Posted on 08/13/2002 3:18:01 PM PDT by snopercod
Edited on 04/13/2004 3:29:42 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at bayarea.com ...
He's 40, white, has a pot belly, and is an evangelical Christian. Go figure...
._ ._. _._ for tonight.
In the recent aftermath of 9/11, I took solace in the fact that Bush was in the White House. "At least sensible heads will prevail; what an opportunity to 'fix' some things that are wrong with the government" were my thoughts.
Whoa, was I naive. Crack down on immigration and those who overstay their visas? No....instead crack down on law-abiding Americans, subject them to humiliating searches at the hands of people who couldn't even get hired at Kinkos, for God's sake.
Before I start getting flamed, I thank God that there have not been any additional successful terrorist attacks. That tells me that our Intelligence services are a lot better than they were.
But I can't see any connection between searching those who are obviously not a threat and making our skies safer to fly.
Our government is too big, too inhuman and cancerous. It will eventually destroy that which made us Americans.
The same treatment the White woman from New Zealand recieved is suffered by a multitude of American citizens every year. Humiliation and mistreatment.
While illegals feed at the government teats, throughout the land, those who abide by standards of decency have their meekness thrown back into their faces.
While the story did not mention it, I wonder if she even knew that she had previously overstayed on a visa. The government hack is clear in his 'explanation' of her treatment. She was made an example of to show that the Frankenstein is effecient and following the rules. I am waiting for a "violator" to be killed as the Frankenstein strives to become more "efficient".
The federal government's answer?
Strip-search Kiwi farmers.
Considering that a large percentage of the federal bureacracy consists of a mix of low-level sociopaths and the mildly retarded, the notion that these people are developing the power to arbitrarily search and detain is truly terrifying.
Good post. The whole thing needed to be repeated.
I'm not flying anywhere again unless I absolutely have to.
The flying public is all for increased security, but will not stand to be unecessarily harassed, detained, or humiliated for no justifiable reason by low IQ morons.
Bush made a BIG mistake when he allowed the same idiots that were there before 9-11 to remain on the job.
,,, most likely the case. The system wants us to know it's working and these token incidents will assist in precluding claims of racial profiling.
Why thank-you!
My preferences are actually quite modest and practical:
a roof over my head and garden space for my tomatoes.
Anderson, 51, was held for 12 hours at the airport before she was taken away in handcuffs to a detention center where she remained for an additional 21 hours until the next flight back to New Zealand.
But we can't detain 30-35 year-old Middle Eastern males because it might hurt their feelings. And of course, the ACLU would throw a fit and sue the airlines for the size of the national debt.
My trip to Canada was great until the final 200 feet prior to boarding my NW flight to St. Louis. ...
I think you are confused about whom you were dealing with.
Those were US Customs Agents. The Canadians do not care what you leave their country with. The American airlines have a deal with the US Government (or at least this is how it used to work when I had regular business in Montreal). The airlines pay for US Customs (and Immigration) to be performed in Canada by US Customs (and Immigration) agents so they can fly into airports that do not have regular international passenger service.
I take it that you did not have to clear Customs in St. Louis. Did you ever wonder why?
ML/NJ
Well you sure the hell better stay away from Texas then!! Check this story out.
Report: Accused Gunman Is Airport Screener Airport Security Expert Stunned By Developments
HOUSTON -- A Houston man accused of opening fire and attacking resident of an apartment complex is scheduled to be in court Wednesday, following an exclusive report by News2Houston that he's employed as an airport screener.
Watch More Of The Exclusive Report Nathaniel Lee Kenwanyama, 22, is charged with three counts of attempted capital murder and one count of arson.
Houston police investigators told News2Houston that Kenwanyama had an airport security badge on him when he was arrested over the weekend.
Kenwanyama is accused of firing several rifle rounds and then setting an apartment on fire at about 11 p.m. Saturday at the Pebble Walk Apartments, located in the 8500 block of Broadway near Hobby Airport in southeast Houston.
Police later recovered a large cache of weapons and ammo belonging to Kenwanyama, authorities said.
Investigators said that Kenwanyama was employed as a baggage screener at Hobby Airport after being fired from his job at a private jail because he's a registered sex offender and a convicted rapist.
Kenwanyama was hired by Houston-based Maxaero six months ago, authorities said.
Maxaero is the same company News2Houston reported on in February concerning its questionable background screening process.
News2Houston sent a producer to apply for a job as an airport security screener after answering an advertisement in a local newspaper.
In the exclusive report, News2Houston learned that the producer was asked no questions about his past mental illnesses or background. In fact, the producer was put to work before a background check was completed.
Airport security experts said that they are stunned by the recent developments.
"It's disconcerting to hear that an individual being tasked with such an important position had a background like this gentleman had," said Charlie LeBlanc, vice president of operations for Air Security International.
LeBlanc said that there are numerous checks and balances for these types of things not to happen.
"If nothing else, there should have been some questioning on what this individual was doing for the last five years, while (he) was in a juvenile detention facility," LeBlanc said.
Maxaero did not return News2Houston's calls for comments.
I hate to break into this article with a reality check, but she isn't innocent! She broke the law! If your visa ends on August 15 and you're still here August 16, YOU'RE A CRIMINAL. If this had been a Saudi Arabian who's traveled here 100 times before and the INS suddenly figured out that he'd overstayed his visa by eight days a few years ago, FR would be cheering their actions on this.
You can either be for an INS contract on illegal aliens in this country - ALL of them, not just the ones that look a little too Arabic swarthy or Mexican - or you can be for the 9/11 status quo. You all can't have it both ways.
If this had been a Saudi as you describe, there would be nothing to cheer about because the INS would have done nothing about it.
It's far easier, not to mention more politically expedient, to strip search harmless-looking middle-aged white women with impunity than to question a legitimate potential (I emphasize potential) terrorist.
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