US citizen and his wife detained without explanation after returning from Canada

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't say anything against the current administration or Israel and you should have nothing to worry about.

I will not stop criticizing this administrations. I know my rights.

This

Learn your rights at a border crossing then so you don't look stupid when you are stopped. They are not the same rights you have IN the USA.

[Anonymous]

I think this guy who was stopped voted for Trump.

So, he wanted this.

[Anonymous]

Ever watch the show To Catch a Smuggler? This isn't new.

[Anonymous]

People need to remember that CBP has more rights to your devices than traditional law enforcement.

CBP can force you to unlock your phone so they can look through it. The courts have ruled that US citizens cannot be compelled to provide their passcodes or unlock their devices for traditional law enforcement officers.

If you are an American citizen and you refuse to unlock your device at the border, CBP can confiscate it. That's within their legal purview. They will they take the device and break into it using software. I know this because the company I work for makes and sells the software and CBP is one of our customers. CBP does not need a warrant to access or confiscate your devices. They don't even need reasonable suspicion.

If you must travel outside of the US for work or leisure, I would strongly advise you to buy a secondary phone on eBay and leave your daily use phone at home. I never travel outside of the US with my personal, daily use cell. I have an older model iPhone with my most needed contacts in it along with Signal and a few other needed apps. I set up my usernames in those apps as John Smith Travel with a travel email such as [e-mail]. That way my daily use data doesn't transfer to the travel phone. I've also found that it helps to "tag" your laptop with a barcode sticker and Property of Company label. I've not had my laptop searched since doing that. But again, if asked, you must unlock the laptop and let them look through it and if you don't, they will confiscate it. I have a bare minimum laptop I use when traveling outside of the US. It's 100% work materials only and no personal materials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't say anything against the current administration or Israel and you should have nothing to worry about.

I will not stop criticizing this administrations. I know my rights.

This

Learn your rights at a border crossing then so you don't look stupid when you are stopped. They are not the same rights you have IN the USA.

It is interesting how republicans only consider human rights applying to US citizens on US soil. That runs counter to the Declaration of Independence and the constitution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

It was about an hour, they did ask for phone and passwords. Wasn’t handcuffed, but I didn’t act like an ass. I guarantee this guy did.

What kind of questions did they ask you, out of curiosity? Did they explain why they picked you? Did they hold you in a cell? Just want to be prepared since I travel overseas several times a year…

How long we were in Canada, what was the purpose of the trip, did we buy or sell anything, etc. They said it was a random flag. Not a cell, but was in a building.

I drove back from Canada this past weekend and they asked me those questions from my car window, and it took less than 3 minutes. They ask everyone those questions at the border. What else did they ask you in your hour-long stop?

Before that your license plate has been read and your ID entered in to the system. Most likely you have been run through facial recognition software. They track everything.

Now that DEI is gone they can just profile based on race and political sympathies or country with vague ties. Like if a US citizen can trace your family to Lebanon. The Israelis are occupying Lebanon.

[Anonymous]

I worked on Border policy for years.

Keep in mind that no matter who you are, when you are at a border you are between countries and have no rights. They can detain and question you for as long as they care to. Act accordingly. Don't make jokes. Don't get mouthy.

[Anonymous]

It's NOT protocol to handcuff someone and place them in a cell!!!

The protocol for secondary inspection is to have the person, free from physical restraints, wait in a communal waiting room (with chairs and bathroom access) and call them for questioning. Because of habitual staff shortages, the wait can be several hours long. But again, people are in a waiting area with others, are free to talk between themselves, stretch their legs, pee, etc. No shackles or handcuffs! Then the majority are free to enter the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this guy who was stopped voted for Trump.

So, he wanted this.

Good for him lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't say anything against the current administration or Israel and you should have nothing to worry about.

SERIOUSLY??? This is such a crazy response. So much for democracy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

Did they handcuff you and put you in a cell? How long did they stop you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have canceled all international travel plans right now. It just doesn't seem to be safe to deal with border patrol or reentry right now. Yes, we are American citizens.

And now the guy is in Lebanon. Of course he will have difficulty getting back to US. Not smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's an even worse "American citizen getting jailed by ICE story" - maybe we need a separate thread for these as they're becoming more common.

A 19-year-old American citizen, Jose Hermosillo, who was lost in Tucson, and walking near Border Patrol HQ, was arrested for illegally entering the country because he had no identification on him.

They claimed they arrested him in Nogales, near the border, but he says he's never been to Nogales. He spent 10 days locked up before he could get before a judge and convince him he was an American citizen.

His girlfriend’s aunt Grace Layva says she and her family made numerous calls looking for him before they found out he was being detained in the Florence Correctional Center, which Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses to detain people.

Another family member drove to the detention center, about 70 miles northwest of Tucson, but said officials wouldn’t provide any information or release him.

ICE did not respond to a request for comment about the wrongful detention.

The family later provided officials with his birth certificate and social security card.

“He did say he was a U.S. citizen, but they didn't believe him,” Layva said. “I think they would have kept him. I think they would have if they would have not got that information yesterday in the court and gave that to ICE and the Border Patrol. He probably would have been deported already to Mexico.”

A magistrate judge in Tucson dismissed his case on Thursday, and family says he was released much later that night.

https://news.azpm.org/p/news-articles/2025/4/18/224512-us-citizen-in-arizona-detained-by-immigration-officials-for-10-days/

Seems that this guy is either stupid or wanted to be the focus of a story to claim victimhood......

NEW: Here is a copy of the sworn statement signed by Jose Hermosillo. During questioning, which was done in Spanish, Hermosillo stated he:

-Was born in Mexico
-Was not a U.S. citizen
-Crossed the border illegally via the desert
-Wanted work
-Was in the U.S. illegally

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

When you had your secondary inspection, were you detained for several hours? Were you handcuffed and led to a cell? Were your belongings confiscated? Did the officers ask for your smart phone and password?

Any why do they need access to your phone? To do that they need a search warrant....or are there no more rules in the US to follow since Dumpy took office?
It was about an hour, they did ask for phone and passwords. Wasn’t handcuffed, but I didn’t act like an ass. I guarantee this guy did.

What kind of questions did they ask you, out of curiosity? Did they explain why they picked you? Did they hold you in a cell? Just want to be prepared since I travel overseas several times a year…

Any why do they need access to your phone? To do that they need a search warrant....or are there no more rules in the US to follow since Dumpy took office?

Border Patrol does not need a warrant. As stated this was 2014, before Trump

They can seize your phone and keep it for 5 days. They can't force you to give up a password.

Let them have it for 5 days, go get another one, reimagine your new phone from the old and have the old phone wiped clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the article

The traveler’s accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized,” CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. “CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.”

It’s a random stop. I’m as white as can be and had the secondary inspection flagged a few years ago. It’s like the random TSA flag. Not everything is drama.

Were you also cuffed and thrown into a cell? Along with your wife and kids?