INCIDENT: I Am A Threat (My personal experience with U.S. Border Patrol.)

This is not an isolated case. Life as we have known it will cease to exist unless we all pour our efforts into this next election. Those who are “not interested” in politics will wish to God they had put efforts into this. The truly evil ones are less than 10% and follow satan. Those who have an entitlement mindset are about 35% (but they are also devoid of passion and essentially lazy). Our country was founded by 20% of the colony population. Which percentage will you be?

I am a threat. This is not about any loss of freedom you are about to experience but is about the lack of freedoms you currently have. The following account just happened to me, personally, as I recently crossed the border from Canada to the US. Many of you do not know me, but I am one of the founders of Conservative Daily. As a founder, I set out to create an environment where we could fight for freedom, fight for better moral and ethical direction, but even more importantly fight to hold those in positions of trust and power accountable. Every day, we research, draft and develop new ways to fight against the bureaucratic nightmare that we face as a nation, and to reveal the shame many that we call leaders have brought to our great nation.

I went to Canada to attend the Malibu Young Life Camp, a camp that is the definition of God’s paradise. The camp sits on the Princess Louisa Inlet, and has some 5500 visiting campers a year. It is a Christian camp that seeks to give teenagers a week of fun, faith, and fellowship. A week, that as I discovered, brings people back some fifty years later. We were there to help get the camp back in order for the forthcoming summer season, which as it turns out, led me to 6 days of very hard labor laying about 30 tons of slate for a pathway to one of the newly donated buildings. I would complain, but the truth is, no matter how sore my knees are (or the rest of my body for that matter), the friendship and fellowship we experienced this week made it all worth it.

We headed back to the US through the CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) station at Aldergrove. I was traveling with my in-laws, as this was my first time at Malibu “volunteering”. Now, I am a regular traveler with a passport that reads of trips to Africa and the Middle East. I have worked on several projects in pretty controversial areas, and with sometimes very controversial people. I do so, to seek understanding, and to seek peace. My motivations are never about money and do not put me in any situations where I could or would compromise the US or our standings on foreign policy or domestic policy regardless of how right or wrong I may see the current direction.

A couple of years back, I made it onto a list. I have no idea how I made it to that list, or what prompted their adding me to the list, but nonetheless, I get “special” treatment, every time I re-enter the US. The agents are always courteous and respectful, and they are always just as stunned as to why I would make it on anyone’s list. Normally, I answer their questions and after about an hour, I am free to go.

This time, though… this time it was very different. This time, they searched the car we were riding in three times. They interrogated me four times. They took my wallet, and made copies (in plain sight) of every credit card in my wallet. They took my computer, and made copies of the contents of my entire hard drive, including intimate letters between me and my wife, emails, pictures, and other writings and documents. They went through my cell phone, and disappeared into a “lab” in the back after asking me if it was password protected. They gawked over the three of us (my in-laws as well) as they all poured into the “lab”. Several of them pointed at us over and over again as other agents (12 or so in total) came in to watch as they interrogate their suspect.

Suspect of what? Maybe they discovered that I in fact did some charitable work in Malibu. Or maybe they discovered that every year, my wife and I donate a wedding on the 4th of July to an active military couple as a symbol of our gratitude toward all the men and women who serve our great country. Maybe they discovered that I am a father of two honor students, or that I am the volunteer (unpaid) Executive Director for a Non-Profit that the IRS has taken two years to neither approve or deny. Maybe they discovered that I am a founder of Conservative Daily, and that I stand for our rights under the Constitution. Maybe they do not like the many times I spoke (albeit respectfully and honorably) about the loss of those rights and the lack of accountability of the “middle management” of our government. Not just our federal government but our state and local municipalities as well. Maybe someone on the other end of the state department has deemed me a threat, because I stand for you, as you stand for your neighbor. Maybe they just figured out that Americans are waking up from a deep slumber of complacency and inaction.

Any way you interpret what they did to me, they personally violated my rights as an American, and they did so with reckless impunity. As I watched my mother in law become increasingly concerned as they searched the car a second time, and then a third. They watched as they took me into a room and after three hours attempted to sneak my computer bag back into the car. My computer does track transfer or copying of files, and they could have been smart enough to realize that most people want to know when people are looking at their private information.

Over the years, I viewed the questions and answers that I have endured when re-entering the US as a minor inconvenience. I had not been concerned and I certainly have not let them control my emotions. I have learned to carefully space my final flight home in the US long enough to accommodate this inconvenience. They were not going to get me angry or upset, for a certainly have nothing to hide.

Now, I see it quite differently. I see what they did as an escalation of things to come. A new barometer of what they see as acceptable. Violating our Constitutional rights is the new norm. The law states that you have no recourse, as they can decide whether you have a right to sue. Then when you do sue, you have to prove damages. After wading through the legal implications and bills associated with holding them accountable, the reality is you may not be able to sustain the fatigue of the fight. Neither can most of us afford it.

This brings up a whole new dynamic concerning your rights as an American. You have freedoms, until someone violates those freedoms, and then you are supposed to have options. What options do you really have? They will issue a memo denying wrongdoing, and you will cry foul. They will call you a delusional person with a victim complex, and you will fight, until you realize that fighting alone… is lonely. It is tiring, and it is depressing. Then they will say that when you were 21 you got arrested in a bar for fighting, or you got three speeding tickets, so obviously you’re a demon, who is trying to act innocent. Then they will say, you have been divorced, so you have to be bad. Or that you once went fishing without a license so we know what type of guy you are… Then the white noise of what really happened will be overshadowed by warts you really do not have, and what will be left, is you, holding the bag, wondering if the fight was ever worth it. By the way, I was not arrested for fighting in a bar or fishing without a license, although the other two things are accurate.

This is a story, I wish everyone would read. This is not a story of the IRS forcing me to close my business because of ridicule and persecution, but that could happen now. This is not a case of Obamacare destroying my ability to make a living, but this does happen. This is not even a case of injustice because I was beaten by authority. This is a case of social injustice, an invasion of privacy and a theft of information. This is the essence of our loss of freedoms as Americans.

When does it stop? And where does the rabbit trail lead? The definition of what happened to me, just yesterday is what each of you should be afraid of. I am not going to ask you to fax congress, or write a letter on my behalf. I am sharing this with all of you. 1.6 million people across the US who get our message so that you can understand the big problems are daunting but the ones you do not see, those are the ones that you should be afraid of, because those are the ones that take your freedoms long before big new laws have a chance to.

In the next two months we will be launching a campaign across the US with coalitions and partnerships with organizations that stand for those freedoms. We are going to ask people to stand at intersections, at grocery stores, and in public places telling about stories that have little meaning individually but collectively paint a picture of our country that we all need to see. Obama is a bad president, but our government is so big, and out of control, that if we do not stop it, and replenish and replace our leaders, we will face a certain future that is devastating and tragic.

“ere at the Southern border there is a Welcome mat.”

See Post 25.

It was NOT the Border Patrol.

No welcome mat on the SW border by the Border Patrol.

The BP Agents risk a lot in the desert chasing dangerous animals crossing the border into the US. They don't run and they don't avoid engaging criminals and illegal aliens.

I've posted before that my son is a Border Patrol Agent, been injured taking down illegals and in a shoot. Nothing like getting a call from your son saying he's been injured (or in a shoot, for that matter). The stress from knowing Wash DC “leadership” doesn't have their back and kowtows to Mexico is enough to give you ulcers.

So, it is not right to unfairly malign the Border Patrol. They deserve our support not contempt.

I should stop crying? Your number just pops up?

I respect your opinion. I can see how you would see me as whining. I mean I am telling you about being detained. Did you miss the part about taking my credit cards out of my wallet and photo copying them? Or maybe the part about copying my hard drive and phone? Maybe you missed the part about three hours, sitting while I watched as others were racially profiled. (I was the only Caucasian in that three hours who was detained)

TSA is a part of Department of Homeland Security, otherwise known as DHS, which is further the organization that runs the CBP, or Customs and Border Control.

While I pointed out specifically that I make the proper arrangements to accommodate the special treatment, and I understand the reasoning for it; violating my rights, as an American, is where you should have a problem. If you understand anything about history, this should draw strong parallels to Nazi Germany and their justification for detainment of almost 16 million people, of which nearly 80% of them were killed or put in concentration camps.

The field goal posts of acceptability are continually being moved and the result is daunting. We are losing our freedoms and we are subject to unconstitutional actions, regardless of the justification, there is no justification.

Until people like you stop using selective trust for our government, we will continue to lose more ground in our rights as Americans. Example: You cannot say, I trust the government at the border and not at the airport. They are the same organization and serve with the same (look it up) mandate and set of rules.

I am one of the founders of Conservative Daily (www.conservative-daily.com) (I hope free republic is okay with this plug as they did reprint our article. If not forgive me) and I made a decision to invest in a place where we can responsibly dialog and tell the story of what is happening in America. Like Free Republic (who I will be reaching out to) we stand for you, even if you do not see that standing is necessary.

Hulka,

It is you that is wrong. CBP is who works the Point of Entry. I could be wrong but the uniforms said Customs & Border Patrol, the hats said CBP. Maybe this was an attempt by them to confuse me or to give props to their friends over at the CBP. But that would be a conspiracy wouldn’t it friend?

there is a quote by Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”

The fact that you or anyone else would judge me or justify the behavior of these people just shows me that one, you are not a good man, or two, you have chosen as a good man (or woman) to do nothing. Which is it?

Please re-read my original post and you will see I NEVER justified the incident—I merely made an effort to ensure the right agency was the target of your post.

“CBP” hats = “Customs and Border PROTECTION,” not Border Patrol.

A search of the DHS website reveals an organizational chart. Download it (pdf). It clearly shows it is “Customs and Border PROTECTION (http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/dhs-orgchart.pdf).

On that org chart, bottom left, CBP is spelled out.

On this same org chart you will see a box labeled “Office of Field Operations.” This is organization within the blue uniformed Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBPO) reside.

Office of Field Operations: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/about/organization/assist_comm_off/field_operations.xml;
“OFO is the largest component in CBP and is responsible for securing the U.S. border AT POINTS OF ENTRY while expediting lawful trade and travel.”

Please note the BLUE uniform of the OFO Acting Assistant Commissioner: http://206.241.31.129/ImageCache/cgov/content/about/organization/assistant_5fcommissioners_5foffices/hires/mcaleenan_5fhires_2ejpg/v1/mcaleenan_5fhires.jpg

Contrast CBP OFO with the Border Patrol, (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/border_patrol/border_patrol_ohs/overview.xml): “The primary mission of the Border Patrol is to protect our Nation by reducing the likelihood that dangerous people and capabilities enter the United States BETWEEN THE POINTS OF ENTRY.”)

Please note the green uniform of the BP Acting Chief: http://206.241.31.142/ImageCache/cgov/content/about/organization/staff_5fhires_5fimages/hi_5fres/fisher_5fhires_2ejpg/v3/fisher_5fhires.jpg

As you can see, you were mistaken (mis-remembered?) if you feel it was Border Patrol. It surely wasn’t.

Regarding the hat you saw, Border Patrol Agents would rather cut off their head than wear a hat that had “CBP” or “CBPO” on it, as they are NOT “those guys.” They wear a Border Patrol hat. . .as per BP regulation.

So, just to make sure you don’t look foolish please refer to “Customs and Border Protection” and Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBPO) when you relate this incident.

The Boys in Green take enough crap for doing their job from the weenies in Wash DC. They don’t need to take crap for stuff they didn’t do.

I want to clarify. I love this site and I really liked your comments. I have a habit of adding a bit of humor, (my tragic flaw in trying to find the best of every situation) but after rereading it, it was dry backhanded humor.

I have read your posts and the posts of others. I agree with you. We are big supporters of Getting holder removed, and getting rid of the people in our government who disgrace our country every day.

Illegal immigration, is a huge issue but the “leaders” in washington do nothing of substance to find solutions. It takes groups that patrol the border to get them to act.

Yeah, they had blue uniforms, not green... I have a friend who is a BP agent, and much like my support for our soldiers, I will always support and sulute their service.

Thanks for the response.

JOe

Now I get it....... you are an open borders kind of guy... sorry, but security at the borders IS a function of the government. If your past is shady, if the people you associate with are shady (by your own admission, and out of curiosity, who were these people? Were they known terrorists?) people, then you will be detained. I have no problem with this, as this is a constitutional duty of our government.

Like I told my kids, guilt by association is a reality. If you go to shady places and hang with shady people, you will eventually find yourself in trouble.

You were not detained because of your conservative blog. You were detained because of the people you chose to associate with.

You caused your own problems. Get over it. And change the people and organizations you choose to associate with.

I side with the border patrol on this one.

Okay Joe Fonebone, I get it now. You say that I am shady. Did I say shady or did you just come to that intelligent conclusion yourself? I was detained because of the people that I associate with? You mean congressman? Peacemakers? How about NGO organizations helping those in need? Wow, shady people. I should obviously be ashamed of myself!!

You side with the border patrol because you do not know any better and you chose to believe what you cannot obviously see. I think they call people like you, Pharisees, right?

the problem with what you wrote is there is absolutely not one fact in it. Just a bunch of conjecture and judgement, without even an ounce of factual data. I call that the “cattle effect”. So.... Moooooooo.

The reason the government gets away with things, is because of people like you, who find it okay to justify their behavior regardless of the overall consequence to basic humanity. I call what happens to people like you late in life, a paradigm crash. If you ever get there.. it is scary. That is the day that you realize that the blinders you wore, however effective in making you sleep better at night, made most of what you did in your life, worthless.

Let me take a minute and tell you about you though Joe... Lets see how close I get. You are ego-centric, probably taught from a young age that only the strong survive. You probably are in middle management, but more than likely worked at the same job for many years, maybe even retired from one of the first jobs you had. You had the same job for most of your career and took the traditional track moving up. Always played it safe, and when conflict struck, you screamed and hoped it would be enough to intimidate others to walk away.

You are judgmental, because you want to hide in a place where you control what others see... a place like, the internet.

Joe, I am not going to tell you that I am a boy scout, but I am going to tell you that if I associate with shady people, you should be afraid, because they are the people YOU would call leaders. Most of them have kept you safe at night, served their country, and never complained.

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