Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Hawaii

[HiloJulie]

What’s the subject of this thread?

Good question.

It appears to be a repeat of old news about ice raids.

Some teachers got detained briefly a few months ago, a lady from down under got caught trying to move into the United States illegally, a rumor was going around about raiding coffee farms but it's not the season and no one is picking coffee and not much else that can be verified.

I guess now it's OK for a few innocent teachers to get drug out of their beds in their underwear at gunpoint as a collateral incident when rounding up the bad hombres, but I wonder how that would make you feel if that happened to you? Hey, at least they got some bad hombres in town, right?

Get over it, you were only "detained" briefly. In your briefs. At the crack of dawn.

I'm also wondering if Ironyak's reference to you as "Opie" was just a plain old typo or intentional? (See, I do read posts. Everyone of them)

[TomK]

Then stop licking my ass.

"I do not think it means what you think it means". Perhaps it was a Freudian slip, and you meant to write "kicking".

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What’s the subject of this thread?

You're a moderator, so the following is stuff you know. If you don't, you shouldn't be a moderator.

It started with the OP posting about the subject. Then there was a month's break in posts, which was broken by the OP posting a photo of a "Customs and Border Protection vehicle spotted in downtown Pahoa.". Somehow, this photo of a car in a parking lot, with no context at all, has led to many on this thread, including the OP, seemingly losing their sh*t.

I think that's a reasonable summary.

['elepaio]

"What do you remember? Please describe your memories. Sorry, but I'm tired of your crap. My father fought alongside the Americans on D-Day at Omaha Beach. He was part of a detachment to provide rapid RDF cover for the landing forces and fought for our freedom alongside his friends, colleagues, and allies, many of whom died that day. My mother was in Austria hiding from the Nazis in the Alps with her mother and sisters. Her two brothers had already been forced to fight for the Nazis and never returned.

You consider yourself not so lucky. I consider myself lucky I had parents who survived through that horrible time, and at least one of them is still with me to talk about that period and became the greatest generation.

So please, you don't remember things through your genes, and for all you know, YOU don't know if your ancestors were on the other side. Fortunately, rational people don't hold today's generations responsible for what happened in the past. Perhaps your view is different, but then I've never thought you are rational."

spot on Tom ^^^ SALAMAT

[ironyak]

It's strange to watch some geriatrics who have repeatedly demonstrated they can't follow a conversation, nor recognize a rhetorical question apparently, try to reverse uno their confusion and say other people don't know what's happening or have lost their shit, I mean their waewae pilau Mod2, e kala mai. Most others appear to be keeping up - if you're not, maybe do listen to Big Pharma and ask your doctor, instead of thinking OP has lost it. Speaking of which...

HJ - I'm also wondering if Ironyak's reference to you as "Opie" was just a plain old typo or intentional?
You think I would intentionally play word games to imply he's some sort of anachronistic adolescent whose constant misunderstandings need enough repeated corrections to form a B-plot stretching across several years? Don't be lolo!

[randomq]

It's strange to watch some geriatrics who have repeatedly demonstrated they can't follow a conversation, nor recognize a rhetorical question apparently [...]

Yeah, I used to think that was just a schtick.  Now I'm not sure what it is.

In other news, my work will now require some international travel, and I'm wondering how all this immigration stuff is going to affect me.  Will I have to unlock my laptop and phone when arriving back in Oahu?  What happens if I refuse?

[HiloJulie]

"I'm wondering how all this immigration stuff is going to affect me.  Will I have to unlock my laptop and phone when arriving back in Oahu?  What happens if I refuse?"

I hope I am not offending anybody by making this post of hopefully helpful information.

What to expect?

1. A lot is going to depend on what country you are returning from. Take that as you deem fit.
2. If not all ready, join Global Entry Trusted Traveler program. It's all over the internets.
3. ALWAYS renew your passport within 1 year of it expiring. Once it's at 6 months before it expires, you could be flagged, maybe not a body cavity search, and when entering some countries you may be denied.
4. NEVER use your international destination to do your "trinket" purchasing for family and friends and return with those precious foreign presents. Ship them. Travel simple, with clothing, toiletries and work-related items. No pots and pans and other assorted cookware.
5. They can ask whatever they want. Answer those questions in accordance as to how you may wish to desire what happens to you in the next few hours of being asked.
6. While, as a US Citizen you CAN NOT be denied entry providing you have all proper travel documents, your computers and iPhones are a different matter. Refusing to unlock or provide access to those devices will at worst case lead to further delays for questioning and being officially detained, but not denial of entry and they will just seize the devices. Also, remove all memes in reference to the current Vice President and/or President. But even more importantly, erase any and all traces of PunaWeb from all devices.

I'm sure there is more, but as a former extensive domestic and international traveler, what I have said above always led to an enjoyable US Customs Entry in numerous locations in the US including Honolulu.

Your new job sounds intriguing.

[TomK]

It's strange to watch some geriatrics who have repeatedly demonstrated they can't follow a conversation, nor recognize a rhetorical question apparently [...]

Yeah, I used to think that was just a schtick.  Now I'm not sure what it is.

In other news, my work will now require some international travel, and I'm wondering how all this immigration stuff is going to affect me.  Will I have to unlock my laptop and phone when arriving back in Oahu?  What happens if I refuse?

What makes you think you'll have to unlock your laptop or phone? Are you traveling somewhere dodgy or just going by the hype on social media? It's a serious question. I travel internationally a fair bit, and not once have I been asked to unlock my phone or laptop. This whole thread has been taken over by fear because someone saw a border patrol car in Pahoa with the driver likely taking a break.

[TomK]

5. They can ask whatever they want. Answer those questions in accordance as to how you may wish to desire what happens to you in the next few hours of being asked.

Can someone translate that for me? This brings back memories of "Ken" and his inability to write a simple sentence on PW.

Incidentally,

"I'm sure there is more, but as a former extensive domestic and international traveler, what I have said above always led to an enjoyable US Customs Entry in numerous locations in the US including Honolulu".

You may be unique. I have yet to meet anyone who enjoys going through US customs/immigration. Sometimes it's quick, sometimes it's miserable. Occasionally, you meet a friendly immigration officer and some banter occurs, but it's rare, and even on those occasions, I would hardly call the process enjoyable.

Whatever floats your boat...

['elepaio]

Fear is how they are controlled Tom.

[Durian Fiend]

5. They can ask whatever they want. Answer those questions in accordance as to how you may wish to desire what happens to you in the next few hours of being asked.

Can someone translate that for me? This brings back memories of "Ken" and his inability to write a simple sentence on PW.

Incidentally,

"I'm sure there is more, but as a former extensive domestic and international traveler, what I have said above always led to an enjoyable US Customs Entry in numerous locations in the US including Honolulu".

You may be unique. I have yet to meet anyone who enjoys going through US customs/immigration. Sometimes it's quick, sometimes it's miserable. Occasionally, you meet a friendly immigration officer and some banter occurs, but it's rare, and even on those occasions, I would hardly call the process enjoyable.

Whatever floats your boat...

I think she means that if you give an officer attitude they are more likely to hassle and delay you.

With Global Entry, don't you get to skip the lines and officers entirely?  My wife recently obtained this. I have not, but after witnessing at JFK how quickly this document allows a person to breeze through customs I'm tempted.  Anyone traveling internationally on a regular basis should absolutely make the effort to apply and go through the process.