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Surely there are exceptions, but from my experience, albeit somewhat limited, US Customs Agents are obnoxious. Coming back home and going through US Customs is the low point of the trip because of the agents' foul attitudes and behavior toward both US citizens and foreign travelers. If it was just me I'd think that maybe I was doing something to irritate them but it seems to be everybody. Usually they are the first face-to-face experience foreign travelers have upon entering the US and it is often unnecessarily rude and stressful.
Reminds me of an old joke, not that your situation was funny or to make light of ir, I find it pretty appalling.
customs agent: Do you have any drugs or guns?
traveler: Sure, buddy, whaddya need?
I wouldn't do this - seriously - do not do this
I knew a guy who played basketball overseas in Italy and they would frequently go into Switzerland to buy some things at a lower cost
This was prior to Schengen for that area so they would go through the customs routine
Being young and otherwise dumb one of them decided to spice it up and responded upon being asked if he had anything to declare stated "yes, I declare war on the Swiss" - get it, because they are neutral mostly and not perceived to be a nation that looks towards war
I knew a guy who played basketball overseas in Italy and they would frequently go into Switzerland to buy some things at a lower cost
This was prior to Schengen for that area so they would go through the customs routine
Being young and otherwise dumb one of them decided to spice it up and responded upon being asked if he had anything to declare stated "yes, I declare war on the Swiss" - get it, because they are neutral mostly and not perceived to be a nation that looks towards war
Yeah - they didn't find the humor in it either
What did they do?
Threaten to blow up some of their own bridges and tunnels?
I can breeze through customs anywhere...my husband not so much. He travels all over the world on business, and they don't like the countries he has visited. He always gets the weird questions and suspicion.
I am torn, because it may have been him doing his job or him being a jerk. Just brush it off.
Incidents like this are why Global Entry and Nexus are such popular programs. Outside of your acceptance interviews, the only talking to Immigration you do is typing into the computer kiosk, while all of the other passengers are waiting in line for their verbal harassment.
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer was out of line and if you do desire, you can report him, or any other CBP misconduct to their Office of Internal Affairs (202) 344-1800.
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