EDIT: Consensus has been achieved, original post below. General consensus is that people haven’t had issues with US customs, as long as all the paperwork is in order.

Thanks to everyone who commented, I greatly appreciate your input!

Hey everyone!

For those that have crossed the US / Canadian border recently: what was your experience when going through US customs? Were you harassed / detained? Any tips to prepare for crossing?

My SO and I were talking earlier about having some family come up from the US to Canada to visit us. I suggested maybe they should wait a bit due to the apparent unhinged behaviour of US Customs; However, while my SO doesn’t deny the stories, she believes they might be rare cases & blown out of proportion by the media. She found out that the Vancouver woman that was detained for ~2 weeks also had improper paperwork - which is often left out by the media. While the detainment duration is still totally unjustified, the initial detainment was caused by the improper paperwork.

So I’m reaching out to those that actually cross the border to see what’s actually going on; as the media can be fanatical sometimes.

Thanks in advance!

  • shawn1122@lemm.eeEnglish
    18·
    2 days ago

    This is a generous take on current CBP practices.

    Many have been detained without legitimate cause or due process.

    Generally it’s people of color who bear the brunt of injustice but I’ve heard stories of even white people facing challenges - being made to declare their love for the US or comment positively on the current US government for entry.

    Its offputting enough to want to avoid the US unless absolutely necessary.

    • LeFantome@programming.dev
      7·
      2 days ago

      Many of us would not be able to declare our love for the US—certainly not convincingly. Being out into a position to do so could lead to an escalation.

      This is exactly the kind of risk that some of us hope to avoid. It is totally wrong to say that there is no risk even if you “keep your shit together”.