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Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

theregister.co.uk

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Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#321

Post by rak00n »

jondubois wrote: post #309

If most people told their boss exactly what they thought, they'd get a much worse punishment than a few measly hours of interrogation... At least this guy can go cry in his Mercedes Benz afterwards. It may not be fair but it's not a problem that deserves news coverage IMO. I bet that much worse things have happened today which deserve more attention.

You need to change your job. There are better places to work where your boss won't "punish" you.

Also your second argument could be applied to absolutely anything. You can always find something that deserves more attention.

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#322

Post by vkou »

mav3rick wrote: post #298
geofft wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, I'm not taking issue with the US's behavior. I'm just taking issue with people who use it to argue that the US is the bestest country evar. If it really were, it would have been able to defeat the USSR soundly with its superior military technology. It's perfectly fine to admit the US is a mediocre large country, absolutely worth living in, but not some singular shining glory. It's perfectly fine to admit the US i…

Also the US has never met Russia in an overt war. Not that I ever want them to either but your point is again invalid. There is a reason US pulls it's weight in diplomacy and military and currency are two big factors for this. Denying this is just you being delusional. Also US , barring the current govt., has always been very welcoming to immigrants. Every country has flaws but this country gave me and countless othe…

The United States (As well as other entente powers) invaded Russia, during the Russian Civil War.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Russia_Intervention

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#323

Post by Macross8299 »

throwaway91872 wrote: post #194
musha68k wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quick reminder: Non US citizens only go to conferences outside the US. There is no excuse we should put up with this. Canada and EU are much better locations for this reason alone.

Canada is not exactly welcoming to visitor. Particularly visitors that may have a mark on their background check from any number of years ago. Good luck getting in at all -- its becoming a common mention in hip hop lyrics even.

>Canada is not exactly welcoming to visitor. Particularly visitors that may have a mark on their background check from any number of years ago.

Not a bug, working as intended. Entering a country that you aren't a citizen of isn't some inalienable human right, especially if you're a convicted criminal.

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#324

Post by khuey »

vkou wrote: post #268
musha68k wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quick reminder: Non US citizens only go to conferences outside the US. There is no excuse we should put up with this. Canada and EU are much better locations for this reason alone.

Could you give us a set of countries whose customs agencies cannot refuse entry to non-residents, for any reason whatsoever, including no reason? I have a feeling that is an empty set.

Under the terms of the UN Treaty there are actually certain non-residents that the US cannot refuse visas and entrance to.

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#325

Post by maximilianroos »

everdrive wrote: post #176
maximilianroos wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard that requires articulable facts, not a whim. Courts regularly hold that officers didn't obtain it. For more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reasonable_suspicion

I agree -- and apologies, I might not have made my point very well. A different way to phrase it might be: The officers and the suspects disagree about what a reasonable suspicion might entail. Given the incentives, I don't think this is surprising. I'll admit, my point in no way addresses yours -- how often are officers adhering the the specific legal standard?

For sure, I agree

I'm really not sure how often officers violate the standard; it wouldn't shock me if it were frequent

But when they do, courts will suppress the evidence, and anything that's obtained from knowledge gained in that search ("fruit of the poisoned tree").

I trust that mechanism. And think it's likely better held in the US than literally any other country (v open to evidence to the contrary though)

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#326

Post by cyphar »

tdfx wrote: post #277
mikeash wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if I don’t support or defend the Second Amendment? Does that make me unamerican? Should I renounce my citizenship?

I'm not even sure how someone could support or oppose the second amendment. It really doesn't say much (anything?) about personal gun ownership. What people are arguing over is the interpretations through caselaw trying to figure out what this rather ambiguous segment of text was trying to say.

The Supreme Court first ruled in 2008[1] that the right to personal ownership of guns is a valid reading of the 2nd Amendment (devoid of any military/militia purpose -- a departure from previous Supreme Court decisions).

While it is correct to argue that Supreme Court decisions are "case law", the Supreme Court is the final appellate court in the US -- so the only way to change their decision would be through a constitutional amendment.

So, opposing the second amendment is the only way to effectively oppose the rulings related to it (assuming that's what you want to oppose).

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#327

Post by wang_li »

zimmund wrote: post #221
gist wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the message it sends to me is, never visit America Message? So you read one story and a bunch of HN comments and that is how you decide?

OP didn't say it was a decision, just the message perceived. If you live outside the US, hearing stories or reading what happens to others is enough to know these things happen, anyway.

Reading a story like this, which is based entirely upon the information provided by Gal, and drawing any widespread conclusion about travel into the US is utterly irrational. From this story there is zero ability to determine if it really happened, or assuming it happened, you have no idea what the actual interactions were like between Gal and CBP agents.

Some of the facts presented don't even make sense. You don't take the fifth when refusing a search. You're relying on the fourth amendment and refusing to consent to a search. Searches like this having nothing to do with self incrimination.

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#328

Post by max76 »

jeltz wrote: post #206
everdrive wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other thing to consider is that a burner phone will look quite suspicious.

They are just cheap smartphones these days. Do they really profile people because their smartphones look too cheap?

Sometimes? If I see a person in their 20s or 30s that have other status items (expensive clothes/accessories) but a $50 smartphone I assume something isn't quite right.

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#329

Post by throwaway91872 »

Macross8299 wrote: post #323
throwaway91872 wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canada is not exactly welcoming to visitor. Particularly visitors that may have a mark on their background check from any number of years ago. Good luck getting in at all -- its becoming a common mention in hip hop lyrics even.

>Canada is not exactly welcoming to visitor. Particularly visitors that may have a mark on their background check from any number of years ago. Not a bug, working as intended. Entering a country that you aren't a citizen of isn't some inalienable human right, especially if you're a convicted criminal.

By that same token there is no reason to complain about how difficult it can be to enter the U.S. for certain individuals -- or working as intended as you call it. I also find it a bit disturbing how easily you apply law & order in the name of a country that was not involved in deciding the validity of that decision or the circumstances behind it.

Re: Ex-Mozilla CTO: I was grilled for three hours at US airport by border cops

#330

Post by alexmlamb2 »

GordonS wrote: post #265
gist wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the message it sends to me is, never visit America Message? So you read one story and a bunch of HN comments and that is how you decide?

It's not just one story though - there have been plenty stories and comments on HN, as well as other places. I'd be surprised if anyone who regularly travels to the US hasn't found it to be extremely unpleasant at times. A while back I spent 6 months or so going back and forth from the UK to Houston or Atlanta, and every time I absolutely hated going through immigration. I've travelled to dozens of countries, and lit…

I'm a US citizen, and my worst experience has been with Canadian border patrol (I'm not saying this is general, just my experience).
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