re in kahoots with that evil Harper government!!
    /
    Seriously though some can be very assinine.
    It is true that they don’t usually question you like this at the airports.
    Once though, this huge black male Canadian border guard in the customs area boomed at me, after seeing at my Canadian passport, “where are you from”.
    Being somewhat astonished and taken back by the question, I smiled and sincerely stated “Oh, I’m from Canada, where are you from”?
    He did put me through without further delay though.

33. PS: My dad was a car dealer. One of my sisters deliverd a used car to Ontario, via Minnesota. The US customs officers thought one of the rear ashtrays smelled of marijuana. We (dealership) had owned the car less than 72 hrs. She was alone in the car. She was strip searched, by a woman, thank God. That was 1986.

34. Times are a changing!
    I wonder if Canada took its lax stance on immigration more seriously, possibly there would be less suspicion at the Can/US border?
    I have also crossed the border dozens of times, by vehicle or air without issue, but the ridiculously long airport security routines have prevented me from traveling through the US as a transit point for years now. It’s simply not worth the trouble. I have also stopped vacationing and camping in the US since 9/11, it’s just not the friendly place it once was, the cities and even freeways have become ridiculously dangerous. Whether many American’s have accepted the frog in boiling water effect or not, we have noticed the change.
    I doubt very much that Obamba’s racial baiting and economic prowess is going to improve that in the near future, so tighten up the border if you wish, we choose to stay home now anyway.

35. This is definitely the big “O”‘s touch. There had always been some sort of paranoid deal between Critien and Clinton because it was feared some Canadian might take a box of musket caps home. Golf balls appear to have been OK though. In the Bush years it was relaxed and you could even buy ammunition in the USA and take it back home. Now it appears were are back online with the psychotics.
    These border service types have tremendous authority. Much greater than the Police. They can employ entrapment, for example. There have been cases where US citizens have gone so far as to call their local Police to stop harassment. Many incidents in the Clinton/Critien years. The BATF (report to IRS as well) were so abusive, Pres. Regan threatened to disband them. Only problem; no other agency would accept the personnel.

36. I’m reminded of one funny instance many years ago as a youngster crossing the US border from a visit to Spokane. I realized I didn’t have any duty free with me on reaching the Canadian customs, so I asked the guy if I could run up to the Canadian Duty Free buy some things and come back through. He said “Sure, but you need to drive back around through the US side and then come back”. So I did. The bloody US Customs guy looked like he was going to have an aneurism when he asked where I was coming from and where I was going, hand on gun and squeezing it tightly. Although I was being coy to begin with, I quickly realized I had better sound as clear and concise as possible or really risked being shot. Needless to say he basically told me to F off when his brain registered the situation and I then drove back around through the Canada side.

37. They (USBP) started challenging Americans going into Canada about 3 or 4 years ago at Niagara. At that time, Canadians went right through to Canada Customs.
    Zog has it: That was beyond weird. The questions asked were ALL about things that would have been of GREAT interest to the Canadian authorities. Could it be that the border control folks on both sides of the border are collaborating?
    Of course they are. These are initiatives to stop Canadians from bringing in guns and ammo, and drug money into Canada. You can thank Dalton, David Miller, and Michael Bryant for these initiatives. The incessant whining of the Liberals over. We promise not to send over Arab terrorists, they promise not to let us have the ability to defend ourselves.
    Neil D – go back to your fantasy comic books. What is your problem? “It took everything I could do to stop from “GULPING”???
    You must have been one of the extras on ” Midnight Express”. ADB, you can stop being an Aa-hole now. Apparently you’ve not lived in a border town, especially not Niagara Falls. I’ve spent many an hour sitting on the Rainbow Bridge (pre-CANPASS) in NF wondering if the rickety old thing was going to drop us into the Niagara Gorge before we got off it.
    This isn’t the handiwork of Obama- this is the work of the Paul Martin Liberals, and Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff of Homeland Security.

38. Remember my first visit to North Portal many years ago crossing back into Canada. Stopped for gas and oil. Said to the guy filling my tank “What is that god awful stench?” I knew what it was but he had a good answer for the guy with Ontario plates: “Oh that? That’s the smell of money.”

39. For the Canadians, it is licence, not license.
    For the Americans, nothing to see here, move along.

40. “I don’t see why they believe that Canadians are a greater threat to them than Mexicans. We’re not illegally entering and staying there”
    You’d be AMAZED. At least Canadians, as a general rule, assimilate better though.

41. I’m never questioned more than when I return to Canada at Vancouver airport by some 20-somethings with attitude.
    And the weird thing is I am never questioned when I enter Singapore, which has among the toughest drug and immigration laws in the world.
    So how does the latter maintain a tight border with friendly border officials while Canada needs to endlessly pester its own citizens who enter without a whiff of a suspicious background or behaviour?

42. Kate are you complaining? Good thing you didnt go Henry Gates on them.
    Who knows what the reason is, absolutley their right to control their borders on their side of the line, as it is ours.
    People mentioning random checks….they do happen, randomly. Sometimes they are being done to bulk up the numbers to give the agents the freedom to conduct non random checks. I was chcked at Heathrow very apologetically. You could tell it was “random” because you could see the agent keeping track of numbers as the passengers ahead of me went through.
    We will be travelling to the States in a couple of weeks, I fully expect to get questioned on both sides, despite travelling in a van with two young kids. Just the way it is.
    If this minor irritation is the price of them capturing one drug or gun runner or one terrorist then I’ll happil spend the 5 extra minutes answering the questions.

43. I got the same questions about three years ago crossing back from Idaho. They didn’t ask me about drugs but the rest sounds familiar. I was crossing with my daughter and they asked me how much US currency I had and then how much Canadian currency I had. I always got hasseled by Canada Customs ’till I started showing my Fed security card instead of my drivers licence. Then they would bitch about how poorly Customs was run and let me through.

44. Anyone tried to use Utah carry permit or PAL for an ID on either side of the border?

45. Been through many times since 911 ‘driving and flying’ and always have been questioned by both sides. None of it impolitely and always been very respectful, polite when answering their questions.

46. I used to LOVE to use my Tennessee Concealed Carry Permit at the Canada Trust for ID.

47. Having traveled about the world, I can give some advice. It doesn’t matter what they do. They are exercising SOVERIGNITY. They aren’t acting as policemen or revenuers. They are acting as tenants of the soverign power of what ever country they are in. That is completely different from what you are used to.
    The only correct response to this is “yessir”, “nossir” and go to the nearest bar and get a drink. In some countries, if you protest this too much (as determined by the border or customs agent) your embassy may have to spend months trying to find you and get you out of stir.
    Personally, I am happy that someone somewhere is taking our borders seriously. Just because they don’t do it everywhere on our borders, don’t think this is wrong. Actually, it is everywhere else that is wrong.

48. Actually, this is not new, although maybe happening more often than in previous years.
    Living in Niagara Falls, Ont. I had been stopped leaving the US as long as 20 years ago. Once I told them I had been in the US to buy gas for my car and the border agent then asked to see my gas gauge. Another time when I was walking in Niagara Falls USA a border agent stopped and asked if we were Canadaian, and then let us go.
    I have also been stopped leaving Canada for the US and questioned to where I was going in the US, not that I would have to answer that though.

49. I guess no one heard of the patriot act and numerous similar executive orders which have plunged the US into a martial law armed camp under wartime security.
    No? Next time fly and go through US security at an air port. These places are gulags these days. Pray you have not ended up on a no fly list or suspicious persons list via a bad report from an ex spouse or the support the troops sticker on your car.
    The last decade has truly tanked the free republic. Obama is building on the security martialism that Bush started. In time the US will resemble the UK if this siege mentality security state is not reined in.

50. Posted by: chip>
    “…..I am never questioned when I enter Singapore, which has among the toughest drug and immigration laws in the world.”
    Too right. I travel through Changi Airport at least a dozen times a year. The most I ever need to say is “Hello & Thank you”. The biggest issue is beating my bag to the conveyer (before someone puts it on a pile somewhere and you don’t see it immediately).