Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Hawaii

[HiloJulie]

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...

Since I wrote it, and since numerous other posters have stated your somewhat alarming inability to comprehend, I'll translate it for you:

"CUSTOMS ENTRY" (Hypothetical Hawaii resident returning from a foreign country at HNL airport)
Honolulu based Customs Agent: Why did you travel to (Name of Country returning from)

Hypothetical Hawaii resident ANSWER POSIBILITY NO 1:
I was in (Name of Country) for my employer, the XYX Corporation, from (date) to (date) where I am employed as (Occupation). If possible, a business card is a nice thing to show.

Hypothetical Hawaii resident ANSWER POSIBILITY NO 2:
F.U. you boot licking POS. It's none of your EFFING business.

What do you think the next few hours will be like for you in the Honolulu US Customs section after giving answer possibility number 2 versus giving answer possibility number 1?

I hope that is a clear enough definition for you. 

I have no idea who this "Ken" is you are talking about. Further, my name is Julie, I am happily married to my husband, have 2 adult and married children, and 2 grandchildren. And we are ruled by a Jack Russell who is named Barney. I do not recall having any sex change reassignments. I am not like a certain poster who has identified as one gender one day and another gender the next day and as I see here on this thread, has now suddenly become your best friend!

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.

In fiscal year 2024, US Border and Custom seized 47,047 electronic devices. It is not a question of "they never do it," it's a fact that they can. For any reason. Or whim. 

When you present yourself at a US Customs Point of Entry, such as at HNL airport while you still maintain rights, they have the authority to search the electronic devices, including phones, of all individuals entering or departing the U.S., regardless of citizenship, under the "border search exception" to the Fourth Amendment. This means they can conduct basic searches at HNL (manual inspection) without a warrant, probable cause, or reasonable suspicion. 

Further, US Customs and Border Patrol agents including the ones working at the HNL airport, despite their organization's current reputation, are human beings and have a job to do. Treating them like dog shit, serves no purpose outside of screwing YOUR life over with ZERO recourse. Which is why, in addition to my stunningly charming disposition and yeah, kinda a cute smile, EVERY time I went through a US Point of Entry - it was - enjoyable! Especially when going through the US Customs section at the HNL airport.

Incidentally, and to be clear and quite frankly very blunt, when I used to travel, YOU were always the type of traveler I had to encounter numerous times at many airports, including HNL that I would always pray that the next time would be BEHIND me in line, instead of always being in front of me. My prayers were NEVER answered.

Hawaii? Puna?

Note added information in BLUE font.

[TomK]

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...

Since I wrote it, 

Yes, but I'm on your ignore list. Just like every other internet kook who claims to ignore someone, they give it away. All you need to do is ask a question that they can't ignore and the list just goes up in flames. It also means credibility has taken a hit, and, as in law courts, a witness's credibility is essential. For example, can you trust someone who lies?

PS. And WTF does the following mean?

"Incidentally, and to be clear and quite frankly very blunt, when I used to travel, YOU were always the type of traveler I had to encounter numerous times that I would always pray that the next time would be BEHIND me in line, instead of always being in front of me. My prayers were NEVER answered."

[Rob Tucker]

Like moths to a flame....

[ironyak]

Nothing in randomq's question struck me as being fearful - more just a hypothetical IF I'm asked to unlock my devices by CBP in HNL, what are my options and possible consequences, which Julie's answer outlines the possibilities, mirroring much of what CBP says itself. EFF has a useful guide for cleaning up devices for international travel to help avoid possible issues, and Wired had an article on how to establish separate devices for travel, which is the most secure.

ANSWER POSSIBILITY NO...
If you have the time to spare, and willingness to lose your devices for several days/weeks/months, and any interest in all at exercising your constitutional rights, the answer should be obvious. The presumption of CBP just having "a job to do" is lost when they deport people for memes and subject many young ladies to strip and cavity searches for arbitrary and unwritten rules.

In remixed summary, when Coming into Los Angeles, may the odds be ever in your favor!

[TomK]

Like moths to a flame....

...here comes Rob. The moderator who doesn't understand the 1st amendment.

---

Nothing in randomq's question struck me as being fearful [...]

Seriously? You don't think that...

"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?"

...shows a little fear about what will happen on an international trip? Since you started this nonsense, why don't you tell randomq what will happen if he/she refuses to answer questions? You can build some additional fear there.

[HiloJulie]

Yes, but I'm on your ignore list. Just like every other internet kook who claims to ignore someone, they give it away. All you need to do is ask a question that they can't ignore and the list just goes up in flames. It also means credibility has taken a hit, and, as in law courts, a witness's credibility is essential. For example, can you trust someone who lies?

PS. And WTF does the following mean?

"Incidentally, and to be clear and quite frankly very blunt, when I used to travel, YOU were always the type of traveler I had to encounter numerous times that I would always pray that the next time would be BEHIND me in line, instead of always being in front of me. My prayers were NEVER answered."

I hope not to be chastised in replying so fast, but, as I have along with Ironyak on numerous occasions now pointed out that people DO NOT READ POSTS, but feel fully entitled to reply, it is clear that you did NOT READ this post:

For what it's worth, no one will ever be on my ignore list.

Truth be told, me neither. But it did make for a fun screen grab and photo op!

I have not lied, nor has my credibility been injured. You failed to read a post but yet felt it proper to comment on, then call me a liar. Speaks to your credibility quite well. Further, the law has very specific and harsh penalties for false accusations and even more importantly, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Especially when evidence exists to counter the false accusation but was simply ignored.

But truth also being told here, I'm giving you up Tom. You really don't wish to discuss topics, you wish to separate fly shit from pepper and argue with everyone basically outside of Obie who has about a 98% track record of saying things that are just simply untrue or wrong. 

Jesus Christ, as shown above this post, you even want to pick a fight with the owner of PunaWeb. As MyManao would say "WTF?"

So, as Rob once said to you and another poster about being 2 clowns trying to poke each other eyes out, and now the moths to the flame comment, but I'm officially saying to you and Rob and Moderator 2 that I am done with your games. Play away with MyManao, tell Ironyak that they lost their shit - heck - even give little 'e a hug. But say hey to Obie for sure!

But, please, and while I am parodying Will Smith's famous statement, but "Keep my name out of your mouth." (And to comprehend that even better, by mouth I also mean keyboard)

[ironyak]

TomK - Seriously?
Correct - I don't think randomq is being fearful, just evaluating their options. Always good to plan in advance IMO.

Per CBP: "If you are a U.S. citizen, you cannot be denied admission into the U.S. so long as you have proof of citizenship, such as your valid U.S. passport. You can be detained, however, during CBP’s inspection, and your device may be seized. Your travel may also be delayed."

In my several CBP interactions while border-hopping they threatened on multiple occasions to hold us for a few days for not consenting to a search - ok, do what you think is right and I'll do the same (they ran the dogs by us or sternly eyed the vehicle and let us go). Like I said, if you have the time and want to advocate for your 4th amendment protections, make choices in advance and as the situation arises to enable that option. It is not settled law that you forfeit your 4th amendment rights at the border like when returning to HNL which is in Hawaii, as is Puna (at least I try Mod2 ;) - see United States v. Sultanov, 2024

ETA: TomK - here comes Rob. The moderator who doesn't understand the 1st amendment.
lol - says the Brit who doesn't understand the U.S. Constitution or Section 230. Rob can boot you, or any of us, at will - or not - moderation is completely up to him as Punaweb is his private property, and he's not the government, so the First Amendment speech protections mean nothing in this context ya numpty muppet.

[HiloJulie]

I would add that depending on where your work takes you randomq, your chances of your first point of entry being Honolulu may be very slim, so, be prepared for your US Custom's visit to be - LAX, SFO - or maybe even JFK, LGA, EWR.

The Customs agents in those west/east cost airports don't have as much Aloha as our Honolulu boys and girls do!

[randomq]

At least a few of my upcoming trips will be entering at HNL. I thought I heard US citizens couldn't be denied entry, but I guess they can deny your devices entry!

I may have brought in a few extra duty-free items from the Caribbean in my youth. Also had my every earthly belonging gone through for failing to list the Netherlands on my entry card once (I had done a European tour and ran out of room on the form.) All they found was some very stinky cheese, which I was allowed to keep. I never realized what a criminal I was...

Thinking about travelling makes me wish for those innocent days again, and how sad it is that we let a few assholes at the extremes ruin all of our fun.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

My girlfriend has entered HNL twice this year with a Green Card & Japanese passport. I asked her whether there were any questions about devices, she said they just said Aloha, welcome to Hawaii and waved her through.