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Wingnut
Nomad

Posts: 171
Registered: 5-5-2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Pensive
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I was reading this thread with a lot of interest. It seems that some of you out there seem to be bothered by the Customs Agents doing their jobs and
consider it rude to be asked questions. Now I am sure there are agents who might be having a bad day now and again, but think about what their job is.
Do you really think people who are trying to enter illeagally or bringing back something they shouldn't are going to just walk up and announce their
intentions? Of course not, so the agents are trained to ask questions of people and to read attitudes and body language. It's really interesting to
see how much this seems to bother people, and I wonder why? I just answer the questions and have never been hassled or anything. And before you think
I have never been pulled into secondary or anything, let me tell you I have plenty of times. Was even body searched once on a mistaken identity issue.
It happens. I never get upset unless I am accused of something I haven't done and then I patiently and firmly state my position and why they are
wrong. Even on the situation where they thought I was someone else, it just took time to resolve and they finally admitted they made a mistake and
apologized. So do I resent it? No. They were doing their job and because I was not upset about it, they have always treated me politely and
respectfully. Toneart is right, it's all about your attitude, not theirs.
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MexicoGringoGuy
Nomad

Posts: 159
Registered: 6-20-2008
Location: Tijuana, Centro/Rio
Member Is Offline
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Well... I and others have said that we know there is a job to do and appriciate it.. and never said that they arent human, and have bad days... BUT
as a public servent they should treat people with respect... If I have an attitude, thats ok.. theres no law against it.. what if I had a bad day..
whats diffrent about me having a bad day and them just because they are government employees they should be special.. NO.. they decided when they
took that job to be public servents and to work being paid with taxpayer money and serve taxpayers.. If thier job is so hard to where they have bad
days and are in bad moods.. well there is NOTHING forcing them to work for CBP... Its a choice...
The Director of Homeland Security is trying to build up the agents to a certain level by the end of the year... its one of the goals alonng with
finishing the fence.. BUT since the fence wont bedone he is really working hard to hire anyone and everyone that will bite.. So its kinda like when
they hired all the Airport security , and even military.. they lessen and loosen the requirments and prerequisits... and hire anyone, even people
with records as long as its not certain things etc etc..
Just because someone chose to be a CBP agent doesnt mean they are godly and deserve anything diffrent than anyone else.. I am doing nothing wrong
crossing the border , and if I have a bad day, and they dont like it , go work elsewhere...
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Debra
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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A few crossings back the agent noticed in my Passport where I was from and launched into a 15 min. bull session. Seems he was stationed in Bremerton
while in the Navy. He wanted to know about all the watering holes and people he used to visit in Port Orchard.
I couldn't help wondering what the people behind me would be thinking if they knew what the delay was all about!
Oh, and he was Phillipino
[Edited on 10-28-2008 by Debra]
Mean people suck!
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KurtG
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1211
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
Member Is Offline
Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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In nearly 35 years of crossing the border several times a year I have only had a couple of negative experiences and even those were not that bad.
Sunday we came through Tecate on our way home from Mulege and were asked more questions than usual by the Customs guy in the booth but not in any
aggresive manner. He started taking some notes and I knew that I was going to Secondary for only the second time in all those years. In Secondary we
were asked a few more questions, the official took our passports inside and then came back and sent us on our way. No inspection of the vehicle or
contents. Both Customs agents were professional and pleasant about the whole thing.
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MexicoGringoGuy
Nomad

Posts: 159
Registered: 6-20-2008
Location: Tijuana, Centro/Rio
Member Is Offline
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You know,,, it seems that San Ysidro is the worste. I have entered via a few Texas Crossings in the past and entered at several Internationl
Arrivals in Various airports.. and I never thought this way untill crossing at San YSidro about 2 to 3 times a week. and by the way I cross on foot
so maybe its diffrent.. maybe the commander there isnt a people person... who knows...
All in all I knw they have a heck of a job and try and stop things from coming in (although our borders are still very poures!!) Still no need to
make an OBVIOUS American citizen feel suspect..
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cabobaja
Nomad

Posts: 363
Registered: 9-19-2006
Location: South \"O\", Elias Calles, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Smiling
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Left Elias Calles Sunday morning. Arrived at the Tecate border gate yesterday at
4:00pm. The agent on duty swiped my passport and told me to have a nice day. Did not even ask me if I had anything to declare. The highway was fine.
Weather was great. 10 hours driving on Sunday. 10 hours driving yesterday. Arrived home in Oceanside at 5:30. Wait @ Tecate...10 minutes!
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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It seems that generally, we all agree, in that we haven't experienced any really bad experiences when crossing the border. There is the occasional
inconvenience getting sent to secondary, or the occasional rude agent. I agree with MexicoGringoGuy that public servants should be agreeable, but this
is not a perfect world. Sometimes they are not agreeable, and though it is unpleasant, we always get through it eventually.
Because I tow a passenger trailer, I often get sent to secondary. At least I think that is why. They want to take the time to check it out where you
aren't holding up the line.
Last year at Tecate, I was in the wrong (of two) lanes when I made that turn. A female agent was yelling at me but it was too late. I was already
committed to the lane I was in. By the way, I was in the right lane. A Nomad once said here that you should be in the right lane with a trailer. Well
she continued yelling and asked me if my dog had papers. I said yes, but she wrote up a form and put it on my windshield and sent me to secondary. The
agent in secondary was very nice. He did a quick search as I told him my experience at the booth with the yelling lady. He just gave a knowing smile,
without comment, and then sent me on my way.
No big deal!
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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Upon rereading my post above, I was aghast when I thought I had written "the occasional nude agent". Well my eyes are tired. I did write "the
occasional rude agent", as intended. Whew!
Now an occasional nude agent would really be an unpleasant experience no tired, returning American should have to endure. 
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
     
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
Upon rereading my post above, I was aghast when I thought I had written "the occasional nude agent". Well my eyes are tired. I did write "the
occasional rude agent", as intended. Whew!
Now an occasional nude agent would really be an unpleasant experience no tired, returning American should have to endure. 
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Well, hmmmmmm----in this day of more and more women agents, I wonder????
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David K
Honored Nomad
       
Posts: 65298
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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You do know that I only bring up politics to balance out an already made political statement made before mine... Please try and see that before being
ticked at me. Fair and balanced... isn't that what is important?
Oh, and Dave... the Beirut thing was terrible and a mistake and I know that RR suffered great pain and sadness over it.
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
Member Is Offline
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Ya, all you have to do is say " Hey Pig, why are you hassleing me? I am an american citizen and I have civil rights!
I'm sick of the man harshing my buzz all the time. I demand to see your supervisor immediately!!!"
I promise Gringoguy they will give you VIP treatment if you try it.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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MexicoGringoGuy
Nomad

Posts: 159
Registered: 6-20-2008
Location: Tijuana, Centro/Rio
Member Is Offline
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yeah.. i think I will NOT do that...
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bombero
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 11-16-2004
Member Is Offline
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Gringoguy, post a complaint but take your political comments to the proper forum. Your complaint is one thing but your continued comments are
politically motivated. You appear to be "insider informed" about Homeland Security that you will be welcomed at the Political Forum and if I am ever
in need of some BS or humor I,ll know where to find it. I have news for you too! Many of the criminals that cross our border carry American Passports.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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Crossed back and forth yesterday, in an out of Canada. No wait, no problems.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Crossed back and forth yesterday, in an out of Canada. No wait, no problems. |
Cypress,
"BC Norte" ...a fairly mellow place most often 
Ged
Don't believe everything you think....
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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Quote: | Originally posted by Wingnut
I was reading this thread with a lot of interest. It seems that some of you out there seem to be bothered by the Customs Agents doing their jobs and
consider it rude to be asked questions. Now I am sure there are agents who might be having a bad day now and again, but think about what their job is.
Do you really think people who are trying to enter illeagally or bringing back something they shouldn't are going to just walk up and announce their
intentions? Of course not, so the agents are trained to ask questions of people and to read attitudes and body language. It's really interesting to
see how much this seems to bother people, and I wonder why? I just answer the questions and have never been hassled or anything. And before you think
I have never been pulled into secondary or anything, let me tell you I have plenty of times. Was even body searched once on a mistaken identity issue.
It happens. I never get upset unless I am accused of something I haven't done and then I patiently and firmly state my position and why they are
wrong. Even on the situation where they thought I was someone else, it just took time to resolve and they finally admitted they made a mistake and
apologized. So do I resent it? No. They were doing their job and because I was not upset about it, they have always treated me politely and
respectfully. Toneart is right, it's all about your attitude, not theirs. |
I couldn't agree more ...
CaboRon
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bajalera
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
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How come nobody has mentioned that stereotyping is still alive and well. What you look like can be way more important then your attitude, when it
comes to returning from Mexico..
I once worked with a woman whose husband, an M.D., had Sicilian parents, and he looked a lot like pictures of Pancho Villa. They regularly got a full
bevy of questions at the border, and also at road checks north of San Diego.
If you want a speedier crossing, be a blue-eyes blonde.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3881
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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Yeah - "stereotyping" or "profiling" - of course it's considered - part of the training. Single moms with kids sail through too.
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The Gull
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 2223
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Rancho Descanso, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: High
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Quote: | Originally posted by MexicoGringoGuy
I got into it about a month ago with a really rude one that wanted to know where I was going and I made a mistake of asking WHY, , I told him I was
going to my country why do you need to know where? Well that got me into secondary, and finally I got a superivosr who was a snotty little prick that
told me that he and his agents had about 3 times the power of SD police, and me and my belongings belonged to him untill I was cleared to enter the
US.. He was amazingly rude, BUT he knew he could be.. there is No repurusion, and he knows it.. you can comlain till the cows come home, but
nothing is going to change if things stay the same.. He actually said things Llike "well i know in the Liberal college that you flunlked out of
they may have thought different", and to that I proudly responded, that Vanderbilt Univeristy is a Southern Ivy league conservative college, and I
Graduated with honors.... He smerked, and I pulle dout my pocket diploma, and he said i needed to leave... (he shut up)
Anyway... Just frustrated... Because Although I agree with gnukid.. one should not engage them, and I agree that they are programed to be
suspicious, because why would anyone want to go the mexico.. But its a matter of principal.. Public Servents are no longer servants.. they are
Rulers!!! |
Your hostility toward the Establishment should be directed to Vanderbilt University who faked your diploma when they asserted that they educated you.
Nice mastery of spelling and clear writing style.
We might need a poll...how many Nomads run around with a pocket diploma. Is that like the Popeil Pocket Fisherman?
Escuse ma as I smerk.
�I won\'t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.� William F. Buckley, Jr.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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"Pocket Diploma"??
What a joke, I have never seen or heard of such a thing.
Is the Vanderbilt referred to a mail order diploma mill ??
CaboRon
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