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.

[DainBramage]

Call me when several thousand people in your country have been murdered by foreigners that were allowed in in good faith. You might understand better. How often has this treatment happened to New Zealanders, once? Paranoia seems to come quickly.

[gunshy]

Next time, sneak in. You will receive better treatment.

[DainBramage]

Shaggy, thats the whole point, we've let everyone in the world come to our shores with too much trust for too long. They bitch about everything American, then break the rules and complain about their treatment.

Hell, if its so bad don't come, we don't need it. We're trying to fix things that got out of hand. If its a little tight for a while, tough.

[shaggy eel]

,,, what an alarmist reply. You've scaled the heights of stupidity on this issue and hung yourself out to dry. This politically correct designer crisis has the US up shit creek without a paddle when it comes to profiling, so much so that you're having to single out irrelevancies to hold up as sacrificial lambs. Get real and see this for what it is.

[shaggy eel]

,,, post 124 was an answer to post 121, not to post 123.

[shaggy eel]

If its a little tight for a while, tough.

,,, things won't ever go back to pre-Sept 11.

[July 4th]

Do you only respond to pieces of a response, rather than the entire piece?

Frequently, yes.

Would you be so tartoid if one of the new "professional" screeners decided that it was necessary to see your grandmother's nipples to assure the others in line that it wasn't a pasty composed of Plastique?

Would it make me stop flying? No. I think anyone who advocates that position is taking the easy way out or not carrying their logic far enough. Advocate for change to the system of security. Don't punish the airlines and yourself for something that they have no control over.

I don't like getting pulled over by cops. It happens once in a while. It's unpleasant. Ok then...should I stop driving? I don't think so.

[avenir]

This airport stuff is starting to spook me. I couldn't stand the light use of the metal-detecting rod BEFORE 9/11. The idea of someone telling me to drop my pants? They can kiss my grits, I'm driving!

[willyone]

What a bunch of punks. Meanwhile thousands of illegals stream across the Southern Border. Armed intrusions are common place and these a-holes harass people from friendly countries for technical violations. The American people will deserve everything they get from this. This crap makes us not one one bit safer. Just one more step in intimidating the citizens into silence.

[ladyinred]

Sounds like we need to warn our friends the Kiwis to stay away from LAX in the People's Republik of Kalifornia. Kalifornicators aren't really Americans, and it is likely that illegal Mexicans are still being assigned to perform security.

I highly resent this remark!

[mathurine]

Somehow I think if she came from Saudi Arabia, had grenades in her underpants, overstayed her visa the last time for a half decade, and assaulted the first INS agent she encountered, she would have been let right in. Count me as one who thinks the government has a good ways to go before I will be confident it is logical or efficient in what it does to protect American citizens from foreign terrorists. Sometimes it seems to do the opposite. By golly we sure taught those damned New Zealanders not to mess with ole Uncle Sam or he put the latex on you.

[willyone]

Don't forget those two inch plastic GI Joe rifles. Real dangerous. I am rapidly reaching the conclusion that this country really is not worth caring about anymore. It will all be foreigners in twenty years anyway. So who cares.

[RightOnline]

"But the U.S. governnent give visa express to Saudis and I don't recall the first time a New Zealander ever assulted Americans in America."

8 posted on 8/13/02 6:27 PM Eastern by xJones"

No more phone calls...................we have a winner.

[Joe Hadenuf]

The charge? In 1998 -- three U.S. visits ago -- she overstayed her visa by eight days.

Wanna break our laws? Good riddance! If we can only apply this outside the airports now....

[Joe Hadenuf]

The charge? In 1998 -- three U.S. visits ago -- she overstayed her visa by eight days.

Wanna break our laws? Good riddance! If we can only apply this outside the airports now....

[DainBramage]

,,, what an alarmist reply. You've scaled the heights of stupidity on this issue and hung yourself out to dry.

Here we go, when all else fails start calling names. You will never admit her part in bringing scritiny to her in this I see. She was not a case of profiling and she's not a sacrificial lamb, just a case of over doing it after she had turned up as having been, at one time, an illegal alien coming in on a plane.

things won't ever go back to pre-Sept 11

NS Sherlock. Mistakes will be made, but the change is needed.

[Vidalia]

We both know the reality of the absurd is far too frequent and innocent passengers bear the brunt.

90% of the "professional screeners" cannot even spell "profile", and they think it has something to do with sports.

The decision to discontinue flying for an interim period is subjective, not an option for many.

I merely put forth the obvious, that if you are continously humiliated and subjected to the whims of speculation by "government professional security guards" who haven't a clue about what they are supposed to be looking for (ask one who their parents are and you will get a blank stare), then quit flying and rent a safe vehicle.

You and your group might witness a realization on the road-trip that will enhance your ability to claw your way to the top...

[willyone]

Jorge is a dope. Take away 9/11 and there is no there there. Still better than Gore but I had hoped for alot more from him. I believe that we are really and truely up the creek without the proverbial paddle.

[Fred Mertz]

Anderson remained in the INS detention room for 21 hours, with the mounted television set on the whole time featuring Jerry Springer, Sally Jessy Raphael and wrestling.

This definitely qualifies for cruel and unusual punishment. Too bad she's not a US citizen or she could claim a bundle in a lawsuit.

[Itzlzha]

Nineteen Muslim highjackers crash 3 planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon, killing thousands of Americans.

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.

Couple this with the report that the MUSLIME BASTARD that "allegedly" RAPED a young girl at Marcos Island in Flori-DUH, and RAN HOME TO ISLAMAZILAND (Saudi Arabia)...and was ALLOWED to leave Flori-DUH (and Trafficant is a FLIGHT RISK?!?!), as well as the USA...with a RAPE CHARGE on him...

What the HELL is going on here?!?!

Can we institute a Death-Penalty for Criminal STUPIDITY by Federal/State employees?!?!

...and the nominees are....