I witnessed a detention by Immigration officials

[CC27]

mnhtnbb (32,938 posts)

I witnessed a detention by Immigration officials

Coming home yesterday through Customs & Immigration at Raleigh/Durham International Airport in North Carolina.

I was on a plane from London. There was a Lufthansa plane from Frankfort which arrived ahead of us. By the time I reached the line for US Citizens and Permanent Residents, there were about 40 people in line ahead of me, some from my plane and most, I think from the Lufthansa flight. It was moving slowly because only one of two Immigration agents was processing people at a normal pace. (There were two other agents available to process people in the line for non US Passport visitors, which was about the same length.) The other agent seemed to be asking extensive questions of the sole woman at his desk. From a distance, she might have been Indian? Middle Eastern? The Research Triangle is home to a sizable Indian population and it is a hub for IT related employment as well as biochemical research related industry. Two orange vested agents walked up to the desk and required her to go with them. There was not an altercation-- no raised voices--but her body language suggested she didn't want to go with them. One agent on each side of her took her by the arm and led her to the elevator. No phones (cameras) are allowed to be used in the area. Signs saying such are posted.
Nobody around me in my line said anything, including me.
I have not heard stories of detentions happening locally. RDU is not a major international hub, and it's one reason I decided to pay the higher price for a direct flight, rather than go by connecting through Philadelphia or Dulles, JFK, or Boston. Not only did I want to avoid the possibility of delayed or cancelled connecting flights, I was concerned about going through Immigration at those larger entry points.

In the 40 years I have been traveling internationally, I have never witnessed someone led away by two Immigration officials. I have seen Customs officials ask people to open their suitcases, after clearing Immigration, but nothing like what I saw yesterday. It was all done very quietly and frankly, may not have been noticed by many of us waiting our turn in line.

ICE arrests and deportations increase in North Carolina | Charlotte Observer https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article312515332.html


https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220745425

Liar

[67 Rover]

All that when a simple "Thank you to ICE!" would have sufficed .

[SVPete]

IRL, Customs probably found a discrepancy between what she declared and what she was carrying and they took her for further questioning to see if she was a smuggler, a mule, or just forgetful/careless.

If I brought produce from the US, e.g. an apple or orange, into Name of Country I would receive the same treatment. My apple/orange/etc. would be confiscated and I might receive a fine to "help" my memory for future visits.

True Bouncy ... on one of her later flights into China, the flight attendant handing out customs declaration forms apologized to my daughter because she didn't have any more English-language forms. She offered to help and was pleasantly surprised to learn that my daughter is fluent in spoken and written Mandarin.

[DLR Pyro]

The other agent seemed to be asking extensive questions of the sole woman at his desk. From a distance, she might have been Indian? Middle Eastern? The Research Triangle is home to a sizable Indian population and it is a hub for IT related employment as well as biochemical research related industry. Two orange vested agents walked up to the desk and required her to go with them. There was not an altercation-- no raised voices--but her body language suggested she didn't want to go with them. One agent on each side of her took her by the arm and led her to the elevator. No phones (cameras) are allowed to be used in the area.

I know this must be as shock to you after the autopen years but this is what immigration law enforcement looks like.

get used to it

[ADsOutburst]

This person didn’t notice officials doing wrong, and they’re surprised no one in line said anything?

[DUmpDiver]

Irish_Dem (76,615 posts)
1. People should not go quietly. Once they are kidnapped anything can happen.
Reply to mnhtnbb (Original post)
Fri Oct 24, 2025, 06:21 AM
Rape, torture, death.

Like they tell women do not get in that car when a man is abducting you.
You will likely be killed.
Fight like hell.

Start a physical confrontation with immigration officials in an airport. Brilliant advice.

[SVPete]

Start a physical confrontation with immigration officials in an airport. Brilliant advice.

  [Sarcasm] The advice is sheer genius! [/Sarcasm]

[Airwolf]

I never had any trouble coming back from overseas while in the military even when I had three replica pistols in my duffle bag stashed at the very bottom. I told the agent what I had and that I had no clear access to them. Otherwise, I had nothing else to declare if at all and that was it. On my way no problem.

[67 Rover]

Reply to mnhtnbb (Original post)
Fri Oct 24, 2025, 06:21 AM
Rape, torture, death.

Like they tell women do not get in that car when a man is abducting you.
You will likely be killed.
Fight like hell.

Wait a minute.  I was told you should pee on yourself.