Thread: US-Canada border issues

Originally Posted by Brexx

Obviously he would have been much better off to just answer the questions calmly and keep his attitude to himself.

That is not a certainty.

Originally Posted by Andrewl

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The reality is that people in authority are often very liable to snap at any perceived threat to their authority.

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We have all heard that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I like the saying petty powers corrupt petty people.

These petty people should never be put in any position of power and authority overt others. There are available some very good psychological profile testing methods that can and should be used to weed out these sorts of people. These tests should be routinely applied at entry to these sorts of positions and at various times throughout there tenure in the positions.

The guy reacted badly to the border guards questioning but you expect that some members of the public ( on both sides of the boarder) will simply be assholes and that any one trained and experienced in dealing with the public will realize that and not escalate the situation needlessly.

However had I been the guy crossing the border, I’d simply comply with the guards demands and then after I was out of his power and range of his authority I ‘d be complaining loud and long and in a formal manner, about his conduct.


On the other hand being a border crossing guy is not a job I’d want to have. He has to let through people that have a right to pass the border without hassling them but stop everyone who should not cross, sometimes at a personal risk. Even if someone has all their papers in order and they are allowed but commit some crime once across, the border guy will take at least some heat for allowing the person to pass.

Originally Posted by Ernie S.

Border agents are trained to ask questions designed to look for certain responses. If the interviewee is evasive or belligerent or even too well prepared, he will get closer scrutiny. An example of this is at airport security when they ask if anyone has put anything into your luggage without your knowledge. The question is a way to judge stress and evasiveness. The correct answer is a puzzled look or "How would I know?". "Yes", "No" or evasiveness will earn closer scrutiny.
The border agent sensed hostility and evasiveness and continued the interview. The man's reactions warranted a continued questioning.
Yes, the first agent helped escalate the situation, but he was doing his job.

And no. He is not entitled to know why he is being asked certain questions. It's the process.

Repeating the officer's question is not being evasive or hostile, it is actually trying to summize what the officer was asking before he answers the question. However, when questions about which stores, where, and what location/address is beyond reasonable in any given interview for immigration, not to mention any other investigation with one or two exceptions.

My experience tells me that many people are in law enforcement that have no business being there. I always thought we should draft law enforcement, like we used to draft the military. With a few lifers for obvious reasons. Why?

Because coming from family that has a few cops in it, (now retired) I met quite a few that were in this profession for personal, egocentric reasons. They "got off" on the authority over other people, and this showed in their bedside manner, or car side manner. These guys always had an attitude with the folks they stopped. And should never have been cops.

But, after listening to the audio tape again, the Canadian had an attitude problem as well. He should have learned, to keep his mouth shut, except when trying to answer the officer's questions. He did not help his situation at all. I find that saying yes sir, no sir, and cooperating to my fullest ability helps you get back on your way. To argue, is really stupid. To smart off is as well. Loose lips never help.

I don't get why not knowing which exact store one is going to in a mall would be any sort of red flag though. I think the officer got pissed off, and used his authority to show this guy who was the boss. The egocentic variable. Blue Doggy