got a shock watching the news

[Laurafoster]

It is unfortunate - one of my closest friends of of an Asian background - although he was born and raised in London.

Since 7/7 bombings last year, i really feel sorry for him when we travel on a train. He will sit down on a tube train and people will actually get up and walk to the next carriage. Sad thing is he actually understands why he gets treated that way. He said that he completely understands why people are "apprehensive" of him.

 

[AndRu]

If the latest terrorist threat had been from chinese people I think the authorities would have the same type of reaction and have extra checks on people of an "oriental" persuasion. The same could be said if it was a band of millitant grannies threatening to blow up aircraft, I'd expect the security services to be stopping and checking more of their handbags and blue rinse hair-do's.

I know that all sounds flippant and I do feel very sorry for the family concerned. However, we live in an age where men of "asian or arabic" appearence (albeit a very small minority) are causing a lot of grief. I'm sure there are Irish familes that suffered in similar circumstances in the 70's, 80's and 90's travelling between Ireland and the UK. It's unfortunate that some innocents have to suffer like this but profiling has to be a tool for the security services to use.

Mistakes are bound to be made and will be regrettable. But how regrettable is it now that there were no checks on the 9-11 men or those of 7-7? We live in a different age now where people are prepared to sacrifise themselves and many others. Because of this, the security services and the public will have to get used to new rules and regulations - whether we like it or not.

 

[steve_rob]

If the latest terrorist threat had been from chinese people I think the authorities would have the same type of reaction and have extra checks on people of an "oriental" persuasion. The same could be said if it was a band of millitant grannies threatening to blow up aircraft, I'd expect the security services to be stopping and checking more of their handbags and blue rinse hair-do's.

Racial profiling is one thing - and you can agree or disagree with it being used. But there's a BIG difference between pulling over all people who meet a 'certain look' for extra questioning at Customs and banning all people who meet that same 'certain look' completely from the United States regardless of circumstance, which is what seemingly happened to this guy.

 

[mnoble_uk]

Racial profiling is also quite dangerous - the real terrorists are always looking for ways to exploit loopholes and if you are targetting male muslims of a certain age then the best way to bypass that is to recruit a female irish girl - and this has happened on at least one of the plots.

This is quite aside from alienating all people who fit the profile and actually making the world less safe.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Racial profiling is one thing - and you can agree or disagree with it being used. But there's a BIG difference between pulling over all people who meet a 'certain look' for extra questioning at Customs and banning all people who meet that same 'certain look' completely from the United States regardless of circumstance, which is what seemingly happened to this guy.

HOWEVER
We are NOT party to the reasons why the INS did not let this particular person into their country. We do not really know his history or other record. Because he has said they should have let him in is only one side of the story.
I would rather trust the INS to make a safe descision than one individual telling me that they are not a terrorist, or do not support the aims of those terrorists.

 

[AlanUK]

I am struggling to see how this is trip planning related other than through a somewhat tenuous link to the Visa Waiver Programme and the way the rules 'can' be interpreted by US Immigration

I am going to leave it on this forum as it has been running for a few days and I don't see the point of moving it. However I am now going to lock it as I don't see that any further discussion of how unfair the rules applied by the INS are, or how profiling is or isn't used by either side in the battle against terrorism is going to assist the vast majority of posters in planning their trips.