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British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

(www.theguardian.com)
205 points n1b0m | 1 comments | 10 Mar 25 18:32 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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tim333 ◴[10 Mar 25 23:51 UTC] No.43327570[source]▶
The US has always been a scary place to cross the border. I'm a Brit and have been to 50+ countries and the US is the only one that seems like it's trying to find a reason to arrest you. The others generally don't give problems or possibly just refuse entry and you have to go back.

The other thing that puzzles me about the US is they give basically law abiding travellers all sorts of grief while at the same time letting people just wander in from Mexico and live for years. Odd system.

replies(2): >>43327721 #>>43328505 #
1. a_bonobo ◴[11 Mar 25 02:19 UTC] No.43328505[source]▶
I agree - I've traveled a few times to the US to speak at conferences and every time the border agent tried to entrap me - i.e., tried to get me to confess that I'm being paid for my presentation, which obviously isn't covered by ESTA. I've never been paid, classic academic. But they still try every time! How much can a regular person earn in speaking fees that this would warrant interviews?

EU/Australia/New Zealand/Japan has been the opposite experience - they never asked.