I was crossing the border and I gave them my driver’s license and the border patrol started asking me all these weird history questions,. I did not understand what questions he was asking me and I told him I don’t know, and he said I had an accent so he took me to a few other border patrol officers and he gave them my drivers license. And they all started questioning me, like how long I lived in California, where was I born, what school and I’m going to, etc. I told them the truth and I told them I was born in California, and going to a community college and one of border patrol said I was lying and demanded that I tell him the truth of who I really am. He ask for my Social Security number and he look me up but he could not find my information. So after 15 min, he told me I can go.
2007-07-11 07:51:49 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
He said I should bring a birth certificate or a passport next time. I thought that a driver’s license would be alright to bring, because I’ve done it many times before and this is the first time they questioned me. I don’t know what I did wrong. They never really explained to me. Can I file a complaint about this? Did I deserve to be treated like this? Is there anything on the Driver’s license that tells them I live in US?
2007-07-11 07:52:58 · update #1
File a complaint. You might want to check with a lawyer to see if they would take this case pro bono.
2007-07-11 07:54:26 · answer #1 · answered by nom de paix 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The laws get changed. Once upon a time you could cross US-Canada and US-Mexico border using only a US driver's license. That law has changed, Now you need a passport. Border Patrol has every right to refuse to let you re-enter the country if you do not have passport.
They were nice by asking questions to try to have you prove that you were an American, however that is not going to work if you are a stupid American.
How are they to know that you are not an illegal traveling on a forged driver's license?
However, soon it will be how are they to know that you are not an illegal traveling on a forged passport?
2007-07-11 08:04:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They used to do this to my mom when we lived in El Paso and would go to Juarez on the weekends. We will be getting a national ID here in the US in 2008. There are so many stolen identifications, and they are suspicious. You were lucky. You could have really hassled you and dismantled your car looking for drugs. Is it legal? The harassment isn't, but no one has been sucessful in filing a grievance against them. Just do what they say, bring your birth certificate or a passport next time.
I also do not understand why scanning the bar code on the back of your license, all the information about you was not brought up. Here in Texas, they can scan your driver's license and find out if it is a fake or not. They probably can do that in most states.
And for Jacob who said it is about time they are enforcing the borders? This was happening to my mom in 1958.
2007-07-11 07:57:35 · answer #3 · answered by Sparkles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GEEZ!!! It's not the Border Patrol! Those guys wear green uniforms and work between the ports of entry, not at the ports of entry. The guys working there wear blue uniforms. Their jobs are vastly different too.
The folks at the port of entry are called Customs and Border PROTECTION OFFICERS (aka: CBP Officers)....not Border Patrol Agens. There's a big difference.
Now, the proper term is CBP Officer or Border Patrol Agent; not border patrol. Border Patrol as a noun is limited to the agency. Otherwise it's a verb. Border Patrol Agent is a noun referencing a person.
I hope they teach grammar classes in that college.
2007-07-12 01:31:51 · answer #4 · answered by deus ex machina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your driver's license shows your address, but not your citizenship (US citizen or where ever). I'd carry an extra piece of identification in the future just to make it easier on yourself.
Having said that, I believe the Border Patrol acted obnoxiously and should not have treated you that way. They could have, and should have, been more professional. Calling someone a liar is childish.
2007-07-11 08:02:26 · answer #5 · answered by certifiedtarotmaster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is extremely easy to obtain fraudulent identification and especially California drivers licenses.
It seems a bit unusual that he couldn't find any information with your social security number.
I would most likely question the legitimacy of the drivers license as well if the social security number didn't reveal further information!
Chalk it up to an increase of border security and let it go!
Best wishes.
2007-07-11 07:59:28 · answer #6 · answered by KC V ™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With all the tension going on, the border patrol have their won brand of law - (sorta like the department of human services in Michigan) - and unfortunately, no one is making them accountable for anything...
Here in Michigan, we used to be able to hop on over to Canada for a day of casinos and good shopping. NOW, it is mandatory to have a passport...drivers license are no longer acceptable. Neither is a birth certificate...
Soooo, in order to go a cross the border any more, you have to spend a large hunk of money to get a photo, a passport, and then wait for weeks for clearance...
And to top it off, we have border patrol idiots who think they are GOD.
It is wayyyyyy too much.
2007-07-11 08:05:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your address should be on your license. I think they can use many tactics to gain information. I've found when crossing the border to be very polite answer all questions and if you didn't for some reason hear them ask them to repeat and for heavens sake don't challenge them. As far as what you need to cross maybe you should see if you now need a passport to cross the US border...
2007-07-11 07:59:33 · answer #8 · answered by Scott 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the border patrol was right
you need to sharpen you english skills
use common sense, what do you really expect????
I have a good friend in LA that is Hispanic and very dark....he was born in LA and talks like a surfer dude, but can speak perfect spanish..............he NEVER has issues at the border.......
maybe you just sounded suspicious
TJ border ???
if you are not very bright, that may also trigger their alert....smugglers try to play dumb, because they are...you may have tripped all the signals without trying
if your American...laugh it off and be grateful there are trying their best to protect us and our country
it doesnt bother me a damn bit when they search me at the airport........
then again......maybe your oriental......there are a lot of orientals sneaking in by way of Mexico now....specially from Taiwan and Korea. China uses other ports where they have people established already...from what I heard
2007-07-11 08:02:37 · answer #9 · answered by captainamerica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The laws are getting stricter. If you cross the border much you might want to get a passport so they don't hassle you. When I went to Canada I had to take my birth certificate.
2007-07-11 08:01:17 · answer #10 · answered by Rachel C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have recently tightened the borders and made some changes that maybe, you weren't aware of. And they may have been wrong in the way they handled you but they get in trouble if it's found out that they didn't investigate fully. If they trully didn't find the imformation you gave them, you'd problably still be there.
2007-07-11 07:59:17 · answer #11 · answered by fuzzykitty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋