Septuagenarian Canadian snowbirds can't evade vigilant U.S. border cops

[question everything]

startribune.com

Septuagenarian Canadian snowbirds can't evade vigilant U.S. border cops
Doug Grow, Star Tribune
December 17, 2005

Those leaky national borders so many people fret about?

Not, apparently, a Minnesota problem -- at least in International Falls, where agents of the United States Customs and Border Protection are cracking down on people who might seem like innocents to the untrained among us.

Take the case of Canadians Bob and Diana Hawley. On Nov. 2, they approached the border as they have for the past 20 years. The Kenora, Ontario, couple was headed to what they consider their winter home, an $850-a-month condo in Panama City, Fla.

(snip)

The Hawleys were -- gasp! -- attempting to transport a small yellow box of tools across the border. Agents spotted the toolbox and told the couple they were not welcome to enter the United States. "They said we must be going to Florida to do work," Diana Hawley said. "We tried to tell them that we always carry the toolbox in the car. If there's a breakdown, we might need it. And once we get to Panama City we might want to hang a picture or change a light bulb."

For the first hour of the interrogation, the Hawleys kept thinking this was just a misunderstanding. They have a hard time seeing how they can be confused with construction workers. He's 71, she's 70. He wears a knee brace and doesn't get around so easily. By the second hour, they knew it was serious... Then U.S. officials shipped the Hawleys back to Canada. When they stopped at the customs office on the Canadian side of the border, Diana Hawley got emotional. "The girl at Canadian customs said, 'Why were you refused?' I just started to cry." The Canadian customs official was stunned. A little yellow toolbox?

(snip)

On Tuesday, the Hawleys received a letter from Mary Delaquis, a Border Protection supervisor. "... You had been and intended to perform service in the U.S., therefore, you were not eligible to be admitted," she wrote. "The officers were correct."

(snip)

Doug Grow • [e-mail]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/465/5787725.html

[marmar]

1. Next they'll build a wall and shoot people who try to leave...

Welcome to the American Democratic Republic (A.D.R.) Hoenecker and Stalin would be so proud.

:(

[NanceGreggs]

2. I never thought I'd live to say this ...

... but I'm an American citizen, living in Canada -- and for the past five years, I have felt like I've gone back in time and am living in the United States, AS IT USED TO BE.

I guess the story you've related here is what this Admin is referring to when they say 'the country is so much safer now'.

Safe from seventy-year-old Canadians who apparently were trying to take away American jobs. If only they'd faked a Mexican accent; then they would have been welcomed.

[GoneOffShore]

3. Sounds like a case of

overzealous border patrol.

Or the type that used to be known in the UK as a 'jobsworth' as in "Iss more an my jobsworf t'let yuh do dthat."

Usually some minor functionary, wearing a uniform and hat.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Christ on a cracker!

Unfrickenbelievable.

[Cleita]

5. This gets sillier as we go on.

When my husband and I toured around the country in our trailer we met many Canadian Snowbirds and not a one of them was a terrorist. Trust me.

We need some common sense people to run these agencies not the incompetent and stupid Bushbots.

[DELUSIONAL]

6. This is just SICK

Money that would be coming INTO the US is being blocked at the border by ass holes.

[scarletlib]

9. I'm sure brother Jeb and all the right wing wacko republicans that

currently run Florida will be thrilled by this. Florida needs its seasonal residents--they are a big part of the economy down here. Also Disney World and all the other resorts in this state need foreign visitors. God knows the residents can hardly afford to go to Disney World.

[PDJane]

7. this isn't the first horror story.

Friends of mine went on a Hawiian cruise, a trip they'd been looking forward to for some time.

When they arrived, their passport was collected, and wasn't given back to them until they were on their way home. American passports were given back; those of foreign nationals weren't.

That's a good reason NOT to go back, and they won't do so.

As these horror stories are publicized, you will find tourism diminishing.

[glarius]

8. Have you heard about the fence or wall the USA wants to build across

the continent between the two countries?....I heard it mentioned a couple of times on Canadian TV today....Apparently the Canadian government has declined participating in the project...Don't know if the USA will build it by themselves or not....It's really getting ridiculous!

[PDJane]

10. If they do build it...........

And it looks as though they are planning to, I suggest that not only do we not participate, but that we make doubly sure it's built on American territory.......and that the Great Lakes are well protected.

That water is remaining glacier melt from the ice age, and it cannot be replaced.