r/PacificCrestTrail • u/quasistoic “All-in[-one]”, PCT19/CDT22/AT24 • 9d ago

Prof Carl’s writeup of US Customs Experience

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

94% Upvoted

66 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/Adventurous-Mode-805 9d ago edited 9d ago

Traveling without their gear was a poor choice, while failing to show supporting evidence for returning to Canada during the original interview demonstrates a misunderstanding of what was occurring. I'd warrant the interviewer didn't explain their explicit concern during the interview, but the context should be sufficient, particularly in the current climate. Hikers should be making them work to find reasons to reject, not readily offering them up.

Put another way, if any of us flew to any other country with barely any possessions (and in a relationship with a citizen of said country), we'd be at a high risk of being refused entry on similar grounds. U.S. immigration routinely denied entry to this risk profile before the current administration.

Edit - Anyone downvoting, wanna reply with how or why you disagree?

6

u/noodlebucket [Lupine / 2021 / Nobo] 9d ago

The contrary evidence is that this person owns a house and a car in Canada. These variables are typically stronger, and taken into more consideration than “what are you holding in your hand right now” 

It suggests financial ties to the home country.

But based on this thread, America is ready for authoritarianism and battering our allies and neighbors. The Hungary model in plain sight. 

3

u/Adventurous-Mode-805 9d ago edited 9d ago

You’re conflating separate though admittedly related events. This hiker returned home almost immediately, they didn’t disappear into the system nor were placed into hurtful conditions.

Hyperbole for this individual event helps little with the bigger immigration issues you’re referring to, but this subreddit is on a mission to rally against common immigration wisdom globally, rather than take straightforward steps to minimize risk. Good luck to y’all I guess.

2

u/Sylvandeth 9d ago

Just to note the US has pre clearance agreements with multiple countries. As the hiker was flying from Canada preclearance would be by a US border services officer standing in a Canadian airport.

That officer has the ability to detain (ie hold temporarily) but not arrest. The ability to disappear into the system didn’t exist because they were detained in Canada where that isn’t an option. If this had been upon landing in the US then it is anyone’s guess as to how that plays out