Why Am I Forbidden From Using My iPhone In US Immigration Areas?(feld.com)
feld.com
Why Am I Forbidden From Using My iPhone In US Immigration Areas?
http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2013/03/why-am-i-forbidden-from-using-my-iphone-in-us-immigration-areas.html
10 comments
You aren't forbidden from using your iPhone. You are forbidden from using any cell phone. Why do apple fanbois find it necessary to make sure we know they have an apple product? They can never just say "my computer" or "my phone". Bleh.
>>Why do apple fanbois find it necessary to make sure we know they have an apple product? They can never just say "my computer" or "my phone". Bleh.
Polarizing and derailing in this manner makes you sound like a complete jackass.
Polarizing and derailing in this manner makes you sound like a complete jackass.
> Polarizing and derailing in this manner makes you sound like a complete jackass.
And what does calling someone a jackass do?
And what does calling someone a jackass do?
"fanbois" is not a word
Just like thousands of other words that are not words in the english language, they become a word through use.
Like it or not, iPhone is synonymous with "modern smartphone".
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it is only one character, but I agree with you, it makes a big difference. maybe Microsoft should not have saved Apple...
I know, I know, they already forced you to turn off your phone during landing, and now it sucks that you'll need to wait till you get to the baggage claim to go back to your Candy Crush addiction. How ridiculous is that?
Now seriously, isn't it obvious? It's a high-security area. There's all sorts of people trying to cross the border: business travelers, families, citizens returning home, tourists, illegal immigrants, terrorists, drug dealers. They don't want people distracted, speaking loudly on their phones, or sending instructions to others in line to exploit security weaknesses.
If you're really bothered by the wait (and have an extra $85 to spare), you should seriously consider requesting a Global Entry. While you still won't be able to use your phone, it'll reduce your time in line to 45 seconds.
I bet you can't even finish a level that fast.
(UPDATE: cost for 5 years is $85, not $100)
Now seriously, isn't it obvious? It's a high-security area. There's all sorts of people trying to cross the border: business travelers, families, citizens returning home, tourists, illegal immigrants, terrorists, drug dealers. They don't want people distracted, speaking loudly on their phones, or sending instructions to others in line to exploit security weaknesses.
If you're really bothered by the wait (and have an extra $85 to spare), you should seriously consider requesting a Global Entry. While you still won't be able to use your phone, it'll reduce your time in line to 45 seconds.
I bet you can't even finish a level that fast.
(UPDATE: cost for 5 years is $85, not $100)
>>or sending instructions to others in line to exploit security weaknesses.
Hahaha, what? You can't be serious.
Hahaha, what? You can't be serious.
No joke; after you go dozens of times per year through immigration, you learn quite a bit about how things work (and when it doesn't work).
I lost count of how many times I had to (respectfully) correct border patrol officials when stamping I-94 forms, or filling the number of travel companions in the customs form, etc.
Thankfully I'm one of the good guys.
I lost count of how many times I had to (respectfully) correct border patrol officials when stamping I-94 forms, or filling the number of travel companions in the customs form, etc.
Thankfully I'm one of the good guys.
Okay, it's a high security area. What law allows them to prohibit the use of a cell phone? The way the US tends to work is that everything is allowed, except the things which are specifically disallowed by virtue of a law being written.
Think of it as whitelisting vs blacklisting. In the US we don't whitelist the things that are OK, we blacklist the things which are not OK. How did cell phone use in a border area get on the blacklist? If it's on the blacklist, but there's no law which put it there, then there's a problem.
Think of it as whitelisting vs blacklisting. In the US we don't whitelist the things that are OK, we blacklist the things which are not OK. How did cell phone use in a border area get on the blacklist? If it's on the blacklist, but there's no law which put it there, then there's a problem.
>>Okay, it's a high security area. What law allows them to prohibit the use of a cell phone?
The thing you have to understand about the border control area at airports is that it's kind of a "no man's land." Despite technically being on US soil, you aren't considered inside the borders of the US. You go inside only when the immigration officer gives you the green light. Until then, they can basically do anything they want to you, and there isn't anything you can do about it.
The thing you have to understand about the border control area at airports is that it's kind of a "no man's land." Despite technically being on US soil, you aren't considered inside the borders of the US. You go inside only when the immigration officer gives you the green light. Until then, they can basically do anything they want to you, and there isn't anything you can do about it.
Okay so it's like international waters. That doesn't mean that there are no laws there. And the agents -- who work for the US government -- must still obey the laws of the US government, no? And despite it technically not being "regular" US soil the laws of the US still apply don't they?
Otherwise if it's truly a no-man's land I could take a plane trip with another person who I intend to kill, depart the plane and while still in the border control area kill him in cold blood in full sight of everyone there. The US might want to prosecute me, but they technically can't because the law doesn't apply there.
I don't think that my murder example would fly. Do you?
Otherwise if it's truly a no-man's land I could take a plane trip with another person who I intend to kill, depart the plane and while still in the border control area kill him in cold blood in full sight of everyone there. The US might want to prosecute me, but they technically can't because the law doesn't apply there.
I don't think that my murder example would fly. Do you?
So, if you are a US citizen that's being held for hours, it's okay for them to not let you communicate? Even to inform the people waiting for you why you're late?
Why should you be allowed to use a cell phone in US immigration areas? I find it ridiculous that people feel the need to be able to use their phone wherever they want. No one complained about not being able to use their flip-phone in hospitals, government areas and air-planes...
Because freedom means it's the restrictions, not the privileges, the government enumerates. I don't know if there's a reason cell phones shouldn't be allowed there, but if there isn't then they should be.
Because one time when I returned back to US from a vacation the U.S. immigration officer asked me too many personal questions and when I asked why she needs to know my employer and it's location she yelled at me that she has this right. I didn't know at the moment that they do not have this right.
Next time I just wanted to make sure I am recording my conversation with the officer I saw the "no cellphone" sign.
So yes, you should be allowed to record any conversation with government officer to protect your privacy better
Next time I just wanted to make sure I am recording my conversation with the officer I saw the "no cellphone" sign.
So yes, you should be allowed to record any conversation with government officer to protect your privacy better
I think you need better immigration officers, not more cell phones. It's never taken me more than the wait in line plus a few minutes to go through immigration in Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean...
Last time I had to wait in immigration line for 4 hours, I missed my connecting flight. My wife waited at my destination for a real long time, got intensely worried and basically was clueless up until I was able to get through immigration and call her. Not exactly a minor inconvenience.
That does point to the other problem, that the U.S. runs a completely incompetent entry process. I'm always embarrassed when non-Americans visit the U.S., because we can't operate an immigration system efficiently. Meanwhile, I fly to Germany and it takes me 15 minutes to go through security and customs, not 3 hours.
You're not allowed to use their phones, either.
Here's a case[1] of a carload of US citizens being detained incommunicado for six hours at Niagara Falls for six hours, in a cold room. No explanation.
[1] http://www.onthemedia.org/story/my-detainment-story-or-how-i...
Here's a case[1] of a carload of US citizens being detained incommunicado for six hours at Niagara Falls for six hours, in a cold room. No explanation.
[1] http://www.onthemedia.org/story/my-detainment-story-or-how-i...
The same reason you're not allowed/frowned upon to record law enforcement in public. They don't want you to have evidence of their wrong-doings. It's not about the phone per se, it's about the phone's audio/video recording abilities. I'm sure video-cameras aren't allowed either.
EDIT: Wow, those downvotes. My mistake for posting on controversial topics at night.
EDIT#2: Spoke too soon... :)
EDIT: Wow, those downvotes. My mistake for posting on controversial topics at night.
EDIT#2: Spoke too soon... :)
You aren't allowed to use any phone. So, your made up answer can't be right.
How does that invalidate his answer? Any phone can record audio.
melling, you're the best. :) I've seen your comments before, I got your number(pun intented). What do you think most people are thinking when they read your reply to my comment?
They're thinking about what percentage of cellphones currently in use have audio and/or video recording abilities.
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thankfully they will soon be able to disable all cellphone cameras in a x mile radius... someone has a patent already
In the days before smart phones, the lady in front of me in an immigration line in London had her cell taken away from her till she cleared immigration, cause she insisted on using her cell (she had been told not to do so and there was signage everywhere).
I might be wrong, but pretty much every immigration line I've stood in prohibits cell phone usage.
I might be wrong, but pretty much every immigration line I've stood in prohibits cell phone usage.
I was about to say the same. When you're in immigration areas in many country this rule exists. The "no photography" rule also applies iirc.
i'm pretty sure in both Australia and New Zealand immigration they have signs saying no photography/audio recording devices/cell phones.
Honestly i've never had a problem with this, the only thing worse than waiting in line for immigration would be waiting in line for immigration behind someone having an overly loud conversation on their phone
Site down, cache:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Zxm7ZoQ...
Can someone point me at the law that enables them to do this?
See my response to a similar point: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6545514
Can you cite any relevant law? Case law or regulation?
The egocentrism of the title is remarkable.
Surely Brad means:
"Why is one forbidden from using a mobile phone in US Immigration areas?"
(Unless, of course, you specifically are forbidden to use a specific device -- an iPhone.)
Surely Brad means:
"Why is one forbidden from using a mobile phone in US Immigration areas?"
(Unless, of course, you specifically are forbidden to use a specific device -- an iPhone.)
"Egocentricism"
Aggressive term. He may be being egotistical, or he may be mentioning his specific device to give clarity on what was actually prohibited in his experience. No need to call him egotistical and it surely wasn't remarkable.
Aggressive term. He may be being egotistical, or he may be mentioning his specific device to give clarity on what was actually prohibited in his experience. No need to call him egotistical and it surely wasn't remarkable.
That video was hilarious.