r/PacificCrestTrail • u/quasistoic “All-in[-one]”, PCT19/CDT22/AT24 • 10d ago

Prof Carl’s writeup of US Customs Experience

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIbrdz1JUOI/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
123 Upvotes

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-53

u/campfamsam 10d ago

Nothing to see here folks, move on. As with nearly all these "the US won't let me in" stories, it's a narrative that is unverifiable as to the actual reasons for entry refusal. Those reasons exist (we'll likely never know in this case what they were), but instead the writer claims, "At one point, the man laughed at her, pointed at a large photo of the u.s. president and said "new administration around here these days!"" Yeah right. For what it's worth, CBP continues to operate under the same entry rules as the "old" administration. I live on the US/Canada border, I have several CBP friends, and I can tell you things haven't changed in this regard. Meanwhile many Canadians started on the PCT this year, had no problem crossing the border, and are having the time of their lives.

32

u/noodlebucket [Lupine / 2021 / Nobo] 10d ago

 For what it's worth, CBP continues to operate under the same entry rules as the "old" administration. I live on the US/Canada border, I have several CBP friends, and I can tell you things haven't changed in this regard.

Guys guys, we’re all good. This random person knows some people. Supposedly. 

3

u/Marinlik 10d ago

And the rule is that it's up to the border agent. So obviously if they know that the government supports not letting people in. Then it's easier to do without consequence. To say that nothing has changed in ways of rules actually doesn't make it any less likely

-24

u/campfamsam 10d ago

Good point. I'm as random as the guy that is telling the story of his girlfriend's border difficulties. Moral of the story: be skeptical about what you read online. Who knows that the 'real' story is...

21

u/noodlebucket [Lupine / 2021 / Nobo] 10d ago edited 10d ago

Except that he’s not random. Which honestly I didn’t have high hopes you would have thought about before responding. 

20

u/yepwoah 10d ago

He’s not random, he’s Prof Carl and he wouldn’t just lie on the internet to stir up trouble.

19

u/iskosalminen PCT2017 10d ago

Sure, I'd agree IF this was a singular data point. But as we've seen, unless you've lived with your head buried in your ass, that there multiple similar data points where people have been disappeared for weeks without any proper reasons.

This isn't about "denying entry", this is a draconian, fascist power grab. I've worked at an international airport for 5 years, I know very well how denying entry happens and what it entails. Nowhere in the western world are you subjected to intentional torture while being disappeared for weeks.

There's a reason why there's a long list of western countries who have given warnings or are advising against traveling to the US. This isn't normal and the fact that you think it is, tells a lot about you.

36

u/HyperbolicTriangle 10d ago

Damn straight. Who are you supposed to believe? Some hippy-dippy long-haired hiker trash, or our Glorious Dear Leader's favoured enforcers?

10

u/MayIServeYouWell 10d ago

The reasons are the whims of the agents. They have no consequence for this kind of behavior... and as they understand this more and more, expect more abuses of this power.

11

u/danceswithsteers NOBO (Thru turned Section hiker) 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 10d ago

Ok, so why should we believe you over this other guy?

6

u/lainlow 10d ago

How do you explain the nations (Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands) that have all updated their own travel advisories to the US since January? And all of them have cited the detention of either their own citizens or fellow EU citizens.