The wierdest question asked at the U.S. border

[robinsnest]

Got to the border in Windsor on the 4th of December and was asked the usual questions. Then asked if we had any fruit, veggies or meat, said no. Then the kicker, WAS ASKED WHAT WAS IN MY FRIDGE AT HOME. Seemed more concerned about fruit and veggies and meat than anything else. Never asked for birth cert's for my kids. Just told us we could get a $250 fine if we brought in any restricted food items.

 

[bev r.]

A couple of years ago, when we were heading south on a camping vacation, the border guard asked us if we had any bear food. We had no idea what he was referring to. He wanted to know if we had any pets. I guess some of them do have a sense of humor.

 

[avdeane]

Several years ago before my husband and I were married, I travelled with my mother along to go and visit him in Indiana where he lived. I was asked where and why we were going on the US side of the border> I explained we were going to visit my boyfriend for the weekend. He asked me many questions including why I would need to return to Canada.
The kicker is he only asked my mother one thing, if she'd ever been fingerprinted!! *L* We got a good chuckle out of that one!! My mother certainly didn't think she looked like a criminal!!

Vicky

 

[Cruisin]

We went across one time last year, my husband, myself and our daughter 16 yrs old.

The border guard looked at our passports and then said to my daughter in the backseat in a sugary, sweet voice "And where is your mommy?" She just kind of gave him a look as only a teenager can and pointed to me in the front seat.

We got a good chuckle out of that when we drove away, what was he thinking?

 

[jaysue]

I have been across to Detroit more times than I can count as both parents families live in the Detroit suburbs. I know the area quite well and have driven many times - here is what has become a classic:

USC: Why are you coming to the States?

ME: To visit family in Southfield

USC: How would one go to Southfield

ME: I am thinking this is really weird - and I was still young enough to be a bit of a smart a** - I said ok, here we go: you drive out of this area and you get to a set of lights - if it were Canada you could turn left at the lights and get onto the Lodge freeway but since Detroit does not have lefts at lights generally, you need to go through the light and then do a u-turn (legal) come around and then go right at the same set of lights - in Toronto my family and I call this a "Detroit Left"....

USC: OK OK, you know where you are going (laughs) and says have a nice trip



**********
Here is another one - crossing with my Grandmother and my Dad (her son) - I am driving since as above I know the area well and drive well on the freeways. They ask my Grandmother - where are you from? She says I am from the Old Country!!!

The USC person then gives her some guff and she responds back (she was about 80 at the time) that she is also a US citizen and came to America in the 20's and that you (the customs person) need to go to charm school!!!

 

[twinz]

Prior to Sept 11, we were travelling to Boston(5 females). We crossed at the Thousand Islands, and the boarder man asked if we had any bombs in the trunk. We were laughing with him (remember prior to sept 11) and joking saying the whole trunk is filled with them. That was a stranger boarder crossing we've had!
Twinz

 

[bunnyfoo]

I was crossing at the Queenston-Lewiston bridge and the customs officer asked if I was Canadian. I said yes and then he asked if I could speak English ... I also said yes. Then he said "So say something then. Say I am Canadian." I just gave him a look and repeated what he said. He just let us go after that

 

[lilsonicfan]

we got asked, "do you have any fruit?" and my mom said "no..." and he said "really? no fruit? no lychees? no longans?" and i was thinking... hmm.... why didn't he ask if we had apples or oranges.... he must think all asians only eat these asian-type fruits and since we're asian, we *must* be smuggling them across the border... Sigh!

 

[kellyla]

My sister and I crossed over for a day of shopping about 2 months ago and they asked about the fruit and then asked if we were carrying more than $10000 in cash. I wish!

 

[nwisco]

A couple years ago on a trip to Virginia Beach we crossed at the border near Kingston quite late at night. There were two guards goofing around talking and when one finally got to the booth they did the usual routine with passports, who is in the car.. etc etc. They then asked if we had any fruit, meat or RICE....directed specifically to my Asian husband in such a derogatory tone of voice. I was so peeved about it but he just shrugged it off and said what are you going to do about it ??

It still makes me mad just to think about it.

Nicolle

 

[lilsonicfan]

nwisco, i totally sympathize. that's pretty ugly behaviour for border guards. i thought ours was sort of offensive as well, but people are kind of ignorant sometimes! best to shrug it off i suppose.... can't do much to change other people's minds.

 

[bunnyfoo]

This is sort of along the same line ... I've noticed that at Pearson Airport (T2), the security guards who get the passengers to x-ray their luggage, mostly select Asians to have their luggage searched. My boyfriend who is white never has his luggage searched I don't know if that's what always happens but on my last two trips, when I glanced around, everyone else was Asian as well.

My friend who travels more often than I do said she noticed the same thing too. I wonder if it does have something to do with food... I remember when I was younger, some of my relatives from the US would buy lots of different foods (fruits and meats) and bring them back with them. Of course, it doesn't mean that we're all doing the same thing