Humiliation greets visitor at airport

The Mercury News ^ | August 13, 2002 | Truong Phuoc Khánh

[snopercod]

Every summer for the past 25 years, New Zealand native Maggie Anderson and her American husband have visited their family in Portola Valley.

But never before had her visit begun in handcuffs and humiliation.

Upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport at 11 a.m on July 24, Anderson -- a former flight attendant who had flown in and out of U.S. airports hundreds of times -- was questioned and arrested by federal immigration agents.

[sarasmom]

"No travel violation, INS officials say, is too minor after Sept. 11."

Snicker snicker.Puke

I assume this is the same INS involved in border security.

[Neophyte]

Kalifornicators aren't really Americans, and it is likely that illegal Mexicans are still being assigned to perform security.

You think you're joking? Last year I was escorted to that same special room when changing planes to Toronto by a Latina guard who refused (or wasn't able) to communicate in English (as well as in Bulgarian, ha-ha-ha - it's my favourite joke).

But boy, she did know how to clatter her extensive bum and chew her gum... you couldn't help to think about that woman from Kalifornia with whom Bubba hadn't have sex.

[Isle of sanity in CA]

There was a separate thread earlier today from NRO that talked about how Saudi's weren't on the list of countries that we are paying special security attention to...

Do you ever wonder if the whole world has gone insane?

[shaggy eel]

,,, that's standard procedure for overstaying a visa by a few days? Why is it news then? I hate to think what's happening to illegal immigrants on the basis of what's reported in this article.

Here's a bit of advice, don't try undressing these guys.

[Grut]

I guess I'll get flamed for saying this, but I hold President Bush personally responsible for this BS.

Modern thinking on the subject is that federal employees are doing too vital a job for us to risk distracting them with worries about being held accountable. Rather, we should be supportive and grateful regardless of how well or badly they perform.

Consider yourself combusted. ;-)

[Isle of sanity in CA]

Actually the Kiwis and the Aussies are probably the two that we have been able to count on the most... You must have them confused with the French.

[DainBramage]

Gobermint apologist? The reason we have so many terrorists running around here now is because our security has sucked in the past. This lady didn't follow the rules so the security people followed the guidelines set for them since 9-11. What do you want to do? Let everybody go, never do a pat down? She's a wimp that was embarrased after she was caught making a mistake.

I am always skeptical of our government, but airport security is not a problem for me right now. First time shame on you, second time shame on me.

[Willie Green]

You think you're joking?

Nope. While I'm sure that LAX has made attempts at improving the qualifications of security personnel since 9/11, there's also no doubt that many have "slipped through the cracks" for whatever reason.

[headsonpikes]

Are you a goobermint airport security supervisor???...

...or did you just stay at a Holiday Inn last night?

[headsonpikes]

"She's a wimp..."

And you're a cad.

Good day, sir.

[Neophyte]

our security does what its supposed to

Oh yeah... and it does it right. Just to remind you: the stuff you're on when writing the above should be stopped by the same security but it wasn't.

A woman whose only crime was, in your words, to stay a New Zealander by choice, was.

[DainBramage]

Oh hell, I'm a cad. Now what am I gonna do? I'm demolished!

My point is not that New Zealand has not been a supporter, just that as soon as she gets frisked at the airport she's telling us if it keeps up they'll quit.

As they say where here in Texas "Get tough or die" bub.

[DainBramage]

Oh yeah... and it does it right. Just to remind you: the stuff you're on when writing the above should be stopped by the same security but it wasn't.

KMA At least they try, btw her crime was overstaying a visa like alot of the 9-11 attackers had. She was put on a list and caught.

[RWG]

No travel violation, INS officials say, is too minor after Sept. 11...except for mexicans and saudi arabs.

[SW6906]

You do the crime, you do the time....

Not saying she deserved her treatment per se, just did she overstay her visa and not expect it to ever come back to bite her?

Hard to have sympathy or respect for someone who lives most of their life in America taking advantage of all she has to offer, but then doesn't want to become a citizen......

[norton]

I came in late, but talk about mixed emotions!

a) at least I'm not the only one being frisked.
b) Too bad that someone who DID violate the immigration laws got busted after being frisked (just like me).
c) No, the fact that her husband is American does NOT count; not anymore than some one's husband being a 'safe' illegal sould count. (gotta work on that one)
d) I'm still worrying about the level of idiots-with-license-to-humiliate that might be in keeping with the current levels of lunatics-with-license-to-detonate.
e) And, unfortunately, I KNOW that sooner or later one of those loonies is gonna look very much like me.

[Inkie]

NZ will help to its ability. Don't forget, this is a country without a lot of people.

[jmax]

But, they dare not search a captured illegal Mexican who just crossed the border into the U.S., like that. It would not only be politically incorrect, but would also be an insult to them. Now, we can't have that, can we?

[Inkie]

One thing I didn't understand. Did the article say that the lady got her visa AFTER she got here? I am a US citizen who lived in Australia for 20 years, and I had to get my visa before I even set foot there.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I think the article says that she's a New Zealander, he's an American. They've farmed in NZ for 25 years and returned to visit the husband's family each summer. They're not resident in the US.