Replies

It's difficult to offer any meaningful advice here. On one hand, I completely agree with your outrage and would contact my representatives in Congress. Putting her in a room and allowing her to wear nothing but her underwear seems uncalled for.

On the other hand, the customs officials knew nothing of the story that you just told (which is what makes it so outrageous to us). They had no idea as to the history of her visit, her grandson, etc. And they did make some effort to resolve the matter by calling you guys. I'm not sure what we should expect them to do when someone that doesn't speak English arrives and is unable to answer questions. We wouldn't want them to just send people like that on their way, and it seems impossible to have a translator for every language imaginable on hand at every airport.

I'm not trying to be insensitive to your dilemma, I'm just trying to shoot you straight. Congratulations on your son and I'm glad his Grandmother is able to see him.

Can't we at least use common sense? An old women from Eastern Europe is not exactly the profile of a terrorist. This reminds me of joke about the blind Irish nun in a wheelchair getting harassed by TSA scum.

Having her strip is beyond outrage. Somebody is getting their rocks off of terrorizing old, foreign women. Nobody could seriously believe this old women is trouble.

I thought along lines such as yours too. But we are an advanced country and we can make things peasant for people.

But you are wrong in one respect, that is of the impossibility of having translators for every language.

In ER rooms and urgent care clinics, there are speaker phones on a wall with speed dial buttons to interpreters that are on-call 24/7. They charge by the minute but I would have gladly paid their fee to avoid this trauma from last night.