An incredibly rude border agent Customs and Border Protection officer at Los Angeles International Airport hassled my family and me upon our recent return from Germany. For far too long, far too many of CBP agents have been demeaning and now seem more emboldened than ever to be jerks.
Condescending CBP Officer At LAX Tells Me To “Use My Big Boy Voice” After Longhaul Flight
I say border agent but technically, these men and women are called Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, the black-uniformed officers who check your passports as you enter the United States.
We had arrived on SAS from Copenhagen and used a special lane for green card holders (that itself is interesting: permanent residents and citizens used to share the same line, but now there is a special line for green card holders). My children and I are citizens, but my wife is not because Germany still makes it difficult to maintain dual citizenship and Heidi is wisely not going to give up her German passport.
When we reached the front of the queue, an officer signalled for us to come over and took our passports. The conversation then went like this:
Officer: Where have you been?
Me: Germany.
Officer: Where in Germany?
Me: The southwest corner of the county.
Officer: The southwest corner of the country is not a place. I asked where you where.
Me: Lörrach.
Officer: What’s that?
Me: Lörrach, a city near the Swiss and French border.
Officer: You have to use your big boy voice in here. Look around at all the people in this room. Think you can handle that, partner?
That last sentence set me off. This uneducated slob was mocking me in front of my family because he could not understand a front-rounded vowel like ö. My voice was certainly loud enough…
I looked at Heidi. She could see I was upset.
I was faced with a pragmatic choice. Put the officer in his place, “You will be respectful, boy,” or just let it go, knowing that this CBP officer had the authority to deny my wife entry to the USA, even with a permanent green card, or revoke my Global Entry.
So I remained silent and just glared at him.
He handed me back the passports and we walked away.
CONCLUSION
I don’t understand why these thugs processing passports are so rude (I have my theories regarding their compensation for shortcomings in other areas). I was not rude nor was I impolite; I had my family with me and was just trying to get home after 16 hours of travel.
I wish there was a way to hold folks like that accountable without being fearful of being denied entry, losing your Global Entry, or being subjected to secondary screening.
But power is like a boomerang and while these imbeciles might feel emboldened now to act rudely at border checkpoints, there will come a day when they reap what they sow.
Sorry this happened to you and your family and I had a similar experience last week at BWI returning from Germany via London.
Maybe I’m missing something unique to your family‘s situation, but I’m a dual German/US citizen myself (obtained the retention permit when that was still required) and my understanding is that as of June 27, 2024, German citizens are now free to obtain an additional citizenship without any formalities being required on the German side. Perhaps that would help ease at least some anxiety during future trips.
My wife looked into this and it seems there are still some complications, but I’ll tell her to look into it again.
Your wife can get a dual citizenship without any hassles. Nothing needs to be filed with Germany anymore.
I was in the same boat but got my US citizenship end of last year – now I’m dual citizen
The Act on the Modernization of the Citizenship Law (StARModG) came into force on June 27, 2024. Since then, a retention permit is no longer required to avoid the automatic loss of German citizenship when accepting US or other citizenship upon application. There is also no need to inform German authorities about a planned naturalization.
https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/03-citizenship/2124886-2124886
I’m sorry this happened to you. In my personal opinion, you need to answer all questions properly and not hint at answering a question. This would annoy anyone. Imagine the “thug” in charge is asking questions all day and tasked to deal with all kinds of answers and different people. The best way to handle this is to listen carefully and answer the question being asked and you will be on your way. You cannot “win” in this situation. I travel internationally once a month for the last 8 years and I have learnt that the best to deal with this is to keep your answers short and direct. I hope it works out for you next time.
There in fact is a way to complain about this to DHS at https://www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip
This site expressly solicits complaints about misapprorpriate behavior by CBP officers.
Don’t know what will happen in your case, but we in fact have successfully used it in correcting technical errors by CBP officers, such as admitting people to the wrong date. I encourage you to try it.
Thanks.
There are zero complications from the German side and no permission needed. You apply for another citizenship and get to keep your German one, simple as that (since last year). Go get that US citizenship and tell the officer what you really think.
Thanks. We will check it out.
This attitude goes way back many years, not just recently. I had an officer making demeaning comments like “can you speak English?” And I responded “probably better than you given the job we are doing”. We just stared at each other which felt like an eternity until I said give me my passport back. Then my lawyer friend told me I should not have done that. Ooops.
It certianly goes back many years and LAX is notoriously bad.
Maybe he was expecting some bucks in the passports? You can’t address their inadequate * shortcomings *. Nothing is safe anymore.
As you said, these folks act this way because they are aware of their inferiority in all other situations except at that single moment, so they can’t help but hold it over you. Then they have to go back to the rest of their miserable lives.
These clowns have been emboldened and empowered. Hopefully the “I was just doing my job” statement comes back to haunt them. Karma.
Exactly. And anyone who doesn’t vote, or votes for any politician that enables it are culpable as well
My biggest issue is declaring alcohol. I’m always over the limit, usually by a few bottles. But they always ask “do you have something to declare?” and I always response with “yes, I’m over the limit on alcohol by X bottles” (usually 2-4 tops) and they always look at me like I’m some brown nose teacher’s pet. Of course the one time I don’t declare I’m sure I’d get a random search and fined. So I’ll continue to declare…but they all suck.
You did the right thing. My wife also has a green card because she doesn’t want to give up her South Korean citizenship. We all have Global entry, and this hasn’t happened to us before but I am bracing for the day these border troglodytes rear their ugly heads. Lots of good, honest people at CBP but all it takes is the odd menace out on a power trip.
Power trip? I’ve seen power trip and that was not power trip. Good luck when you run into someone on a power trip. ♂️
@Jamie L … +1 . Yep .
Truth
Does South Korea not allow dual citizenship? There seem to be quite a lot of Korean American citizens in New York.
Not as many as there was in December!
I suspect he has already reaped it–hence the attitude. Unfortunately, just knowing that he must have a miserable life is small consolation in the moment. But it’s a good warning for travelers that this can happen and to be prepared for it. The current political situation around immigration in particular may be leading some to believe they have more leverage to treat “others” poorly and without consequence.
With all the travel you and your family do, I thought you would all have GE. It’s the first thing I did was apply for my daughter and son’s GE when we got her/his passport. My wife has her GE as a British citizen and green card holder.
Maybe when the kids get older, but I don’t have time now to coordinate that for my wife and kids.
It would be easiest to get the online forms filled out, then do an Interview on Arrival for the kids. Simple.
There is no coordinating. Fill out forms, do interview on arrival. Free for kids since you have it
I laughed out loud when the officer asked “What’s that?” after you said “Lörrach”!
I am not sure when you took this trip, but as of June 27 2024 Germany no longer requires a permit aka “Beibehaltungsgenehmigung” to obtain another citizenship by naturalization. I would advise Heidi to obtain US citizenship ASAP to get the process going, if she wishes to.
Any reason why your wife and kids don’t have Global Entry? As a green card holder it’s something she could get. At least in the GE lane these type of interactions are less frequent.
This incident just happened recently. I do need to get Global Entry. I figured it was not worthwhile for the 2-3 trips my wife and kids make each year, but maybe it is…
Wait, you don’t have Global Entry? I’m stunned. It is one of the best things the CBP has ever done. I had all my family sign up. I mean, what if you arrive just after a bunch of A380s landed and disgorged their passengers? At IAD you could be in line for a very long time. Anyway, maybe it sounded worse than it reads, but to me he just seems a little chatty. And could he be a little older and have a hard time hearing you over the noise? For some reason I get quizzed about my destination and why I am going and for how long all the time in the EU. Maybe because of all the stamps in my passport. And it is not always nicely said. I just smile and roll with it.
Incidentally, my experience with educated slobs is no better.
I certainly have Global Entry. I don’t have it for my wife and kids.
Just did it for our baby at LAX (CBP center near airport, not interview on arrival) a few weeks ago. Super quick and easy. It is worth it.
It’s worth it even for 1 international trip a year, especially since it’s free. As a parent, you’re well aware that lines and children are a recipe for disaster, so anything you can do to bypass a queue is a godsend. Also with LAX as your home base, it should be easy to knock out an interview for them.
Me: Lörrach.
Officer: What’s that?
Me: Lörrach, a city near the Swiss and French border.
For sure I would’ve replied, the southwest corner of the country
Certain cities I avoid on re-entering the US… Lax is one of them.
I should have replied, “A city, but that’s not important now.”
You might have apologized and smiled in a friendly manner .
his questions aren’t important, it’s your answers – their consistency, your demeanor, etc – that are importantly. It’s designed to be provocative.
also, he has hassled you, not your family. and one interaction that rubbed you the wrong way doesn’t prove that “for far too long, far too many of CBP agents have been demeaning and now seem more emboldened than ever to be jerks.” I find the majority to be fine. So if you find that to be true you might be the common denominator.
Thumbs for Airplane! reference.
You might also want to avoid SFO and ORD…
Why SFO? I find that the most functional of all US airports.
They’re overall decent at ORD too.
A few thoughts….
1. Why not share the name of the agent?
2. I understand that you were just expressing your thoughts, not anything you would actually say, but…the “you will be respectful, boy” comment – even as a thought – certain has an odd racial tone to it. And so does your use of “thug.” Was he really a thug (nearly always used in criminal context when used properly, though often used as a subtle racial comment)?
None of your rage was misplaced. I’m not sure I could have controlled myself. I’m also not implying that you are intentionally making any kind of racial comment, you didn’t even describe the race of the guy (appropriately so). That said, if he was Black, you might want to think about the choice of words that rush to your head and try to force a minor alteration.
Not black.
Matthew if this is the most disrespectful you have ever been treated by an officer, consider yourself blessed. As a college-educated Black civil engineer who has traveled the world, I can give you FAR WORSE stories of things I have had to deal with at the hands of officers. But my mom taught me as a Christian to be mild mannered while standing up from my rights. Kind of like the Christ did. That has kept me out of many bad situations. Sorry you had to go through this… But welcome to our (Black) world.
@David … +1 . Bless you .
I’m baffled WTH they even ask you where you’ve been. What’s the point? You’re a US citizen, you’re returning home.
When I’m clearing Schengen immigration with an EU passport, the most anyone has ever said to me was ‘Welcome back.’ (I mostly use e-gates nowadays.)
This is a great reason why the US desperately needs to do something like e-gates which so many other countries have. (In fact, some of those other countries even allow Americans to use e-gates – perhaps it’s time for those countries to start asking for reciprocity?)
Agreed. We need e-gates to avoid these cro-magnons.
“Cro-magnons” never “Glared” . That “Glare” was a big “No-No” when you are requesting the agent’s assistance .
I don’t need his assistance to re-enter my country.
Correction : you need his “inspection” , which is required by law .
It seems the guy did not understand you because there was a lot of background noise and wanted you to speak more loudly than you were. I think you are really overreacting here and it was a good thing that you just let the comment go without responding. Calling the guy a “thug” is really over the top.
He was a condescending jerk and thug is very appropriate.
It was a bit condescending but the “thug” comment is ridiculous and over the top. There was no threat of physical violence.
@John … +1 . Yep .
There is always a threat of violence from CBP at airports of entry. Thus the guns and LEO uniforms instead of being unarmed and in normal business casual attire.
A mature person sucks up the condescension and then whines about it to his internet friends.
You couldn’t figure out that being asked where you were meant an actual location, but call him condescending?
100% your problem and no doubt you compensating for something.
When one is usually feeling superior to others; and/or expecting trouble from an authority figure just because one is required to be inspected (or because it would make clickable content for a travel blog) or judging an unknown person by one’s past experiences; or when someone is answering a question from a law-enforcement officer vaguely; or when someone is giving off a sense of self entitlement; or responding in a condescending manner; or just acting like a bougie twit while thinking things like “I noticed green card holders are no longer allowed to go through the same line as citizens,” or “uneducated, slob, thug, troglodyte, jack-boots,” etc.,.etc…while interacting with a duly sworn law enforcement officer that gets a bunch of grief from the people that they are trying to protect several times a day, there is usually going to be some friction.
Your premise is wrong from the first sentence, bootlicker.
If the jackboot fits,
Aggravating for me (perm resident, GB pspt) was arriving in TPA last August and being separated from my US pspt holding family. TPA airport queue monitors (not CBP officers) wouldn’t let me join their line, even though I’d done the customs form online myself as head of household, and my 4yo daughter was wearing a sunflower lanyard.
Arriving into the UK a couple of weeks before, we were all politely escorted to the empty line for crew/additional needs.
Green card holders have already jumped through the multiple hoops and paid a lot for the privilege. We’re not the red flags.
Officer: Where in Germany?
Me: The southwest corner of the county.
Officer: The southwest corner of the country is not a place. I asked where you where.
Me: Lörrach.
Really? Couldn’t you have just told him Lorrach, Germany when he first asked where you had been? You’re a world traveler. This isn’t the first time and won’t be the last time you’re asked a specific question about where you had been. If you’re going to grow your site, 99% of which I enjoy reading, keep crap like this out. I’m sure you have a lot more helpful information you can post. I’m sorry your feelings were hurt.
Sorry, but I disagree. What in, “Where in Germany?” implies he was asking for a city rather than a region? I’m not a mind-reader and Lörrach is not the easiest word to say for this native English speaker.
People regularly describe where they are based on geography. South of France. Northern Thailand. East Coast of Australia. Southern Spain. Atlantic Canada. Not odd at all, especially when describing a place that isn’t well known.
Yep … Hawaii is in the “Northeastern Pacific Ocean” area .
You get my point. You’re just being a contrarian.
The increase in authority has been apparent on each of my four returns to the U.S. this year, some more than others, They are clearly feeling like they have a chance to bully people and they know that there will be no immediate accountability for being unprofessional. History has shown it never lasts, and a day will come when they want sympathy.
I’m a fifth+generation American born citizen. I was an international flight attendant for over 20 years and made many pleasure trips as wall. The number of times I’ve been treated, or witnessed others being treated like animals by rude, uncouth, ignorant wanna be somethings is astounding. I doubt that 10% of them have never traveled outside U.S.A to experience other cultures. After what I’ve witnessed, I would never come to the U.S. as a foreigner unless absolutely necessary. These beast have absolutely no respect for anyone and hey’re an embarrassment to our country.
Most families and businesses adopt the “personality” and behavior patterns of the Alpha member, be it mother or father or boss or CEO or Chairman of the Board. This repulsive, belittling, incredibly rude, demeaning, emboldened, uneducated slob, thug, imbecile was merely mimicking the behavior of his “boss” Trump for whom each of those descriptors is infinitely more accurate. (Coincidently of course those descriptors are also completely accurate for Matthew’s 2 favorite readers, DoucheBag Dave Edwards and Chithead Chi Hsuan.) (Turkish proverb: “When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.”)
OTOH Matthew, you could consider his behavior to be karma and/or payback. You allow your “Comments” section to be a free-for-all forum of repulsive, belittling, incredibly rude, demeaning, emboldened, uneducated, thug-like, imbecilic comments, he was simply paying it forward. Obviously he doesn’t support “heavy handed” moderation which although undesirable in some ways is more importantly highly effective. Maybe he’s one of your most frequent readers.
Its hypocritical to be critical and unaccepting of his behavior while encouraging identical behavior elsewhere. You reap what you sow.
I don’t see the analogy between my comments and this border thug.
@Matthew … Calling him a “thug” is ridiculous .
However , you write that you “just Glared at him” . If you “Glared” , that was needlessly confrontational , no ?
I glared at him after he was rude and held my tongue.
@Matthew … A “smile” is far more Effective than a “glare” .
A “glare” is always counter-productive” , and is confrontational .
Blaming the target of abuse for the abusive behavior of an unprofessional thug is unbecoming of a person with good morality and something government thugs do.
That hurts.
I suppose the CBP guy was looking at your PNR and could see BSL/MLH. If you had answered “SW Germany near France and Switzerland” all in one breath, maybe that would’ve diffused him.
Agreed! The man has a job to do. Hey Matthew, maybe it was your attitude that sucked since it was a very long flight and it sucked being in that long queue with the rest of us poor people. How about some inner reflection? Silly to devote an entire article cuz you got your feelings hurt.
No, this guy was an absolute jerk and rude from the moment he barked out where we had been. No courtesy, no customer service from these thugs.
@Matthew … Easy does it . I am addressed like that frequently because I am 80% deaf in my good ear and 100% deaf in my bad ear . Even I show them my deaf card , people impatiently speak louder and more confusingly .
I always Smile and show my deaf card again , everything becomes OK.
I Never “Glare” ! When you wrote that you “just Glared at him” , that was very New Yorkish or confrontational .
I can’t believe how soft and butt-hurt so many are here based on the comments. I enjoy Matthew’s articles but the comments are absolute garbage. Best thing you can do Matthew is not allow commenting, most of which are from the torches and pitchfork crowd. Pathetic.
What’s more pathetic, being butt-hurt about your own interactions with the federal police force or being butt-hurt about comments on a website that you have nothing to do with?
Matt: As others said, have your wife get Global Entry via Germany’s EasyPASS program, and for kids under 18 there is no charge for Global Entry if you have it, although they have to do the interview with the parent.
Even better, get Canada Nexus which costs half and includes US Global Entry. Then you will never have to talk to these people again in the US or Canada.
I badly wish it wasn’t true but this is just an ancillary effect of the government pushing people to hate on foreigners and anything not seeming sufficiently American (WASP and native born). Tired, poor, huddled masses need not apply.
I know you desperately need this to be true, but CBP at airports were jerks under Obama and Biden, too. And they’re jerks to everyone, not just foreigners.
Everything in the world isn’t based on politics. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Sounds like you desperately need this not to be the case. I wish it wasn’t the situation but when people at the top spew hate the people below that would have held their tongue before feel empowered to follow suit. I’d give a lot to be wrong but I’m not on this one.
The kids are now free. Get global entry. Interview on arrival. Does not take that much time.
Sad that you need to pay (even if a credit card covers the cost) to separate yourself from the madness. But if you can do so, do so.
I see them speak rudely to people all the time. Even those doing nothing wrong in the GE line. What is the cause of this? It went on before 47 came back in. Most people don’t talk to others that way, but as a subset of the population, CBP officers are terrible.
I will admit airports are worse. I cross by land from Mexico fairly regularly, and they’re often friendly down there. Neutral at worst, but always professional.
You complain about how you were asked to speak louder. What are you doing in return?
“Repulsive CBP officer” “thugs” “imbeciles”
Great job on being a passive aggressive keyboard warrior.
Your wife being a foreign citizen who is seeking admission to USA, you guys have to be careful or will result in 10 hr secondary inspection and loss of GE.
Which is exactly why I held my tongue.
the cbp agents are not customer care service agents. their job is to inspect ,interrogate, question, refuse entry or allow entry.
Their job is to keep our borders safe. Being a jerk does not further that goal.
I’ve been to many countries where border agents are firm and procedural, but also fair and cordial in their mannerisms. No reason why we shouldn’t expect the same of our own CBP.
Honestly Matt you cry like a bitch anymore.
Imagine how the Jews felt when they had to deal with your wife’s people.
I know this is clickbait for cash but damn, stop crying.
@Dave, your comment is a textbook example of false equivalence.
Correct, unlike 6+ million Jews, you lived.
America is ruled by the 4th incarnation of the KKK, and you support it with the TrumpKKKublican regime you love.
KKK was a democrat party concept. Hitler was a democrat. CBP is staffed by DEI hires since 1965.
Bullsh*t, bullsh*t, and third times the charm, bullsh*t.
STFU Aaron
Ladies first.
People are happy with the way Trump is ruling, only the open border libtards are crying about sanity returning to the government.
Only 40-45% of them, that is.
Nice to see we can always count on bootlickers to defend this wholly unnecessary and confrontational conduct.
@Matthew … Friendly , non-confrontational people who do not “glare” , are never a problem to anyone . They are Not “bootlickers” .
People who “glare” appear to have a “chip on their shoulder” .
And you try to tell us you are a “conservative” when you use terms like bootlicker.
At this point you are probably headed to NYC to campaign for Zohran.
While bitching about the huge continuation of your tax rate.
Zohran the Destroyer of billionaires & other big donors buying elections and politicians? Not all bad, but he can’t fix the DHS/CBP monstrosity. Can’t wait to see DHS disbanded into its pre-9/11 components and size and “the job” of CBP at airports turned over to be fully automated.
He’s far better than the POS whose alter your worship at.
What are people defending you? Your article was wholly unnecessarily full of confrontational conduct.
How can someone belittle YOU? How dare then they get a glare ….
Yes, the system is broken but write about real abuse and victims. You sound like a grumpy angry old men.
I’ve been called worse. 😉
How do you get emojis to post?
My thoughts exactly.
It’s pathetic to see so many openly support shitty government service. And it’s a service you pay for as a tax paying citizen.
I wish we could banish the thugs like you had to somewhere unpleasant.
So a Caucasian BSP called you “ Boy” while on Duty? I’d report him for his callous degrading remarks. I’d write to the BSP Boss as well and let him/her know about the stellar service you received. Many people should never be in positions of authority or working with the Public. Hopefully Life catches up with this individual.
Exactly!
I’m sure Ha Nguyen McNeill is awaiting his call.
“Hello, I’m an important blogger and made $1932 off of my story but I was mistreated by your staff, can you ask United to give me 10,000 miles?”
You really are the most tiresome boor, Dave. Surely you can find something better to do with your time?
Unfortunately I’m white so I can’t spend my time with your wife. So I guess you are stuck with me here.
I’d make a formal complaint about this, just to make his life a tiny bit more miserable than it obviously is already.
The reason people act like assholes is because the rest of us keep letting them get away with it.
Cuck says what?
Another crying b&tch. Aaron will give you something to cry about as he rips your a$$ open.
The obsession is real.
Come now Dave, we both know Aaron is a power bottom and likes to get his own A$$ ripped open. He is certainly not what they call a “top”
Someone else whose mind I seem to live rent free inside of!
Both of them almost certainly have sad, meaningless lives. They’re best ignored, unless you’re in it for the sport. I spent 30 years working in London and NY financial circles with the most obnoxious, arrogant, abrasive assholes you could ever imagine, so I find their juvenile retorts amateurish and, frankly, more than a little pathetic.
Got GE for my wife and two kids almost 10 years ago and that was the best decision I made in terms of travel. They now have GE and TSA Pre and since they are now old enough to travel by themselves it makes their lives so much easier. Also, the behavior you experienced is not new and not related to a specific administration. You have no idea the things I heard back in the day when I needed a visa to come to the US. US Embassies, Consulates and CPB were never polite or nice with anyone I know. They used to deny visas in Brazil for absolutely no reason. Sometimes they would look at you without saying a single word just stamp a DENIED on your process. The questions I was asked when coining to the US were mind blowing and as you did, I would swallow and just let them play their game. They are in charge and you have everything to lose. I think it really depends on their mood that day. I have been lucky that I have not had interactions with anyone since GE. I usually just give them the piece of paper and move on. I do not want to interact with them.
@Santastico … CBP , embassy , and consulate staff have always been polite and nice with me , so now you know someone you know .
As in Brasil , if you smile and dance a samba , happiness happens .
On the streets of New York , if one glares at a gang of toughs , one is looking for trouble .
@Alert: you never had to go to a US Consulate to apply for a US visa. That was and still is an absolute nightmare. The application process is long and getting an appointment can take months and when you go there for an interview they will not be friendly to you. I have done that many times before I moved here and it was always a very stressful process. My mom has a lady that helps take care of her and for many years she traveled with my mom to the US to visit us. She always had her visa renewed with no issues. It comes 2022 and it was time for her to renew it again. My parents took her to the US Consulate in Sao Paulo and the agent didn’t ask a single question. He took her paperwork, read for about 10 seconds and stamped a DENIED on it. My parents tried to ask why he was denying her visa and he told them to leave. They tried several times again and she was always denied. Why? No explanation. At least have the courtesy to explain why someone that had several visas issued before with no problems suddenly became ineligible to visit the US. As for CBP, the worst I ever faced were in Canada. Absolutely disgraceful. But I had many bad experiences coming into the US, both with visas and green card. Sometimes the questions are so vague and make absolutely no sense that you don’t really know how to answer them..
You clearly don’t understand the process for the questions asked and why. The officer was conducting an interview, deciding how to process you based on your responses. Very simply you took it personal, felt rejected and needed to grieve. Put on your big boy pants and welcome home.
Problem was his tone and attitude…not the question.
How about YOUR responding “tone and attitude”?
The expectation is that the officer will act in a courteous and professional manner. The individual described by Matthew was neither courteous nor professional.
@Tim … +1 . ‘Purpose of the interview’ , was required inspection .
This is the exact problem with America today.
Arrogance and indecency is rewarded, while courtesy is frowned upon. Definitely far from the country that welcomed my family in the 1990s.
Don’t disagree.
In that case, even your behavior is emblematic of this. You can do better.
Exactly; and it’s doubtful that we’re getting the entire whole truth / story and nothing but the truth. He’s expecting privilege and respect when the purpose of the interview is to see if this guy and his family is to be allowed into our country – perhaps not. Instead of traveling 200K miles a year, how about some reality time on-the-ground in the USA?
Hello Matt. A few observations to this apparently already long comments thread: First, isn’t Green Card and Permanent Resident the same thing? GC is slang for an official term.
Secondly, with my (future) manager hat on, I believe in being polite, or even “gray rock” with such jerks and then QUIETLY going over their head. You should have noted the guy’s credentials, time of entry, and so on and then looked up avenues to report him. You still should. Bottom line is that when someone has power over you, and is abusing it, they will win because there’s no witnesses and can make stuff up. As you know when calling customer service and get someone who refuses or won’t help, say “Thank you so much, good day!” and hang up, wait 10 minutes, and call again and hope you get someone else.
Next, I have a funny story to tell you. Will keep short, but the USA’s reluctance to understand the nuances of the Germany language umlaut got a former boss of mine out of a potential prison sentence for 20 years. He was illegally selling securities that wound up in a ponzi scheme and they arrested him a decade later and he argued he didn’t have a speedy trial. They argued he was evading arrest when an Interpol warrant was out on him. His name had an umlaut in it but the Interpol warrant didn’t. Case dismissed!!!
Finally, I wonder if he was playing a game to see if he could get a rise out of people to then go on a fishing trip. People are often tried from travel, as you say, and they engage in these “chats” because they’re curious to see if someone snaps and maybe they can search phones. I think it’s BS profiling because bad guys typically are going to have their story straight and not fall for such provocations so instead they get tired travelers.
In other words, it wasn’t just rudeness or abuse on his part that’s the problem, but rather poor training or improper repeat of behavior thinking “this is how it’s done.”
I filed a complaint about two years ago over a similar instance when agents/officers started yelling me because I put my backpack bag on the floor and moved a couple things around to make the weight more balanced. They were threatening me with arrest for opening my bag in a secured area. I ended up getting a written apology from the station chief at DTW.
Unlike the rest, I am not inclined you to give you a “participation trophy” for your glare, Matthew.
You embarrassed yourself in front of your family. Your wife is absolutely thinking to herself: “when push comes to shove, he is soft and won’t protect me or the children.”
And that, is tragic.
Lol. My wife 100% supported my pragmatic approach.
Glaring cannot be “pragmatic” , because it is “counter-productive” and ridiculous .
What is he expected to do ? Say “OOOOO , a Glare” ?
Best for the pax simply to apo9logize to CBP .
Best for you to shut it down after 20 of the same comments. It must be bonus week at the troll farm.
Be a jerk back to the person. That’s what some snowflake who couldn’t control themselves would do. Then when you get the SSSS on every boarding pass for the next decade you can console yourself that you didn’t let that guy push you around for a few seconds that one time several years ago.
Alas, such incidents are common, and at least in my experience, have been common for years. Like Matthew, I am a U.S. citizen married to a non-citizen. Also like Matthew, I know — and the uniformed thugs know — that if I don’t take it on the chin, it’s not me but my wife who stands to lose. So I take my lumps in silence.
We live outside the U.S., and it is experiences like this that cause us to avoid the U.S. whenever possible. There is an world of fascinating places to explore where we aren’t treated like that.
Maybe the choice of words wasn’t exactly stellar, but the CBP officer’s message was clear. Speak up and behave accordingly. They could care less which city/town/village/shack/hole in the wall you came from. They are asking you to see if YOU know where you were. What if they ask the kids/wife separately?
Don’t berate someone for doing their job. They’re not your friends. They don’t answer to you. They owe you nothing. And while you owe them nothing, you do need to answer to them. And your wife… she owes them answers to all the questions they want to ask her.
My wife is in a similar predicament. But, the very next day after her green card arrived, she had already put in her GE application. 1 month later interview at airport enrollment center, 2 weeks later GE card and approval in the mail. We have at least 4-5 CCs that give GE reimbursement.
Will this make your life easier with CBP? Yes, unless you’re asked to see one. I’ve had GE since 2012, wife’s had it since 2016. Every once in a while we encounter a CBP officer with a slight hormonal imbalance, but it’s easy going.
And they’re not thugs. You are. Why? Because you are an entitled spoiled bitch with a platform!
Sadly it really depends on the individual CBP agent you get. Last August, I crossed into Canada by car to connect upstate New York to Michigan (much faster than driving around Lake Erie). The Canadian officer was friendly and efficient. Crossing at Port Huron was a rude, unpleasant shock. The US agent was clearly unhappy in his job and life, being both hostile and condescending, challenging why we’d cross into a foreign country to reach Michigan. I explained it made the trip five hours shorter and noted that all the cars in the queue had Michigan or Minnesota plates, so clearly it was a popular short-cut. He sneered that it wasn’t clear to him. I wanted to say (but didn’t) that only a moron wouldn’t see the logic but refrained.
In another episode several years ago, I spent four hours in secondary inspection at IAD coming in from London… and I was in federal law enforcement with a different agency than CBP. Apparently, there was some type of inter-agency problem and I bore the results that day. My agency demanded and received an apology from CBP, but what a bunch of jerks!
When our son was 4 yo, we had a troubling incident with an agent at SJU. Our son has a German middle name (my mother’s maiden name). The agent badgered my son to spell it out loud, which upset my son who repeatedly looked at us for help. The agent barked at him to not look at us,
The momma bear came out in me a bit and the agent backed off after I spelled his middle name and asked why it was a requirement for entry. This all was completely unnecessary as we all share the same last name, there was no indication of child trafficking, just an agent on a power trip. After that, I started traveling with his birth certificate in addition to our passports.
Count me in as surprised your family doesn’t have GE. We got it as soon as the program started. The “interview” consisted of a fingerprint scan and we were sent on our way in less than 5 minutes.
Sorry that happened to you, and really shameful behaviour.
Re German dual citizenship: that is finally possible now without the Beibehaltungsgenehmigung, since they changed the law last year. Just as Heidi I was holding off, but finally in the process of getting my Aussie citizenship now after 15 years Down Under.
Matthew you’re far too sensitive. Instead of getting pissy and angry about it you had the perfect opportunity to turn this on him with a cutting remark like “Well partner, I guess I just assumed that a customs officer would know a little more about geography” or “This is my normal voice son, maybe you need a hearing aid?” Nothing directly confrontational you see, and you have to deliver it with a patronizing grin.
In my last ten years of traveling the world I have never had any issue with the CBP officers. They usually do exactly what I want, which is to wave me through without any questions.
@Chi … +1 . I also never had a problem with CBP , and my deafness and other disabilities create big difficulties and confusions .
One also might Apologize to CBP for mutual mis-understanding , ( and Not “Glare” at CBP ) .
“Brittle” like peanut brittle is easily broken ; But “Flexible” like taffy goes with the flow .
Jerks. Why can’t they be polite like in Vietnam and China?
I’ve been to China seven times, and on each occasion I’ve been greeted by a calm, polite immigration officer who said “你好”, stamped my passport, and then granted me entry into the People’s Republic. My one entry to Viet Nam was exactly the same, except for the 你好.
You should 100% get global entry for your wife and kids. I got it for my entire family, and it took only about 15 minutes at the office for the interview, I believe kids are now free as well, so you only need to pay for your wife (which can probably be covered by a credit card).
Indeed. Anything to reduce interactions with shitty people is worth every penny.
I agree with you that it’s not worth arguing with idiots like that, but I also agree with previous comments saying that you should file a formal complaint about the interaction.
It’s quite unfortunate, and perhaps even somewhat amusing, that passport officers in authoritarian states like the PRC, Vietnam, or KSA seem to be a lot less likely than their counterparts in certain Western democracies to behave in a rude or condescending manner to passengers travelling to/through their respective countries.
The only time I was grilled at length was also at LAX but it was 1994…waaay before the current political situation. While distressing, a good learning experience for a young adult exhausted from an economy flight from Narita-be polite, answer the questions (and only the questions) asked and try to avoid LAX immigration at all costs-something I successfully did for 26 years.
I’d like to believe we all have good days and bad days; some of our personal biases might come out unintentionally, especially when under duress. As most grandmothers would remind us, however, you catch more flies (although who really wants flies?) with honey so I truly try to view those working jobs I know I wouldn’t want to work with grace.
What political situation? You mean a president finally enforcing the border like they all are supposed to?
Why even have border patrol if we let in millions of illegals?
We also have way too much legal immigration.
These are the types of people I will not shed a tear for when their jobs are taken over by a robot. Let’s hope the robots are programmed to be cordial.
Seems like a lot of dumb people are allowed to become law enforcement. Put an idiot in a position of authority and it WILL be abused.
I understand how upsetting it is to be berated by an officer at the border. It happened to me upon coming back from a two-week trip abroad and being asked how long I had been away -I said about two weeks and he barked “how long exactly.” They hate any kind of evasion, or what they perceive as evasion. That said they’re people, just like you and me, it’s a stressful job and not that interesting. Give him a break and take it easy, there are worse things in life than a snarky comment.
Well well Leopards Eating Faces comes to mind. This is what the Republicans have always wanted.
Really, you’re a seasoned traveler, yes? You started the problem, not CBP. You know the drill. You thought you were being cute. You do understand the entire conversation they engage you in is meant to assess the veracity of your statements as well as to observe your micro expressions, voice patterns, etc. You knew he was asking you for a city, not a compass heading. But your little stunt didn’t work and he called you out on it. You embarrassed yourself. And that’s why you’re angry.
95% of LAX CBP in the FIS area is actually quite good – but there is always one or two asshats who reckons they are on a power trip
No they are rarely “good” most suffer known as small tool syndrome and tend to harass anyone they seem to question them,
Rudeness seems to be given a green light for acceptable behavior as evidenced by the current Administration in Washington, D.C. it’s sad and it’s unacceptable. You did the correct thing, Matthew, by not saying a word. The best reply to an ignorant slob such as you encountered is …. SILENCE.
The problem with America of today (regardless of political persuasion) is that rudeness, incivility, ignorance, arrogance, and violence are the key traits of the country. All the above are rewarded, while civility, kindness, and competence are thought to be a sign of weakness. Your experience with CBP is the latest sign of it.
No wonder we can’t get things done in America. I fear for our future.
Some people are truly a***holes… Many of those a**holes are commentators on your blog.
Maybe to add a bit of colour here. I arrived in LAX a few yrs ago for a business trip. About 3 or 4 people in front of me. Every single one took a long time to process and I heard loud voices from them, and from the officer. Told myself to be prepared for the usual US CBP experience. My turn came and the officer asked me the usual questions. To which I replied with simple and short answers. After 3 or 4 Q&A’s the officer looked at me and smiled. Then said’ you know what? you are the first normal person here this morning who simply answers my questions’. So I got curious and asked him what happened with the 3 in front of me. He said ‘most people here go out of their way to not simply answer my questions. Either they are evasive, or they reply with a long story that does not answer my questions’.
I am sorry that you had experienced what many US Citizens and travellers have gone through for decades. You are 110% correct on many of the agents being uneducated. As a retired airline employee I have seen many come and go in my 30+ years at L AX. Some dumber than a rock most of them male. I would suggest submitting a complaint if there was another adminstration running things but at the moment a letter of complaint would probably get your wife deported. In the interium , hang in there you are certainly not alone.
Welcome to my world. This shit used to only happen to middle eastern or brown ppl. Now they are assholes to everyone.
As a foreigner, when visiting the USA I expect my CBP agents to be brusque and as unemotional as possible. There is a level of professional detachment and authority that needs to go with the job. That’s the same at all border crossings – Airport, physical border etc. It’s not a problem – I don’t roll up to the border to have a social chat, I’ve come to enter the country.
I do not expect them to be condescending and rude. I really think you need to make a formal complaint.
You lost me when you called the Officer “uneducated.” You don’t have a clue what his level of education is and that ad hominin attack smacks of arrogance on your part, as if someone less educated than you (presumably are) is not worthy of interacting with you.
God you are such a whiner.
And you are such a narrow minded bloke that thinks rudeness is patriotic.
“God you are such a whiner.”
I shall take this opportunity to educate you, and others here, on some basic intellectual awareness.
This is a blog that focuses on leisure and elite travel, particularly in the air. Without “whining”, how would standards be maintained? We mock Carols but, yet, when their heart is in the right place they are the fundamental pillars of civilization. The Squeaky Wheel keeps the world greased.
In addition to that, whining is a far superior behavior to the alternative which is, well, violence. Low Trust societies routinely engage in violence or passive-aggressive behavior. It’s the wonderful thing about travel to experience high trust societies where anti-social behavior is kept in check by strong social mores and “stares”. We love individualism in the west but at the same time, we pay thousands to sit in comfy-chairs on planes to escape the miscreants produced by it.
Or… you can always have fascism where whining ist verboten. China is quite civilized but you literally can’t complain.
Finally, if you find whining so unpleasant, nobody is forcing you to read Matt’s blog. It’s amazing that there are trillions of web pages you can read instead of this one. Give it a try sometime.
Snowflakery. It’s a tough life, get used to it. And don’t forget to smile throughout.
Shame on you for excusing bad behavior as a “big boy world”. It’s fine to be firm in enforcing rules while also being professional and courteous. Those things go hand in hand. Your attitude is everything wrong with this country today.
I just flew into and out of Berlin over the 10 days, just got home yesterday.
Each time, I got peppered with questions, both entering and leaving Germany, and entering the US.
How long was I visiting where was I staying, name of hotel, what did I plan to see, how many days, etc, etc??
Could it be that I looked like a solo traveler? Once I pointed out that I was traveling with a friend, the questions immediately stopped and they waived my friend thru without a thought.
In the past, Immigration would just grunt and stamp the passport.
I got the feeling that they were looking for someone, something, or some pattern.
At the BER airport, the Federal Police were questioning several men just past the baggage carrousel.
On the way out of Germany, I left my backpack with my friend to use the facility.
While away, the police came and asked my friend why he had two back packs in the waiting area.
it’s all sleepy joe biden’s fault. What a mess he left!
Yup … was barked at (ORD) for toes over the line in approaching the guy checking Global Entry receipts in the old system. I tell myself they are sad people who have had to take a miserable job and that works for me.
On the other hand, most of the time they are polite – one (DFW) even said welcome home. That was nice (and unusual).
Quite a lot of people with the redneck mentality in these comments. Those that believe chest pumping machismo and arrogance is the brand of patriotism. We can be firm in enforcing laws while also being courteous and professional. The problem, however, is the decline in moral compass in many Americans that excuse poor behavior in the name of sticking it to the other side.
For us, it was always Newark, we just do not return to the USA through Newark anymore. Biggest jerks on the planet.
It’s ridiculous the number of times I’ve been scolded by a CBP officer while earnestly trying to answer their questions in full. My partner is a foreigner and gets it so much worse. I’d venture to say that at least 25% of CBP officer are complete scum. An even higher percentage at IAH.
Hi Matthew, Please help your whole family applied for U.S. Global Entry.
My whole family has NEXUS card (a Canada-US joint program similar to US Global Entry) and it is one of the best “investment” we ever made. We can speed through Canada and US international border Entry, with no human interaction.
While not all U.S. point of entry has NEXUS lane and we still have to deal with border officers some of the time. However, officers tend to behave less hostile after we presented our NEXUS card.
In the words of the great bard William Shakespeare “Much ado about nothing.” I’m in the airline business and travel quite a bit too. I don’t travel in a uniform. I turn on my “Dale Carnegie Training”, smile and say hello if the situation warrants it. If the agent acts like an “****ole, I just shut up and press on. When one is playing in “their ball park, with their bat & ball, shrug it off. We all interpret things differently. “Where in Germany?”, to me anyway, would suggest a city. “Where in the United States?” would suggest a city, too. If there are numerous cities with the same name, if the agent asked, “Which state?”, I’d then tell him.
Sorry Matt you asked for it! Not long ago when overnighting @ ZRH on my way back to The US @ IMM she asked why me why I came to Switzerland and I answered her Honestly but sort of snidely, ” To sleep”, yep got in @ 9:50pm with a 10 am connecting flight, she said anything else I said “take a nice hot shower’. Neither of those answers won me an award, she asked again and I said Im overnighting and have a 10am flight out in the morning, she asked for my BP but I wasnt given one at my departing airport and was told to get in when I check in in the morning
She asked why didnt they give me my BP for the ZRH-NY flight, I said I have no idea you can call Swiss and ask and Id like to know that myself. She then stamped ny PP and said next time dont be such a wise guy. Same by You Matt, you should have said the name of the City even if the guy Never would know where it was saying SW corner is no different then what I did and dont complain when IMM doesnt appreciate such answers. Both your answer and mine were 100% truthful but to the IMM folks thats not the case
Big whoop.
Boo hoo.
I hold a Singaporean passport, and have had Global Entry for > 10 years (TTP).
I have to deal with the same shit sometimes (EWR & LAX CBP officers are the best).
The most recent was in YVR on my way to LAX .. I was brought into the dreaded “interview room” coz the machine couldn’t read my fingerprints.
Suck it up or get Heidi to give up the great Deutsche Motherland passport.
Yeah, let them win. They need to win once in a while. That was always my mindset when someone is trying to look bigger than who they are. Just a cute little thug trying to look important.
While I certainly don’t know what was inside the particular CBP agent’s head at that time, I suspect it was more likely an intentionally adversarial approach to test your response rather than a particular agent on a power trip or being a thug, as you say. Now, we can reasonably debate whether this approach is effective in identifying threats or appropriate for interviewing returning citizens but I believe there is at least some logic behind it.
They’re taking a page out of the ICE agent’s handbook..
. Although I haven’t had any problems lately being a dual naturalized US citizen, Canada -US, I certainly get nervous going back and forth from Canada and from my Mexican vacation spot, quite often.
These agents have become horrific. I was returning through Dublin preclearance (as a Global Entry US citizen) a few weeks ago. The agent makes me wait (power trip) and then says “anything to declare?). I am holding some food from an airport restaurant in a bag and say “no”. She responds “you’re lying” and points at the food.
I apologize and say I didn’t intend to bring the airport food into the US but rather eat it on the plane. She proceeds to give me a lecture about how I’m “conspiring to evade US customs” and then threatens to revoke my Global Entry. All the while I was apologizing and making it clear I was happy to throw the food away if necessary.
They are awful!
Re: “I don’t see the analogy between my comments and this border thug.” Geez Matthew, even your usually high intelligence and reading comprehension has started to fail, most likely from your choosing to read and condone and allow to stand the crap from Douchebag Dave Edwards and Chithead Chi Hsuan and a few other idiots who just like a bad apple, spoil the entire blog and comments section.
I didn’t write an analogy including your “comments”, the analogy (and karma) I wrote about is between “your “Comments” section” and the CBP idiot. His behavior is identical to the idiots’ comments here yet you embrace their comments, often replying perfectly appropriately to their nasty racist crap, in effect “feeding the trolls”, while at the same time chastising the CPB idiot.
Can’t have it both ways, either that sort of behavior is acceptable to you or it’s not. Hypocritical to find it acceptable here on your blog comments and unacceptable elsewhere.
(And please don’t write that as a CBP government employee his behavior should be more appropriate. That ship sailed along with the 77 million uneducated racist morons who voted in 2024 for compulsive serial liar, flip-flopping, pathologic toxic narcissist, probably schizophrenic or psychopathic, arrogant, sanctimonious, psychological projecting, multiply convicted felon, multiply guilty of fraud, serial sexual abuser, completely corrupt, grifter, unintelligent, stupid, racist, conspiracy theory embracing, authoritarian, fascist, nasty, bully with 50 years multiply documented proofs for each of those allegations, without an ounce of integrity or honesty or a single redeeming quality Trump. Unfortunately those of us who don’t agree have to put up with their stupidity which only took a few short months for “buyer’s remorse” to set in.)
Suck it up, appears that a “compulsive serial liar, flip-flopping, pathologic toxic narcissist, probably schizophrenic or psychopathic, arrogant, sanctimonious, psychological projecting, multiply convicted felon, multiply guilty of fraud, serial sexual abuser, completely corrupt, grifter, unintelligent, stupid, racist, conspiracy theory embracing, …” your partisan words, has performed far superior to what came before. As many have said, we didn’t need legislation, all we needed was a new President.
Ferret out the important points which all signal closer examination, testing, and deeper dive interview:
(a) My children and I are citizens [is that the full story?] (b) … but wife is not …wisely not going to give up her German passport [“wisely,” attitude and loyalty to another country] (c) he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries [Thank God the boarder examines this guy more closely]; (d) he could not understand a front-rounded vowel like ö [baiting him, and highlighting your allegiance to Germany through language].
I could go on, but the slander that followed shows who this guy really is. Suggestion – spend a year touring America, then maybe you’ll leave and not need to come back in and insult our hard working federal law enforcement workforce.
Wow! One comment by. CBP officer and Clint descends into perpetual whiny little bitch mode?
Next time let your wife handle CBP. Obviously she’s the one with the brains.
It’s Klint with a K…
We know you are a big Israel supporter.
What do you think Palestinians in the West Bank have to deal with. Israeli army not being nice to Palestinians and supporting the settlers!
While you can’t even deal with being talked down to for a little bit
You are a snowflake!
It’s Bigot Jane! Welome back.
You refuse over and over to condemn what Israel does in the West Bank.
You seem to be just like Trump.
If you have issues how the Palestinians are treated by Isreal you call them a bigot and try to get them kicked out of the country.
No, actaully, every time you bloviate about what you think I believe, I clearly write that I condemn any Israeli expansion in the West Bank.
Go back and look…
Have never seen that but good to hear.
Oh Dear! Someone is “not being nice to Palestinians.” As if someone/anyone should be. Rise up and destroy your “leadership,” then the world will embrace you as fellow civilized humans.
This happened to me once at ORD. I was waiting for my bag reading a book when one of the CBP agents with a dog bumped into me. It was by accident. We had our backs to each other at the time. She started screaming at me that I was interfering with her work and impeding CBP activities and would have me arrested. After she bumped into me. Luckily for me, I knew CBP pretty well at the time because I worked with them closely and was also carrying my credentials because I was on official travel. I quickly went into DHS speak and told her we were going to go have a chat with her supervisor. I could cite the policy that made her actions unlawful. I’ve never seen someone change her demeanor so quickly. Your situation just confirms what I thought at the time: there are bad seeds in the agency and it’s not right that I got something done because of my connections at that time. No one should be treated like that and everyone should be entitled to the same redress.
I usually agree with Matthew. But what a petulant, whiny bitch. You want to be treated like an American, then give up your German citizenship. And don’t be a smartass.
The last time I left FRA, the German border people were way worse. And yes you have to go through immigration to LEAVE Germany, which is idiotic. As a fluent German speaker with a US. Passport, they were way worse than CBP. So stop being an anti -American crybaby.