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I definitely would be screwed in this situation. Time to remember by sibling’s number
I never had any problems (outside the horrible behaviour of border officers who show you that you are not welcome). I was stopped once by a policeman when I did an illegal car maneuver (which is tolerated in France), and when he realized I was a tourist with family, he just said, "Be careful, have a nice trip."
Today I am seriously considering never going to the US anymore because it looks like it is not a good destination anymore. I may be wrong though, I hope.
> A woman asked me for the name of someone they could contact on my behalf. In moments like this, you realize you don’t actually know anyone’s phone number anymore. By some miracle, I had recently memorized my best friend Britt’s number because I had been putting my grocery points on her account. I definitely would be screwed in this situation. Time to remember by sibling’s number
If you don't understand the threat of an authoritarian dictatorship for its inhabitants, this is it; a state apparatus that is completely opaque, offers no explanation for its actions (other than jingoistic rhetoric), and provides no recourse and certainly no remedy.
people okay with this (and there are many on hn that are as bas been made evident in the last months) simply do not understand that none of their privilege (education/money/status) has any effect on the implacable "I don't know"; if you get snapped up for whatever reason, whatever small innocuous infraction or perceived grievance (or manipulation of the system by someone that doesn't like you), you will go into the same blackhole. they will be telling your lawyers, your family, the (remaining) press "I don't know" and you will be rotting until some whim sets you free (or not).
I suspect they are under pressure to juke their stats and they could get a gold star for "deporting" her. Ergo "you aren't a criminal. Come with me. You're being deported."