Concerned after being over questioned at the airport

[Sah213 7]

Hi VJ community! Recently I returned of visiting my fiance.. At the US Airport a Customs Officer wanted to check my luggage.. When she noticed in my Customs form that i was returning from an arab country she asked me the purpose of my trip.. I replied that I went to visit my fiance and his family.. Since then she started to ask about our relationship, she wanted to know every detail: How we met, what kind of job we have, our religions, if both family accepts this relationship, about my K1 file,everything...

I know that Customs n Borders P. job is to make sure ppl is bringing back lawful stuff.. But asking me with prejudice about him only cuz he's ARAB was not nice.. For a moment I felt it was me being interviewd for the fiancee visa.. She said that all arabs marry americans just for papers and once they get em they file for divorce.. Also she said that he cant marry me cuz I have a different religion.. She's so wrong.. "Are you converting to his religion?" she asked, I said :"No, we respect each others religion".. She said also that im responsible for whatever my fiance could try to do here.. I replied that: "He's a dedicated man, he studied hard to get his degree at the University and after graduating he has been working in the same place(11 years ago), also for the file he got his police record which is completely clean".. But nothing I was replying pleased her.. She also told me in a sarcastic way if i knew Cinderella's story.. I said " Of course i know her story" then she said " that story doesnt exist"..

Its really sad how this ppl treat filers like me.. At the end she asked me to write down my fiance's name on the Customs Form.. what for??? Im not sure.. and thats why im sharing my story with you.. My concern is if she can access their system and write something so when he's finally able to come to the US will be rejected at the Port of Entrance..

Thx to those of you who could give me an advice..

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

they got into your head real quick.. ! but they have access to their systems ofcourse.. she can always make a note but not the leading factor based on the questions asked.

[I+H 11]

That is horrible!!!! I am soooo sorry you had that experience. Ignorance is all I can say! Ignorance! Please do not let that lady get to you. She's probably just mad because that happened to her or something. Geeeeeez! Even if she does make a note in their system, I doubt he would be denied entry based on her comments. If I were you I would call and file a complaint about that woman. We are Americans and we have rights and that was a violation of your rights in my opinion. That woman had no right to ask you anything other than why you went there. Giving her opinions to you was not and is not necessary. And by the way what airport was this?

[Anh map 2,098]

A similar thing happened to me when I was returning from Vietnam one time. So it's not just a MENA thing. The questioning can be tough to see if the story changes.

My rights weren't violated and I didn't feel offended. I was more worried about making my connecting flight.

[Ide & Sam 1]

Wow, what a horrible story, but I bet this kind of thing happens allot. Its obviously your decision, but you might want to file a complaint, if she did it to you she is probably doing it to other people.

[Blob18 111]

Shoulda gotten her name and badge number and reported her.

CBP is there to protect us and watch the border, not give opinions and B.S. ####### like she did

[Moonlight2011 13]

Im sorry for that.

My fiance wasnt questionned when he returned from Algeria, but they took away fruits(dattes that we offred him..)...

Good luck!

[Sah213 7]

That is horrible!!!! I am soooo sorry you had that experience. Ignorance is all I can say! Ignorance! Please do not let that lady get to you. She's probably just mad because that happened to her or something. Geeeeeez! Even if she does make a note in their system, I doubt he would be denied entry based on her comments. If I were you I would call and file a complaint about that woman. We are Americans and we have rights and that was a violation of your rights in my opinion. That woman had no right to ask you anything other than why you went there. Giving her opinions to you was not and is not necessary. And by the way what airport was this?

Believe me it was hard for me.. I felt discriminated n offended.. I was coming back so happy after being with my fiance n his family.. N this officer ruined my day.. She works at LAX Airport.. N she was commenting also with other 2 officers that were passing by her counter.. She was spreading the word to everybody else around.. SO another officer started asking me same questions.. Wasnt just 1 enough??? Of course this is just IGNORANCE.. I replied honestly to everything cuz this relationship is clear as water n well, my K1 file is very important to me.. Besides they have all our information already.. If they want to be though on ppl at LEAST they should read before getting on us (americans, residents or visitors).. Obviously she ignores the fact that many arab countries participate on the Diversity Lottery Visa.. If my country would think like her, believe me that program wouldnt exist...

Thx for taking part of your time to reply.. N yes, im considering to file a report.. I dont want her to treat somebody else like she did to me..

[Erik And Anum 1]

That is just plain horrible I`m sorry you had to go through that its unfortunate how there are lots of ignorance within our own country. I just recently came back from visiting my fiance in Pakistan and the only question that I`ve been asked is how long I was there other than that no other questioning so its quite obvious that this lady was only interested in ruining your day and giving out dumb opinions. File a complaint her actions are plainly unacceptable.

[Sah213 7]

Im sorry for that.

My fiance wasnt questionned when he returned from Algeria, but they took away fruits(dattes that we offred him..)...

Good luck!

Thx.. I've been in Algeria before and nothing of this happened until now.. Its really disappointing.. Its basically the way this officer behaves.. I;ve travelled before n never been so questionned like on this occasion.. I declared that i was carrying fruit thats why they checked my luggage.. I understand that they have make sure what kind of food u are bringing but to criticize my relationship its not her duty!!!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi VJ community! Recently I returned of visiting my fiance.. At the US Airport a Customs Officer wanted to check my luggage.. When she noticed in my Customs form that i was returning from an arab country she asked me the purpose of my trip.. I replied that I went to visit my fiance and his family.. Since then she started to ask about our relationship, she wanted to know every detail: How we met, what kind of job we have, our religions, if both family accepts this relationship, about my K1 file,everything...

I know that Customs n Borders P. job is to make sure ppl is bringing back lawful stuff.. But asking me with prejudice about him only cuz he's ARAB was not nice.. For a moment I felt it was me being interviewd for the fiancee visa.. She said that all arabs marry americans just for papers and once they get em they file for divorce.. Also she said that he cant marry me cuz I have a different religion.. She's so wrong.. "Are you converting to his religion?" she asked, I said :"No, we respect each others religion".. She said also that im responsible for whatever my fiance could try to do here.. I replied that: "He's a dedicated man, he studied hard to get his degree at the University and after graduating he has been working in the same place(11 years ago), also for the file he got his police record which is completely clean".. But nothing I was replying pleased her.. She also told me in a sarcastic way if i knew Cinderella's story.. I said " Of course i know her story" then she said " that story doesnt exist"..

Its really sad how this ppl treat filers like me.. At the end she asked me to write down my fiance's name on the Customs Form.. what for??? Im not sure.. and thats why im sharing my story with you.. My concern is if she can access their system and write something so when he's finally able to come to the US will be rejected at the Port of Entrance..

Thx to those of you who could give me an advice..

Advice? Always be honest. They do not have to be nice. If you are expecting nice people in this process you will be disappointed.

[ambermarie 1]

Hi, i had a simular exsperence in coming back from Morocco going through NEWYORK , SHE asked nothing about what i bought back, instead gave me a hard that im inlove with an Moroccan man and said i didnt love him nor he me. and asked about the K-1 process and what i am doing and where i work oh and if i have kids, it just took everything i had not to be as Rude as this women, after a 9 hour flight and missing my man..

[Casprd 167]

I would disagree with the poster who said they don't have to be nice. Maybe so, but they do have to be professional and offering their "opinion" on your relationship is not part of their job. It's too late now, but I think you should have asked for a supervisor. They make try to make some BS excuse about needing to know your fiance's name for security purposes, but the person already demonstrated their bias and prejudice. Not sure how to go about it, but I would make an effort to find out what they put in your file, and also look in to how you report their behavior.

[Milushka 22]

sorry about such an awful for a heart in love experience.

But what one would expect since they are determined tht ones made 9/11 were from MENA countries legalized through marriage to USC...

[Ning 619]

Believe me it was hard for me.. I felt discriminated n offended.. I was coming back so happy after being with my fiance n his family.. N this officer ruined my day.. She works at LAX Airport.. N she was commenting also with other 2 officers that were passing by her counter.. She was spreading the word to everybody else around.. SO another officer started asking me same questions.. Wasnt just 1 enough??? Of course this is just IGNORANCE.. I replied honestly to everything cuz this relationship is clear as water n well, my K1 file is very important to me.. Besides they have all our information already.. If they want to be though on ppl at LEAST they should read before getting on us (americans, residents or visitors).. Obviously she ignores the fact that many arab countries participate on the Diversity Lottery Visa.. If my country would think like her, believe me that program wouldnt exist...

Thx for taking part of your time to reply.. N yes, im considering to file a report.. I dont want her to treat somebody else like she did to me..

Its true they dont have to be nice. They do have to restrain themselves. I some of what the officer said is simply offensive & wrong. I wouldnt waste time complaining to the people that trained them. Send a transcript of the conversation to every Chicano politician in the LA area. If it were one of them the people would be on TV waving the signs.

Too bad you didnt tell the story teller you understood Cinderella but couldnt relate because she should know Algerians dont wear shoes. Dont let this go without responce because she will continue until stopped.