Simm100

I was stopped and extensively questioned upon entering the U.S. from Canada via land border. I am an American citizen who was taking a roadtrip to Canada with my own car from California. Why did it happen?

The queue of cars at the port of entry was rather short and most of the other cars were Canadian.

The primary officer referred me for secondary inspection without giving me any reason. The secondary was empty so I walked straight to the CBP greeting them with warm "Hello". They needed to express their superiority by yelling at me that "we haven't called you yet!". Bossy indeed!

Then I was asked bunch of question about my trip to Canada. They took my car keys and went to search my car while I was waiting inside the room. It took them good 20-30 minutes. No idea what took them so long. (A conspiracy theory, could they plant a devide in my car? )

After they returned they stamped my passport and the exit card form and I was on my way out. I asked but they gave me no reason for the extensive search, only "We just wanted to enjoy your company".

Funny thing is there was nobody else but me at the time. Why did they pick me? Why did they choose to harass their own citizen?

Will this happen again when I cross the border? Am I flagged in a computer somewhere?

I was not expecting they'd lay out a red carpet for me but a nice words like "Hello and welcome home" would make my day better. This experience left a bitter taste.

Is this typical? Anyone with similar experience?

lansbury

I can't imaging how, but perhaps you pissed them off and they were having a bit of fun in a quiet period.

Rete

Yes, at the US/CND crossing at Calais from NB to Maine. Hubby is both a Canadian and a USC. I'm a USC only. Tiny little crossing. Made us pull over. Went through the car and our luggage and let us back into our own country 30 minutes later.

lizzyq

Because they can.

Not done a land crossing into the USA, but lots of airport entries all over the world. Most times it goes really easily, sometimes you end up sat in a hot little office for ages while you have absolutely no idea why you were pulled over.

GeoffM

Probably just random, or officer saw or smelt something amiss (even if it wasn't). It happens. Don't sweat about it.

We have had secondary once from Mexico to US but that was our own fault and we knew we'd be going there before we even got to the front of the line. The officers were very pleasant, if a little slow, Issue dealt with and we were on our way.

celticgrid

Maybe I'm having a bad day, but I am confused...

What "exit card form"?

And what/why did they stamp your passport?

sherbert

I have a US citizen friend who was born in an African county. My friend travels to Canada a lot as she has family there. Pretty much every time she comes back in she is pulled into secondary. The last time they asked her 'why did you take two suitcases for such a short trip?' !!!!

scrubbedexpat091

Could have just been a random search, the officer could have suspected something by the way you were acting or answering questions, they were bored, your car matched a car they were looking for and the list goes on and on.

I am USC and PR in Canada and the crossings I use in BC the US officers are typically down to earth, and friendly, never been sent to secondary going into the US however. Canada officers are 50/50 the older ones are usually pretty friendly, the younger ones tend not to be, been called into secondary a few times coming back into Canada mostly so I can pay taxes on goods bought in the US, they only searched the car once, but we didn't get sent to a room, just sat in chairs in the lobby.

Simm100

"Exit card form" is a yellow paper you get to go to secondary inspection. When you are done that paper is signed and stamped and you have to give to a guy at the exit booth just before you drive out of the inspection area.

As to why did they stamp my passport I have no clue.

Simm100

... pulled into secondary in Canada or US ?

Former Lancastrian

Its obvious to me. The CBP officers could not see or read the stamp on your forehead that says Im a terrorist, drug smuggler, weapons smuggler, child pornography on my laptop/phone, currency over $10,000 USD or the I am doing something that is prohibited.

Im guessing you are just a normal white looking person and the officer just by looking at you can tell you aren't one of the type of persons described as above.

Are you anything like this typical American couple?

An American couple has been charged after 24 undeclared firearms were seized at a border crossing in Alberta earlier this month.
Christopher Douglas Gies, 41, and Caroline Elizabeth Gies, 42, were on route to Alaska on April 9 when they were stopped at around 7 p.m. at the Coutts border station in Southern Alberta. The pair were driving separate SUVs and towing trailers when a search revealed the undeclared weapons, the Canada Border Services Agency said.

American couple charged after 24 undeclared guns seized at Alberta border | National Post

​​​​​​​Unfortunately the article doesn't mention what stamps if any they had on their forehead.

NYer

I kept getting dragged off the line at Heathrow and treated like a terrorist. It took me awhile to figure out it was my dark prescription eyeglasses (Raybans!) I'm a petite white woman weighing about 95 pounds. You just never know.

sherbert

In the US, on her way back in.

lansbury

When I worked at Heathrow we made a point of stopping random people who would not fit any profile. 1) because you do just never know, 2) because the people we were trying to catch were watching us to see if we had a pattern of the people we stopped, and 3) because most terrorists are very smart people who are very professional at what they do and what they do the least is what you expect them to do.

durham_lad