Bad experience with CBP am I flagged now?

[Tacit Blue]

I came back from Tijuana with a friend of mine last night, went to " playas de Tijuana". I crossed over via the pedestrian crossing showed them my passport. " Why did you visit Mexico" " How long where you there for". The usual interrogative questions. Then they sent me to secondary because I was wearing a backpack. Okay.. this is going to be fun.

So they had me sit there while I overheard a women was accused of smuggling drugs in her stomach and I just sat there shaking my head. The agent asked me to come over and explain myself. Told him the same story. " Are you bringing anything back illegal". No, I don't involve myself with that kinda stuff, its just a change of clothes. I can understand the backpack looks suspicious. "Ok. Mr. XYZ you're free to go". I went to shake his hand politely and the agent yanked his hand back with a odd look and gave me a limp wrist hand shake.

I was tempted to show them my County EMS card but I didn't which i'll prob do next time.

Reason I asked if I'm flagged is because my uncle was stopped for a potato in his cooler and they tried to fine him 300.00 as a penalty. He told me ever since that incident he kept getting sent to secondary over the potato ordeal. haha

I'm not bashing CBP, I understand their job is important. But I feel like they're always abrasive in nature.

[UberPatriot]

I wouldn't worry about it.
You probably fit the profile so they had a second look at you.
No big deal.

[WyattandDoc]

You're not flagged and I would keep your EMS ID in your wallet. Wouldn't show them, it means nothing to them.

[Boblaw]

You have two types of temperaments at CPB 1. I am a LEO and 2. I have a government job. Guess which one you got. You don't have anything to worry about since putting your name in the system would take effort and absent a seizure very unlikely.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Yeah your EMT ID doesn't mean squat. They'd just say to you' "sir, step aside please."

[dk94044]

Wear more sunscreen

[jarhead714]

Pity they don't scrutinize each other with the same zeal they do people crossing the border.

[micro911]

When I walked across the bridge at the Niagara Falls, Canadian officers asked me the same questions, and when I crossed back to the US, the US officer asked me the same thing. I tried to have some conversation with a light joke, they did not even smile. That was a strange experience for me.

[hey_scooter]

You're now a wanted felon. BORTAC is on the way.

[Che762x39]

Reason I asked if I'm flagged is because my uncle was stopped for a potato in his cooler and they tried to fine him 300.00 as a penalty. He told me ever since that incident he kept getting sent to secondary over the potato ordeal. haha

Your uncle wants to be a martyr. He just needs a hug.

Otherwise it is just people doing a thankless job on the border.

[downdiver2]

I always have to go to secondary. Maybe, its cause I surf down there frequently, or maybe?

But, I wouldn't stress it. I do believe I am flagged too. I accidently went through the fast pass area and I don't have one, and ever since then I get secondary.

[roostersgt]

I have to assume they aren't overly friendly due to the extreme number of people they encounter each day. You probably got him at the end of his shift. The only negative encounter i ever had with them was at a check point deep inside Arizona, and far from the border. They all had the personality of a dead dog and asked ridiculous questions, even when they could plainly see my son wearing his full military uniform, sitting alongside military issued equipment bags, etc.....

[bazineta]

Nothing to be concerned over.

In 1989, I crossed the border at St. Albans, VT. Normally a 20-second interaction; in this case, 1.5 hours of questioning. Where was I born, where was my father born, what did he do for a living, how much did he make, etc. The same questions about 6 times, but they'd throw in a flyer now and again just to keep it spicy. The questioner had all the personality and inherent humor of a meat axe.

I was driving an '86 Mustang, 2-tone red over black. There was one of those hemispherical mirrors near where I was being questioned, and in it I could see them going through my car with dogs and mirrors.

After 1.5 hours, they decided that I was apparently not Carlos the Jackal and let me go on my way.

However, about 25 minutes prior to that, a second Mustang very similar to mine had pulled in; two tone, black over red (weird color, really, not a factory thing so far as I know). As I was leaving, I could see it in one of the garages at the checkpoint. They had removed the wheels, bumpers, seats, quarter panels, and it seemed as if they were in the process of gutting the interior. It did not look as if it was going to be a good day for the occupants of the vehicle.

So, from time to time, they are very serious about their scrutiny.

I've crossed our borders countless times since then; never an issue.

[Devilmonkey89]

We're already flagged as gun owners, so take being on another goverment list as a compliment.

[artb]

In the mid 1970s the wife and I used to go to Mexico a lot.
Cross at Mexicali and drive down to San Felipe.
Past San Felipe we would drive down to the beach, lower the pressure in the tires and drive down the beach until we found a nice place to camp.
Did a lot of fishing, skin diving and beer drinking.
Since we were in our early 30s we always got flagged at the border on the return and they went through everything -- I mean everything.
I always felt sorry for the guy/gal that inspected the porta potti ...
They never found anything but wasted about two hours of our time.
We always enjoyed the trips, but I think we were oblivious to possibilities of disaster that lurked.
I would never drive down there today.