This is disgraceful and outrageous and, on behalf of real Americans, please convey our apologies to your Mother-in-Law. This is TSA/Customs crap that is directed by one of the most incompetent and overpriced agencies in America.
Complain to Michael Chertoff - he runs the Dept. of Homeland Security and should be taken to task for this outrage.
Or commended for securing us to the point of not having a 9/11 incident since 09-11-2001.