Detained & Sent Back for Not Having Enough Cash [split topic]

[Shae B 0]

My friend from Australia was detained for 7/8 hours and then flown out because he didn't have enough cash on hand.  (he had 100 Australian dollars which is wort about 165 in current USD)  He ha the tickets for his return flight,  he was staying with "family"  so no hotel needed, we were gonna provide his food cause staying in family home, plus he was gonna receive $200 a week.  None of that was good enough---

 

This is a copy of his girlfriend's post on FB today about it

 

 

Today was supposed to be the most amazing early start to my birthday month.

My amazing boyfriend flew from Sydney, Aus. and was supposed to meet me in Dallas this morning at 4:35am. He made it to LAX at about 4pm yesterday, and was supposed to have an approixmately 7 hour layover. He was detained by US CBP (customs and border "protection") for being poor. No I'm not joking. I wish I was joking.

He was asked at the border how much cash he had. When he responded "none," they automatically assumed he has no money, which was far from correct. His meals, lodging, and transportation, both on the ground and to return to Australia were covered. He had money of his own to spend on anything of his choosing, as well as money coming to him weekly from home.

US CBP decided that his money was not enough and therefore he would be at risk of "violating the terms of the visa" that he had been granted before he left Australia. They refused to contact myself, his other partner here in the US, his wife back home, anyone who could corroborate his finance situation. They also refused to allow him to call or text any of us who love him, so we knew what was going on. "No phones or smart devices in the customs area." He was detained for over 7 hours. One he was out of the detainment area, he was seated in an area with no access to wifi, so he had to purchase internet on the airplane, to let us know what had happened.

Between the group of us, we spent over $2000 USD on this trip in the last month, yet our funds were not good enough for US CBP. Every single one of us involved are low income people, who pooled our resources and were able to make this happen. It was my birthday gifts, as well as Christmas for the entire group of us. All now ruined.

He traveled 6000 miles over 30 hours via car, train and airplane, to get here. He had a valid Australian passport and US issued visa. He followed all the rules to enter this country lawfully. He had his tickets to go home already paid for, within the parameters of his visa. There was absolutely no reason he should have been detained at all, let alone refused entry at LAX.

We plan to take this as high as possible. We'll be contacting many people over the next few days and weeks. This post is public so please feel free to share.

[Boiler 45,693]

Actually it is about USD65, an extra 1 seems to have got in there.

 

I entered once and they asked me how much I had on me and it was less that $20, the change left over from a previous trip.

 

There are certain clues in the story that attracted my attention, however no point going any further when there is no one to ask.

 

The only people to contact is the Consulate to see if he can get a visa. Assuming he has any future plans to visit the US.

 

 

 

 

[TBoneTX 45,551]

The above were split from an old thread in a different forum.

[appleblossom 2,719]

5 hours ago, Boiler said:

The only people to contact is the Consulate to see if he can get a visa. 

 

 

 

 

 

The posts says he had one ('US issued visa'). It's possible the person that posted is confused and doesn't understand the VWP of course.

 

OP, sorry to be blunt but there's no point in taking 'this as high as possible'. Bottom line is he can be refused entry for any reason, he has no right of entry unfortunately. It isn't likely to be the just lack of money itself that meant he was refused entry, but also the reasons why he didn't have much money. Does he not have a job? That would mean he's trying to enter with a USC girlfriend and missing a strong reason to return to Oz. The only thing he can do is reapply again when he has more funds, and more ties to Australia. 

[milimelo 4,505]

Girlfriend in the US posting about boyfriend's turnaround - boyfriend who doesn't seem to hold a job (200 weekly from whom?) and has a WIFE back in Australia? A group of people took collection for his flights and accommodations? 

 

What was his real reason to coming to the US? Doesn't sound like tourism in this instance.

 

No wonder he was turned around. 

[appleblossom 2,719]

20 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Girlfriend in the US posting about boyfriend's turnaround - boyfriend who doesn't seem to hold a job (200 weekly from whom?) and has a WIFE back in Australia? A group of people took collection for his flights and accommodations? 

 

What was his real reason to coming to the US? Doesn't sound like tourism in this instance.

 

No wonder he was turned around. 

 

I missed the bit about the wife! Red flags all over the place, frankly I'd have been amazed if he was admitted. 

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

7 hours ago, Shae B said:

We plan to take this as high as possible

Wasted effort.  He was seen as a risk for illegal stay. Nothing he can do except apply for a visa.

Edited October 19, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

Frankly, i would advise the group to start collecting money for US girlfriend to travel to Australia.  He won't be getting a tourist visa any time soon. 

[MaxP22 186]

There's so many things that don't add up, and don't make much sense. What does make sense is that he was rightly denied. The boyfriend was the one who made errors that caused this, not the other way round.

 

Cringe at the whole 'gf posted story on FB', one of the reasons I don't use it, so many people just wanting attention by posting their life stories for everyone to see, when it should stay private.

[Ontarkie 14,282]

You should ask for the notes in his passport. It might help figure out what all is going on and what they may have done.

[Timona 4,207]

9 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

I missed the bit about the wife! Red flags all over the place, frankly I'd have been amazed if he was admitted. 

 

You missed that he has a partner too...3 women in total. 

 

There's something that triggered CBP interest. A lot of poor people come to US for children/ sibling graduation and go back. So, there's something to this story that isn't being told. 

[SalishSea 17,937]

17 hours ago, Shae B said:

My friend from Australia was detained for 7/8 hours and then flown out because he didn't have enough cash on hand.  (he had 100 Australian dollars which is wort about 165 in current USD)  He ha the tickets for his return flight,  he was staying with "family"  so no hotel needed, we were gonna provide his food cause staying in family home, plus he was gonna receive $200 a week.  None of that was good enough---

 

This is a copy of his girlfriend's post on FB today about it

 

 

Today was supposed to be the most amazing early start to my birthday month.

My amazing boyfriend flew from Sydney, Aus. and was supposed to meet me in Dallas this morning at 4:35am. He made it to LAX at about 4pm yesterday, and was supposed to have an approixmately 7 hour layover. He was detained by US CBP (customs and border "protection") for being poor. No I'm not joking. I wish I was joking.

He was asked at the border how much cash he had. When he responded "none," they automatically assumed he has no money, which was far from correct. His meals, lodging, and transportation, both on the ground and to return to Australia were covered. He had money of his own to spend on anything of his choosing, as well as money coming to him weekly from home.

US CBP decided that his money was not enough and therefore he would be at risk of "violating the terms of the visa" that he had been granted before he left Australia. They refused to contact myself, his other partner here in the US, his wife back home, anyone who could corroborate his finance situation. They also refused to allow him to call or text any of us who love him, so we knew what was going on. "No phones or smart devices in the customs area." He was detained for over 7 hours. One he was out of the detainment area, he was seated in an area with no access to wifi, so he had to purchase internet on the airplane, to let us know what had happened.

Between the group of us, we spent over $2000 USD on this trip in the last month, yet our funds were not good enough for US CBP. Every single one of us involved are low income people, who pooled our resources and were able to make this happen. It was my birthday gifts, as well as Christmas for the entire group of us. All now ruined.

He traveled 6000 miles over 30 hours via car, train and airplane, to get here. He had a valid Australian passport and US issued visa. He followed all the rules to enter this country lawfully. He had his tickets to go home already paid for, within the parameters of his visa. There was absolutely no reason he should have been detained at all, let alone refused entry at LAX.

We plan to take this as high as possible. We'll be contacting many people over the next few days and weeks. This post is public so please feel free to share.

The girlfriend does not understand the system.  There is no complaining to the manager.

 

He wasn't sent back for "being poor," he was sent back for perceived immigrant intent.

[SalishSea 17,937]

6 hours ago, MaxP22 said:

There's so many things that don't add up, and don't make much sense. What does make sense is that he was rightly denied. The boyfriend was the one who made errors that caused this, not the other way round.

 

Cringe at the whole 'gf posted story on FB', one of the reasons I don't use it, so many people just wanting attention by posting their life stories for everyone to see, when it should stay private.

Agreed!  Next up will be a gofundme and letter writing campaign because its just so unfair.

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

14 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

I missed the bit about the wife! Red flags all over the place, frankly I'd have been amazed if he was admitted. 

He has a gf partner and a wife. 

[Daphne . 1,888]

What on earth did I just read?? I wonder what they mean by “taking this high up and talking to many people”. 
 

Keep us posted OP!