We drove through NM (from TX) on our way to AZ for Thanksgiving and went through an immigration/drug checkpoint at 1:00 AM. They had the dogs out circling most cars but after they shined their flashlights in on us and saw two kids zonked in back, they sent us on through and didn’t walk the dogs around us. It was rather maddening having flashlights shined in our eyes while they asked a few questions and we couldn’t see their faces. I certainly didn’t offer up the fact that I had guns & ammo on board.
We drove from San Antonio to Tucson, visiting national and state parks along the way.
In one day, TX and NM alone, we went through four checkpoints, interrogated at the first three (”where have you been,” “what have you been doing,” “was it hot there” [trick question about Big Bend], finally, “are you citizens”). Dogs sniffing at two of the Stasi-points. All in the primary line.
We were in my husband’s F-150 — which has a clear camper shell in the back and non-tinted windows.
We hardly had any luggage with us, just a bag or two, a cooler, nothing stacked high or hidden. We weren’t grungy or anything like that, no endangered bird feathers (God-forbid, I was with a friend once who didn’t know the feather hanging up might be “endangered”). No alcohol, forbidden fruit, etc.
It was truly appalling, to not be able to go sightseeing in the beautiful southwest without “papers, please” every few feet.
The world elites kept/keep the borders open on purpose for multiple reasons, one of which is to further intimidate, harass, and delay innocent Americans. (We missed making it to one historic park because of all the delays.)