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CNN and a a lot of other outlets are reporting that JPL engineer Sidd Bikkannavar, an American-born citizen, was detained at the border when returning from racing solar powered cars overseas.
The border guards demanded he turn over his government-issued NASA phone and its PIN and held him in their detention area.
Bikkannavar also was interviewed by The Verge:
"It was not that they were concerned with me bringing something dangerous in, because they didn't even touch the bags. They had no way of knowing I could have had something in there," he says. "You can say, 'Okay well maybe it's about making sure I'm not a dangerous person,' but they have all the information to verify that."
Bikkannavar says he's still unsure why he was singled out for the electronic search. He says he understands that his name is foreign — its roots go back to southern India. He didn't think it would be a trigger for extra scrutiny, he says. "Sometimes I get stopped and searched, but never anything like this. Maybe you could say it was one huge coincidence that this thing happens right at the travel ban."
Land of the free? Home of the brave?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Nerdfest on Wednesday February 15 2017, @02:59PM
This was a US citizen with a NASA issued phone. There was no cause for him to be detained or searched. CPB claims they do not discriminate based on gender, race, or religion. Bullshit. Your government, at least in words does not agree with the asshats. They are discriminating based on these things, and directly against US citizens. If you want to do it to visitors fine, but this was against a US citizen. Your country is quite broken.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Thursday February 16 2017, @04:01AM
Customs has more authority granted by congress than any other agency within the US. Customs has supreme authority anywhere near the borders. And, that is why so many of us have objected to the expansion of the border region to include almost all of the populated US. If you live within 150 miles of the border, coastline, or an airport, Customs has authority. They need explain nothing to you. Anything short of torture or murder is acceptable, and it's easy enough for them to cover up a murder. "Shot in the back while trying to escape" works for regular cops - it works just fine for Customs.
If you're going to express your indignation to a customs officer, proceed with caution. You can easily disappear.