On The Border

Yesterday I crossed the border into Blaine, WA to pick up some mail and do a little shopping. Driving to the border only takes about 45 minutes, but crossing can take just as much time especially on a weekend. I don't expect much scrutiny when I cross over to the U.S. side since I'm an American citizen. Usually I get asked where I now live and what I'm doing in Canada. This is typical procedure. However, the questions I was asked by the U.S. border patrol agent yesterday seemed to cross the line (no pun intended.) Our exchange began when he noticed my BC plates after I handed him my passport.

What country are you a citizen of (in a tone suggesting I was causing trouble)?

The U.S. (me thinks... not a very bright one since he's already seen my passport)

What are you doing in Canada?

I work here now.

What is your line of work?

I'm a mulitimedia designer for HSBC.

What's your purpose in the States?

I'm here to pick up some mail.

Some mail (in a tone of disbelief... he must think I'm here to smuggle drugs)?

Yeah, at Pacific Parcel.

Is any of this business mail?

No, it's personal mail.

Is this your car?

Yes.

You couldn't find a job in the States (spoken in a condescending manner)?

(I pause momentarily to determine whether he's joking or serious. He's not laughing.) No, I was transferred here.

I've never been asked the last question in all the times I've crossed the border by land and air. I really don't see the basis behind asking such a question. If I had said yes, what would he do? What other questions would I have been asked? I'm just glad I don't have to cross the border everyday. It's such a pain and being interrogated like you've got something to hide is no fun. I understand it's important to police the borders, but can't it be done in a more friendly manner?

In Point Roberts, a small community isolated from the rest of Washington state, kids grade 4 and higher have to cross the border daily to go to school. Imagine that, a bus full of kids having to present their passports everyday just to get to school. And not just twice, but four times in a day! Once to cross into Canada, a second time to cross back into the U.S. and then the opposite when returning home. It's insane! The commute to school must be at least two hours.

Really, what's the point of the U.S. keeping Point Roberts. They'd save a lot of taxpayers' dollars if they sold it to Canada, eliminating the need of border patrol agents policing a five-square-mile patch of land and the operation costs of running a post office.

 

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