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How a French scholar was treated at US airport

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Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#141
post #4

> A police officer beats a woman whose three-year-old runs in all directions Is anyone able to give a better translation of this bit? Looks like the original sentence was "Une policière engueule une femme dont le garçon de trois ans court dans tous les sens"

From google: engueuler. (transitive, informal) to give (someone) a roasting, to tell someone off. (reflexive, informal) to argue, to have a row. So I think the officer just gave her a telling off.

engueuler = bawl out

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#142
post #66

It feels like the age of the US is nearing to an end. I am not looking forward (on behalf of my children) for the transitional period that will follow.

On what grounds? From the state of border control? From one measly article?

Yes from the state of border control and not just this one. CBP is doing industrial espionage with their phone data seizures. I'm avoiding US conferences because of it where I have options elsewhere. I imagine many are doing the same. I probably have to bite the bullet this fall and go to San Fransisco for a conference. I won't be carrying any electronic devices for that trip as a security precaution that CBP asks me to unlock my devices so they can read data. It would be gross negligence towards my employer if I were to allow them to copy my email correspondence, some of which contains details about product development. I'm not being hyperbolic about it. I just need to mitigate the risk.

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#143
post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I grew up in the UK where you (still) don't need to carry a drivers license. There's a convenient arrangement, but strictly speaking you commit an offence if you don't, when asked, give your driving licence. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/part/VII/crosshe... This is an important difference between US and UK. We have bad laws and they're not often used. The US has bad laws and they're used all the time.

For clarity, what you say is not true (see section 164(7) in the reference cited above). You only have to produce your license upon request within 7 days at a police station. Nothing bad can happen to you (e.g. you can't be detained) for driving without your license on your person.

Section 164(7) requires the driver to either immediately produce a receipt (option a) or produce within 7 days a receipt (option b). But that receipt is for surrendered licences under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

By not immediately producing the document you've committed the offence. (Section 164(1-6), unless section 164(7) applies (it almost never does)) It's a defence to produce them not more than 7 days later, this is in section 164(8).

Strictly speaking: you need to carry your licence and produce when asked. You commit the offence if you do not immediately produce the licence, but it's a defence if you produce the licence within 7 days to a named police station.

> Nothing bad can happen to you (e.g. you can't be detained) for driving without your license on your person.

That's not correct. If officers need to identify you and they can't from the information you give you're going to have a bad time. They most certainly can detain you until they identify you. (If you're the driver.)

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#144
post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it most definitely is part of Europe, and it is currently still part of the European Union too.

Member of the European Union, not member of the Schengen Area... UK has always been whimsical and not reflecting the "European" values... thus, UK is not Europe. They're free to run things the way they like, but please don't keep telling that UK is Europe... especially after they chose and got the Brexit... not a single true european will endorse its mistakes.

Brexit is solely related to UK membership within the European Union. It is wrong to conflate being a part of Europe with being a part of the European Union.

Throughout history the ties between what is now the UK and what is now continental Europe are deep and inseparably intertwined (both culturally and geographically); it is absurd to to claim that the UK is "always whimsical" (whatever that means) and does not reflect "true" European values, whatever those may be. Look even closer within the UK and the Republic of Ireland...how is one European and the other not?!

The UK is and will foverver be part of Europe, period. This has no bearing on your opinion of who is or is not a "true European."

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#145
post #122

In 2007 I crossed the border on bus going from Montreal to NY. The girl I was travelling with was accused of illegal importation of fruits because she was carrying an apple for the trip.

What happened to her?

A minor delay and a confiscated piece of fruit, most likely.

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#146
post #68

UPDATE: "It turned out this whole story has nothing to do with Egypt or Holocaust. Historian claimed that he would give a speech for money. Incompetent CBP officer incorrectly concluded that its a work without a proper work visa."

> Incompetent CBP officer incorrectly concluded that its a work without a proper work visa.

It's more subtle than that. If it hadn't been for the very specific exception for scholars it would indeed have been work without a proper work visa.

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#147
post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious how good the translation is. I could read the translated article (the English version), but there were clearly some weird words. Is there anything off in the translation at a higher level?

I read the French version and only skimmed the English version. Didn't seem anything terribly off to me.

What about the part where the policeman beat the woman for having a child running in all directions?

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#148

I am about to visit the US soon. I am planning not to bring my personal phone and computer. It feels like I am going to visit China, not the US. I would probably not personally pay for a trip to the US now.. I don't want to pay a lot of money in order to be rejected at the border.

Do not come to the US for any reason. Also, request that your government treat all US visitors exactly the same as this. Until people start to see how awful treating people like trash is nothing will change, it will only get worse. My job depends (somewhat) on foreign tourists coming to the US, I would rather lose my job than read these embarrassing stories.

I agree. I work in the UK, and used to go to SFO twice a year. I am now telling my manager that I am not willing to take the risk to be arbitrarily detained for no reason, even if it's only a 1% chance (which sounds about the current level). Send me to any country, but only where the rule of law applies.

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#149
post #134
post #102

I wondered why a “French scholar” would have so much trouble. Near the end, he reveals: “ Maybe it's my birthplace, Egypt [..]”, which, if indeed he looks Egyptian and not French, goes a long way towards explaining it. Racism is a thing.

Apparently he's Jewish, and left Egypt decades ago due to anti-semitism there.

Left, or was expelled?

Re: How a French scholar was treated at US airport

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read the French version and only skimmed the English version. Didn't seem anything terribly off to me.

What about the part where the policeman beat the woman for having a child running in all directions?

French version: "Une policière engueule une femme dont le garçon de trois ans court dans tous les sens".

So, the policewoman bawled the woman out. No beating involved.

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