US Border Authorities Detain German Political Leader and Undermine American Brand
I will be arriving in Berlin on Monday, the 11th of May -- and I am appealing to German border authorities to detain me for an hour or so -- to make amends for the treatment that a German political leader (and probably many other unnamed victims of passport screening) received at Dulles Airport.
I think that every American should feel embarrassed by the treatment important guests of the United States received this past week at the hands of US Customs and Border Protection officials at Dulles International Airport.
And frankly, when important political leaders from nations allied with the United States are treated poorly when entering the country, one knows that there must be a much longer line of others who can't garner headlines about their cases that are detained in similar or worse ways.
Former German State Minister for Police Cem Oezdemir, who was the first ever Turkish-German Member of the German Bundestag and then became a Member of the European Parliament and is today the Co-Chair of the German Green Party, was detained by officials at Dulles Airport earlier this week and given no reason.
I met Oezdemir and his wife, radio personality Pia Castro, shortly after their detainment and heard that what frustrated him most about the incident was the unwillingness of the officials to tell him anything about what was going on. A border control official just told him in a loud, aggressively confrontational voice to sit, to be quiet and wait to be called. The problem was that the officials didn't have his passport or name.
Oezdemir, who had an official of the German Embassy in Washington, DC there to help expedite him through customs, had to go up to the intimidating official and say to him that there was no way Oezdemir would be called from a roster as no one had taken his name or passport yet. So, Oezdemir handed it to them.
The process was, according to Oezdemir and his wife who both frequently visit the US, dehumanizing, excessively rude, and characterized by total lack of information being provided to those who are detained.
Being detained without instruction or comments from the authorities creates fear, tension and uncertainty for those stopped in this way -- and one can only imagine how people who barely speak English react to such treatment. Oezdemir and his wife are fully fluent in English and still the border authorities made little effort to communicate -- and were rude at the end of the process when whatever concerns about him were obviously cleared.
This kind of treatment of people -- anyone, important politically or not -- undermines the American brand.
According to some reports, it is believed that Oezdemir was stopped by the official because his name "did not sound German."
If that kind of profiling is going on, then the US Customs and Border Protection operation should be investigated and challenged by the US Congress, the media and the American public. It is simply outrageous that individuals would be stopped because of their name or what they ate on a plane.
These stories percolate back and undermine confidence abroad in the U.S. itself. The treatment of Oezdemir and his wife -- who know this country well and know its strengths and warts -- has already been broadcast all over the German and the Turkish media.
I recognize that some people on occasion will be detained and will feel like they are being manhandled by a process they don't understand at America's borders -- but the rudeness of the treatment, the lack of human tact, the lack of information provided to those detained is out of line and needs to be remedied.
I know that the US Customs and Border Protection public affairs office will read this note. Apologizing to Oezdemir and his wife is not a remedy.
What is a remedy is a statement that the Department of Homeland Security must unfortunately detain -- for a variety of reasons -- people who enter the US about whom red flags are raised. However, you should state that US Customs and Border Protection directors will review policies regarding communication with detainees and the "posture" overall of officers through the process. Those who are cleared should be treated as "innocents" and respected -- and told that America regrets this process but that any officers involved hope to convey as much respect, reasonableness, and humanity as possible in processing through any concerns about specific visitors.
And then -- get your people at Dulles more cultural training.
I wonder if our former US Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad, the highest ranking Muslim in the Bush administration, ever gets the Oezdemir treatment at our borders now that he doesn't have his official passport.
Fix this problem -- seriously.
You are harming the nation, and there is no reason at all that can explain the poor behavior of officials when people are detained. I've seen it personally -- and heard too many stories like this one for there not to be a broader review.
-- Steve Clemons directs the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation and publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
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I am also Canadian and I also have loads of horror stories with S Customs Officials, sometimes simply because one guard didn't like my haircut - cut too short and even asked me if I was from an insane asylum. In 2003 I was heading to Buffalo Airport from Toronto, going to stay with friends in AZ for 90 days, the max allowed for a Canadian without needing a Visa.
I was refused entry even though I had my return ticket because the guard was convinced I was a grown man and going to be "mooching" off an American family for that time, that I should be ASHAMED. I was invited by my AZ friends who were totally shocked at the treatment I received.
Now I am and will ALWAYS be flagged by US Customs till the day I die, simply because of an A**hole who didn't like that a Canadian was friends with Americans.
The worst part of all this is that I ALWAYS have to receive this treatment and smile as if it is the sweetest thing anyone can ever ask for and NEVER give them any lips or a reproach or even look at them the wrong way, unless I want to land in jail and then forever be banned from USA!
There is no excuse for this type of behavior, and with today's technology there's no excuse for the long waits to get these matters cleared up. It's a matter of attitude and law enforcement of every stripe here in the US since 09/11 appear to feel entitled to displays of unwarranted power and discrimination.
I remember a time when law enforcement were viewed as public employees and had to abide by strict rules of behavior and deportment.
AS a rule law enforcement types are quite prone to abusing thier power in verbally abusive ways.
Bad as this is, DHS screeners are basically minimum wagers with a grudge.
The combination is one of the most disgusting forms of human behaviour one is likely to see in an entire lifetime.
You get what you pay for.
I just wish the screeners would profile reichwing christnazis, and verbally trash them. After which they could remind them that if higher taxes were paid, the workers doing the screening, might not have such bad attitudes.
I'm Canadian, I speak English fluently, I'm white, I have no criminal record, not even parking tickets, my name sounds English, and I'm afraid to go to the States. Why? There have been too many accounts of state troopers or various officials throwing Canadians in jail and letting them rot there for days without access to a lawyer, on bogus charges. Why? because "Canada is a Communist country"? Because some have a slightly French accent? When a Canadian is involved in a traffic accident in the States he/she is presumed guilty from the start and traited as such. I'll go the the States when I feel I can cough without the police shooting first and then asking questions.
I used to visit the US regularly before 2001 and the border people had a slightly un-neccesary rudeness about them even back then. Since 2001 that problem has gone through the roof. My octoganarian mother, stooped and fragile like a sparrow, was shouted at and had her hair rifled through by a border official who had no manners and could not even say the word please when addressing her during this "routine" search. She was upset but bit her tongue, for once you disagree with the US authorities they can do as they please to you and you have no rights, no recourse. I haven't received an invitation important enough to want to expose myself to the border authorities since that time. Will they ever say "Welcome to the United States Sir" again? Maybe we're not.
Nothing to do with a country. Sometimes it is the people who take it upon themselves to be obnoxious and sometimes even a few likeminded flock together and a problem we have. Especially those who took 9/11 as an excuse to do everyone wrong. But it is a few and not all and that goes for everywhere.
Are you speaking from experience or just pulling wishful thinking out of the air?
I have seen and experienced this myself. I have seen old ladies frisked. I have seen unnecessary rudeness. I have seen abuse.
I have also experienced it myself as have several friends.
While you might be right as a general rule, it seems that the obnoxious were actively recruited for the TSA [another gop bush boondoggle]. It is systemic and NOT the work of a few 'rogue" cranks.
Really? Try arriving to the US on a foreign passport and a slightly irregular story.
My uncle was born in Baghdad and left in 1933 when he was six months old to never return there again. The one time he entered the US to visit his son and grandkids he was treated as if he was the biggest terrorist ever. His family now travels to meet him and his wife - they will never set foot in the US again.
Do not despair your people are surpassed by our Australian Airport Security who subjected the visiting Prime Minister of PNG (our nearest neigbour) to the full check including removing his shoes!
Fortunately all but two of my trips out of the country were with the military and no problem. Back in the 70's went on a trip across Ontario to Michigan and back from New England. The border crossings went fine with wife, son and a dog, in a small station wagon. I am not surprised though by the treatment some have received. Guess "the ugly American" is still alive and well. Sad.
This is nothing new. I was detained at the US-Canadian border at Blaine, WA, for half an hour because my then-8 year old son couldn't prove he was my son. Even though he had his birth certificate and a note from his mother. And this was in 1980!
A little known fact is that the uniformed immigration officer has the authority to deny a non-citizen entry - for ten years - and they have no right at all to a hearing. Make the guy mad at the entry desk, and you are gone, with no recourse whatsoever. The obvious result of this is that many of the officers are on a power trip. This is way too much authority for any LEO to have.
It's too much authority for any human to have. Add to that the fact that though 90-odd percent of the job is boring routine, it could become deadly dangerous in an instant. The combination of too much power and dangerous uncertainty could deteriorate even the most stable person. I appreciate the genuinely courteous customs guards - wish there were more of them.
Deadly dangerous in an instant.
Beyond fantasy worst case scenarios, what are you talking about. Care to provide some facts or links to your statement?
I hate coming back from overseas to the U.S. The customs officers at Sea-Tac are so surly and they ask you questions that are none of their bloody business. I think a number of these federal cops feel it is "Bush Time" and so they can do anything to the public they want, be they American citizens or tourists from friendly nations.
To be frank, I would advise foreigners contemplating visiting the states to either stay home or go elsewhere where you are treated with respect. Because you are not going to get any respect in my country.
Another example of "American Arrogance". And we wonder why they think badly of us and our President has to apologize.
Cracker Jacks is a brand, Pop Tarts is a brand; America is a nation, a society, and a culture. Life isn't a TV commercial. Stern, overworked, underpaid, border officials are as old as borders themselves.
Sorry the guy got held up for an hour or so but, truth be told, that's not the source of America's image problem.
It's a big part of the problem... I'm a nurse and could certainly tell my share of horror stories, yet I not only have to remain polite and professional under stress, but caring as well. As a Canadian, I have also been on the receiving end of this rudeness at the US border. There is no excuse for this attitude and behavior and it does nothing but exacerbate the 'brand' of America being seen by friends and foes alike. The arrogance and rudeness need to become part of the past...our 'culture' needs to learn some respect if we expect to maintain our role as the moral leaders inthe world.
You are right of course Lianna, but allow me to relieve you of the notion that your country is somehow the "moral leader" in the world. The cultural change you're searching for is tied to letting go of feeling superior.
This is not surprising, and probably quite common. Treatment at US Customs can be rude, ugly, mean, and disgraceful. Unfortunately, this has been the face of the USA for many foreigners and for a long time.
Foreign tourists coming to the USA, whether wealthy or poor, have always known we are SOBs to visitors. It starts with humiliating interviews at our embassies in other countries when someone wants a visa. It continues at Immigration and at Customs in the airports.
Immigration and Customs officials are rarely friendly or welcoming anywhere in the world. But in the USA when they want to hassle someone and detain them for something, you can bet they'll pull the plug on any decency and courtesy.
Well too bad your coming in thru Mexico I guess, thousands are coming no questions asked!!!!!! Crazy.
Unless I'm mistaken, it appears that there was a typo and you intended to include the word "not":
I.e., "Well too bad you're not coming in thru Mexico ...
A way to tell you are communicating in writing with either a teenaged girl or someone of that or lesser emotional maturity is to count the number of exclamation points they place after their opinion as if that makes their opinion more "real" somehow. The scale I use is to count backward from 18 for every exclamation point
I give headed at rating of 13 years old.
These incidents sometimes just happen. My last name is a very common and generic American name, and not at all "foreign-s
Also, the U.S. doesn't have the corner-market on rude officials. When I was in Italy for the first time, I was was waiting on a train platform for the next train. A young gypsy approached me and asked if I would buy some of his wares; I politely declined and he walked away. A moment later two burly Italian federal officers swooped down and detained me and the young man. I was held for over an hour and questioned by an officious and rude seargeant in Italian (even though he occasionaly hurled insults at me in perfect English). I was never given an explanation for why I was held, but I gathered it had to do with the traditional Italian prejudice against gypsies. Finally, I was let go without an apology.
Italian "prejudice" against gypsies?? What about British "prejudice" against gypsies? And French?? And other western countries?? There is no prejudice, it is just a fact that there are a LOT of problems created by rroma nation all over Europe (theft, rape, crime). The Italians are in close proximity of the main rroma immigration source - Hungary and Romania, and now they have the largest rroma population in the Western Europe(over 9-12 millions gypsies are now living in Western Europe). Not that this will excuse the police rude behavior if this was the case, but maybe will explain it. The "young gypsy" could of trade in stolen goods. A gypsy in London raped a woman just to go to prison and learn English!
And to make it clear, I do believe the EU instead of deporting the offenders in their country of "origin" should find a VIABLE SOLUTION of integrating them in EU culture and civilization.
To the subject of border and custom officers rudeness I believe that you can find it,OCCASIONALLY, on both sides of the pond,more though on US side since homeland security empowered a bunch of people without a rigorous selection for the job. Good enough to have a hard to pronounce (foreign) first/last name and you are flagged for a "detail" check despite your American passport.
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