Posted by chancy
(here)
It was a beautiful morning in December, 2010. My wife and I decided to go to Greatfalls for a day of shopping.The trip to Coutts was uneventful. At Milk River we ran into fog and it steadily got worse as we got to the Coutts/Sweetgrass border crossing. There were only two vehicles in front of us. This was excellent since we wouldn't be at the border too long. At the US side we were greeted by the border patrol and he asked how many people in the car? Where are we going? What are you going to be doing in Greatfalls? How long are you going to be gone? Are you taking anything into the US to leave? Are you taking any fruit into the US? How much money do you have with you in US dollars and Canadian Dollars? I answered all the questions truthfully and then we were told that we were must go inside for a spot check. He kept our passports and took them inside the building. We complied. When we went inside the US border/Homeland Security building we were told by the officer to go into the "glass room". It's actually a cell (Cage) with one side facing us having glass. Two sides are walls and the side toward the officers has a heavy steel mess wall from the ceiling to about 3-4 inches off the counter. All the walls whether steel, glass or normal walls are right to the ceiling. There is a video camera facing the benches in the Cage. Once inside you are locked in by the self locking door. You are in a prison cell or Cage even though the officers call it the "glass room". I was wondering why we were put into this room? The officer who told us to go into the "glass room" asked another couple and us to take out everything from all our pockets and put it into a basket provided. All of us did this. The officer then took the baskets and put them on the filing cabinet behind him. He gave both couples a form to fill out like an entry form you get on an airplane going into a country. We filled it out and waited. He eventually came back and made sure that the form was filled out correctly and completely. He reviewed the form with us and asked us if there was any changes we would like to make? He told us to sit down and wait and that he was going to search our vehicles. ( I was wondering why he or they would NOT let us be there when he or they searched our vehicles. Remember we are locked inside a Cage.) While waiting another officer came with another form. He told us that we needed to fill out an agriculture survey in regards to being on a farm or by animals etc. He filled in the form for both couples in the Cage. Finally the fellow came back that was searching our vehicles. It seemed like along time but was probably approximately 15 minutes. He informed us that we could have our baskets of items from our pockets back and could go once he unlocked the locked door with a buzzer. When we got out we were then given back our passports and told we could go.
My question is why do we have to be locked inside a Cage? Why can't we be asked the questions and fill out the form and survey over the counter like friends?
Why aren't the answers given to the first officer good enough since he has access to our complete life by means of giving him our passports? Why does the search of our vehicle have to be hidden from us? Why can't we be there when they search our vehicle? Is there something wrong with Canadians going to shop in the USA? Is this the price tourist have to pay in order to spend money in Montana or the USA? Is taking cash to buy things in the USA against the law even though you are allowed to take $10,000 dollars cash or less in all currencies? Is it because we are going in the fog which was no choice of our own? After being across the border many, many, many times in my life I still wonder why we are treated like we are not welcome to the USA,
I find it ironic that the day before which would have been December 3, 2010 we were at a Christmas tradeshow and Farmers Market Christmas show in Lethbridge, Alberta. A lady from Columbia Falls, Montana was wanting us to come to Montana to spend time skiing and enjoying what Montana has to offer. I told her that my wife and I were going to be going to Greatfalls the next day. I asked if she was treated well at the Canadian border crossing and she said definitely. She did have to go inside to show the tradeshow items but that was it. I asked her if she was aware of the troubles Canadians have getting into the USA?
She was not aware until I mentioned that we are not treated like tourist but more like people who have done something wrong and don't know what that is......My question to the USA and Montana is " Are Canadians Friends or Foe?
It's not worth going into a Locked Cage. At the border we apparently lose all of our rights just to spend money in a country that is suppose to be our friend but locks us up in a Cage. Do you want to be locked up in a Locked Cage with your kids or other family members for the priviledge to enter the USA ? From talking to a number of people they too have been locked in the Cage while just trying to cross the border. Anyone with a criminal record cannot cross the border now so why must honest people be locked in a Cage?
I would like an answer since if you don't want us coming to spend money, buy fuel, stay in hotels, airline flights, be snow birds, buy products, go to recreational spots like skiing, Las Vegas, Disneyland, buy equipment and help the economy then just tell me and I will let everyone in Canada know that you don't want us to come to your country. From the way Canadians are treated at the border you definitely wouldn't think we are welcome!
A Tourist and Purchaser of US Products
Are Canadians Friends or Foe?
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