JOURNALIST SAYS CUSTOMS OFFICER HELD HIS PASSPORT UNTIL HE ANSWERED 'YES' TO 'YOU WRITE PROPAGANDA,

[JonLP24]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection official reportedly held a journalist's passport until he answered "yes" to "you write propaganda," and it's just the latest of multiple such incidents by federal officials during the Trump administration.

Defense One news editor Ben Watson reported on his media outlet's site Friday that he was arriving at Washington, D.C. through Dulles International Airport the prior afternoon, coming back from an assignment in Denmark, when a CBP officer screening passports turned the questioning in an unusual direction.

"What do you do?" the officer asked Watson, holding his passport.

When Watson replied, "journalism," the officer said, "So you write propaganda, right?" Watson responded, "No," and the conversation continued as follows, according to his recounting:



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CBP officer: "You're a journalist?"

Watson: "Yes."

CBP officer: "You write propaganda, right?"

Watson: "No. I am in journalism. Covering national security. And homeland security. And with many of the same skills I used in the U.S. Army as a public affairs officer. Some would argue that's propaganda."

CBP officer: "You're a journalist?"

Watson: "Yes."

CBP officer: "You write propaganda, right?"

Watson waited five seconds. Then: "For the purposes of expediting this conversation, yes."

CBP officer, a fourth time: "You write propaganda, right?"

Watson, again: "For the purposes of expediting this conversation, yes."

CBP officer: "Here you go."

https://www.newsweek.com/journalist-passort-held-cbp-write-propaganda-1463317?utm_campaign=NewsweekTwitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&__twitter_impression=true

[RKP5637]

1. Yet another typical asshole with too much power! n/t

[Hav]

3. I might add,

an ahole who should be without a job by next week.

[DemocracyMouse]

14. He absolutely should lose his job. He's supposed to be screening for terrorists,

not acting like one.

[Leghorn21]

2. So glad to see this is going to get eyes on it via Newsweek (as opposed to somebody's blog)

these people need exposing in the worst way

Thanks for posting, Jon

[RKP5637]

5. K&R!!! n/t

[BannonsLiver]

4. Just an FYI to everyone

If you are a US citizen with a valid passport they cannot deny you re entry to the country unless you are intoxicated, in which case you will be detained. I’ve seen it happen more than once. This isn’t a license to be disrespectful but legally there is more bark than bite to their authority as far as US citizens are concerned. They can harass but ultimately they’re going to have to let you back in.

I’ve had mostly good encounters with them but had to get salty with one in Atlanta for barking at m mom because she had the nerve to open her passport and hand it to him. As we were walking away I made sure to remind him — firmly — who he works for. If looks could kill he would be six feet under. They do not intimidate me at all.

[klook]

6. Apparently they can fuck with you if they want to.

I have not had an experience like this journalist describes, but I keep an ACLU card in my wallet and would not hesitate to call them if these goons tried to give me shit.

[grantcart]

9. No they can't, at least they can't and get away with it

He should have asked for a supervisor and filed a charge of illegal detention. He should also follow up with a charge to Homeland Security Internal Affairs. They love to bring charges on this kind of shir

[klook]

17. Ok, thanks. Good info. (nt)

[LiberalFighter]

7. If I had my way

And met him away from work. I would ask him if he was a dumb fuck. If he said no, slap him. Ask him the same question and slap him again if he said no. Then when he finally did say yes slap him again.

Geesh!

There really needs to be an immediate correction to the situation.

[Ahpook]

16. He'd just shoot you

Think of the type of person that does shit like this in the first place.

They need to have medical exams!

[kimbutgar]

8. Just came back into the country on Tuesday and it was way harder than in then in the past

Since 2015 I have re entered the country every year from Europe and this year was the most difficult. The CBP guy was kind of brusque and asked me three times how much luggage I had and where I had been. I visited several countries on a cruise and was tired since getting up at 5:30 am on the cruise ship and then flew 8 hours and then transfer for a 5 hour flight home. I felt like a zombie and this border guy was a jerk.

My seat mate who was an Italian citizen and had lived in the states for a few years previously told me it is getting harder to get into the country.he has also seen the change towards people by the CBP agents.

[grantcart]

10. Could be a result of enforced overtime

Workload on Officers has increased significantly and in some ports Customs Officers are mandated to work 16 hours a day. 2-4 days a week. In 2017 4 different Customs Officers had heart attacks at San Ysidro.

[DemocracyMouse]

15. They shouldn't be forced into overtime, but it isn't enough to explain the fascism

Trump has encouraged it 100%.

There is also the post-9/11 syndrome.

We all predicted the US would tilt fascist after 9/11. It's going to take a concerted effort, a culture change, beginning with Warren, Booker, Harris, Buttigieg, O'Rourke, Sanders or Biden.

The Germans had to do an entire educational and cultural reprogramming. Germany's experts should come in and give us lil' ol' fireside chat on how to reintroduce democracy here.

[kimbutgar]

18. This could possibility be the reason

but who will want to be a tourist here with money.

Lack of tourism dollars will hurt a lot of industries and GDP of the US.

[keithbvadu2]

11. Would they ask the same question to a Fox 'journalist'?

Would they ask the same question to a Fox 'journalist'?

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Back in the U.S.S.R.

Arbitrary power exercised as any official sees fit

[bdamomma]

13. I would call

the ACLU to report that.

[GulfCoast66]

19. Ok. I'm suspicious. I travel oversees yearly.

I have Global Entry as I’m guessing all reporters who travel overseas have.

Re-entering is a no brainer. Finger print or facial scan, fill out the questions, none of which as about your profession and get your slip. Show it to a customs guy after 3 questions and thru you go. One about tobacco products.

Last year coming back from Europe I had 30 or so Cuban cigars. I declared I had tobacco products. The guy told me cuban cigars were not allowed. I politely told him they were and please talk to a supervisor. He did, apologized to me, and told me that he was brought to work the line after 5 years in an office because they were so short staffed and did not know the rules had changed. Then I went right thru.

Now, I’m not a confrontational guy by nature. But if a Boarder Control Officer did this to me, I would as for a superior officer immediately. And if I was a reporter and asked these I would state ‘I write articles about things like CBP office harassment of America citizens’.

So maybe it happened this way. But even this mid-management guy would not put up with it. I would immediately ask for a supervisor. I’m a fucking American Citizen. With a valid passport they cannot deny me re-entry into the country.

I’ve seen too many stories like this lately that get debunked.

I mean really, if you were an obscure reporter would you not cherish the opportunity to escalate this? Can you see any reporter you have ever heard of capitulating like this?

[ffr]

20. Not funny, Waffen SS agent. I hope you lose your job and your pension is terminated.

Sick!