I recently was interviewed by a US Customs official as part of Global Sentry. He asked if I was going on a new trips. I said yes a trip to Turkey and another to Africa. He asked what I was doing in Africa and I said hunting. Well, he said he was a vegetarian and abhors hunting and also thinks hunting over there is poaching anyway. I explained that everything was done legally, and with proper permits, and left it at that.

I got an email saying my Global Sentry was approved literally an hour later. A few days later I got a notice that it was revoked as I no longer qualified!!!

The notice said I had couple of options which I figured I will pursue after my trips.

Fast forward to yesterday. I arrived from Turkey and was detained by the officer checking passports saying he needed a customs officer to come and get me. The officer arrived and escorted me to the customs checking area along with my passport. He passed me along to another officer who brought up my file and then went along with me to collect my bags.

He said "So, you are a hunter". He was very nice, we picked up my bags, he rifled through them and let me go along with my passport and bags after making entries in the computer that he found nothing.

We did have a conversation regarding Cape Buffaloes, Water buffaloes etc.. He was interested in where various animals lived etc. As I said a nice guy.

HOWEVER, HE SAID DUE TO THE NOTICE ON MY FILE PUT IN BY THE ORIGINAL GUY, I WOULD BE STOPPED AND SEARCHED EVERY TIME I RE-ENTERED the US.

Seeing that is totally unacceptable I wonder if I should get attorneys involved in the appeal process now, after I get back from Zim.

So, watch out guys, the Global Sentry interview process can backfire and cause you to delay at ports of entry instead of speeding you through!!!

Wow, that is utter bullshit. You should definitely raise a stink about it when you get back from Zim. Keep us posted on how it goes when you are coming back.

I definitely wouldn't just drop this matter. I would start moving up the ladder until I got this resolved. It's NONE of the interviewer's business whether you hunt or not and being a hunter doesn't make you a threat to the country.

Call/write your congressman & senators, let them earn their pay

I agree - I would not drop it. It's a damn shame but you need either action higher up at Customs to remove whatever note they have associated with your passport or, barring that, a court order from a federal judge directing them to remove it. That's total BS.

For what it's worth, when I did my Global Entry interview in Chicago, I got the same question - what do you travel for and where do you go. When I told the young lady conducting the interview that I traveled mainly to Africa to hunt, she made a face and told me I couldn't bring any animal parts back into the US from any hunt. I told her that I didn't bring any meat back but that the hides and horns were shipped to my taxidermist through a customs broker. She told me that was illegal and that NOTHING could be shipped back to the US from a hunt in Africa. I politely thanked her for that information and we completed the process.

I haven't had any issues with them, and in fact I've been really happy with Global Entry - both the time savings when coming back into the US and - even more importantly, getting TSA Precheck for my domestic travel.

What is Global Sentry?

quote:

Originally posted by tanks:


HOWEVER, HE SAID DUE TO THE NOTICE ON MY FILE PUT IN BY THE ORIGINAL GUY, I WOULD BE STOPPED AND SEARCHED EVERY TIME I RE-ENTERED the US.

What is happening in the US??! It seems you are heading into some sort of bureaucratic dictatorship!

I thought socialistic Denmark was bad!

Good Hunting

CF

I was recently denied on my Global Entry application because on my last trophy shipment in 2013, my San Francisco customs broker, all unbeknownst to me, had untimely paid a customs bond. I sent a written appeal with all pertinent documentation on to the Ombudsman's office in Vermont, pointing out that I had absolutely nothing to do with it, but I have heard nothing and expect not too. It's all total bullshit. 99% of those people are unadulturated assholes. Let me know what happens with your issue. By the way, on the subsequent written denial, what did they say it was for? What violation of the law? My denial stated the specific reasons for the denial.

As others have said... you need to fight this. You need to fine out why and please keep us updated.

We are dealing with this ridiculous bull shit, all the while tens of thousands of illegals are streaming across our southern borders unimpeded. Amazing, simply amazing!

Thank you for the information.

I was thinking about applying for Global Entry for my wife and myself. The only down side is it is only good for 5 years, then you need to reapply.

We had a similar thing with barclays bank some years ago when some of their anti huntin staff tried to close me down but I fought back with a press release that I plastered all over the net and thanks to that and also thanks to others who helped me immensely, it went to board level and several arses got kicked and I got an apology and accounts reinstated PDQ..... so it is possible to beat the bastards and a google search even now on steve robinson barclays bank will show what they tried to do.

I n your case, I'd have thoughtyour constitutional rights have been infringed so I reckon you have even more of a case than I did.

Good luck kicking their arses!

You would be surprised what can happen when a senator or representative gets involved.
My only experience was on the state level, but things stated happening fast when they started calling those I was having problems with.
Crying shame law abiding people get jacked with by morons that probably could not hold a private sector job.

I had no problem at all during my interview for Global Entry in Albuquerque two weeks ago.
Receive my card less than a week later. It may depend on where you interview as to what kind of treatment you get. It should not matter, but apparently it does.

Good luck with you fight! Is there anything we as a group can do?

Any chance that the fact you live on the left coast have anything to do with this? My Global Entry interviewer in Texas asked me how they cooked the meat when I went to Zim!

Their personal beliefs about hunting shouldn't factor in on it, but I think they are instructed to ask more questions about where you went and why these days.

Upon my return from my last international trip, which was to Berlin, I was asked why I wanted to go to Berlin and what I did there.

Given the state of world affairs, I'm not sure that is a bad thing. I'm sure the questions would have been more specific if I'd have said Kiev, for example.

File a freedom of information act request for your file. It will take a little time but will help you bolster your case. By all means file an appeal ASAP. If you do not have an appeal on file you will not get much, if any, help for elected officials.

I go for my interview next month. Presume it will be done professionally. Having been background checked for the Treasury Dept. back when they were very, very thorough, plus concealed carry in both Texas and Arizona, I cannot imagine a bad outcome. Unless, of course, I run into the same sort that Tanks encountered.

Will fight it, if that's the case, and encourage the same.

Tanks,

Per our phone conversation today, the Ombudsman Appeal is only one step that you need to take.

Here is the appropriate reference for CBP employee conduct:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Standards of Conduct
http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/5504

Here are where the additional individuals/offices where your letters of complaint are to be send. Be sure and type each letter directly to each individual/office and annotate copies to the other individuals after your closing for each letter:

Representative Gary Miller
42nd Congressional District
1037 Longworth Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20229

Assistant Commissioner
Office of Internal Affairs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20229

Director Los Angeles
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1 World Trade Center
Suite 705
Long Beach, CA 90831

This may seem a bit overboard but it’s the only way to assure that your letter will be taken seriously and NOT be “lost in the shuffle”. If you receive quick positive resolution send a follow up letter to each thanking them for their assistance (regardless of whether any was given or not). If you receive no quick resolution, or get the “run around” from the Ombudsman, you’ve already initiated the path of resolution that once your second letter hits the desk should result in the “trickle down” internal process requiring a written response” up line” regarding the issue. Obviously should no joy be forthcoming from your letters then you’ll need to contact an attorney.

And assuredly – this is also the only way to assure the jerk that fraudulently annotated your background doesn’t get away with similar actions in the future; it may also help eliminate those that have already taken place.

Be safe, enjoy your hunt…

Thank you very much Jim for all the info. I will follow your advice once I get back from Zim.

Also follow Jim's (Dall85) advice and file a FOIA for your file information. After you file your appeal with the Ombudsman and have your delivery receipt.

It happens all to often. My fellow Americans have limited my quality of LIFE, have curtailed my LIBERTY and have interfered with my pursuit of HAPPINESS far more than any foreigner whether Al Q or Taliban or Isis or anyone else.

For actual impact on my life, the primary enemy is entirely domestic.

Today I took a Remington semi auto shotgun into the BWI customs to register it and get a 4457. The shotgun was broken down and in its plastic factory case. First question was is it unloaded. Then the female agent insisted that I also register the "scope".
I asked what scope?
She then pointed to the barrel and said " that scope".

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana1:
Today I took a Remington semi auto shotgun into the BWI customs to register it and get a 4457. The shotgun was broken down and in its plastic factory case. First question was is it unloaded. Then the female agent insisted that I also register the "scope".
I asked what scope?
She then pointed to the barrel and said " that scope".

Please finish the story. What did she do when you informed her that was where the discharge came from.

it never ceases to amaze me how stupid the average government employee is

quote:

posted 09 September 2014 07:26 Hide Post
it never ceases to amaze me how stupid the average government employee is pissers

and that's why they are working for the governmnet

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana1:
Today I took a Remington semi auto shotgun into the BWI customs to register it and get a 4457. The shotgun was broken down and in its plastic factory case. First question was is it unloaded. Then the female agent insisted that I also register the "scope".
I asked what scope?
She then pointed to the barrel and said " that scope".

My mouth is fully automatic and has a hair trigger and I would have asked "Bitch, are you that fucking stupid?" before I would have realized I said it.

I have actually said exactly that to a law enforcement official in a "professional encounter" and when they asked "What did you say?" and I repeated myself and added :.. and if not you deserve a fucking academy award for your delivery"

The situation was one where I was a WITNESS to a traffic accident and a junior officer on the scene was acting as though I was one of the participants... and was insisting on my documents (Registration & proof of insurance)... which I would have only given to him under those circumstances as a suppository.
(Which I explicitly stated to his brother officer)

I don't have much respect for anyone who works for the government.

I think the last four of you that posted might need to talk to some of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that allow you the time to post 4000-10000 times on this site about how "stupid" they are to serve this country as government employees. Allan-you are one tough son of a gun buddy even if you can't control your mouth. We could sure have used a hard ass like you over the last 12 years in the GWOT although you are way to "smart" to serve this country and probably too busy making 4000 posts. I'm in awe. Internet Rangers, so very brave at the keyboard. You guys are a damn joke.

Don

i don't consider military personnel as government employees, although technically they are. i reserve that title for idiots like those mentioned above and similar ilk at the IRS, EPA, HHS, TSA, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
i don't consider military personnel as government employees, although technically they are. i reserve that title for idiots like those mentioned above and similar ilk at the IRS, EPA, HHS, TSA, White House etc.

Fixed

quote:

Originally posted by DonW28:
I think the last four of you that posted might need to talk to some of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that allow you the time to post 4000-10000 times on this site about how "stupid" they are to serve this country as government employees. Allan-you are one tough son of a gun buddy even if you can't control your mouth. We could sure have used a hard ass like you over the last 12 years in the GWOT although you are way to "smart" to serve this country and probably too busy making 4000 posts. I'm in awe. Internet Rangers, so very brave at the keyboard. You guys are a damn joke.

Don

Don,

Career military are soldiers, they do a more thankless job under even worse conditions...

whatever they are they are not "government workers" but I don't believe soldiers should become police officers without MORE training to UNLEARN things that the average
probationary police officer didn't ever learn.

The Issue I had with the officer I commented above is somewhere in his life someone failed to tell him that "ASSumptions are the mother of all fuckups"

and also failed to tell him that ending his probationary year did not make him a god...

He ASSumed that I was one of the drivers involved in the accident, I clearly heard the senior officer on the scene tell him to "take a WITNESS STATEMENT from that big guy over there"

about a minute in he started talking to me like a perp (bad move)

If I had allowed him to continue his erroneous path of reasoning, something I tried several times to do politely before I determined that there was a need to do I would have found my name and data on an accident report as the driver who had hit a pedestrian and another car.

He asked for my license, registration and proof of insurance, something that I as a PEDESTRIAN was not required to give him, so I handed him my license.. and he got nasty about my not giving him the other documents, I could clearly see he was NOT writing on the correct lines of the report form...

When I told him those documents were not available he got very unpleasant and threatening... (to arrest me for not having insurance)

That is something I was not going to allow.

BTW, it has taken me 9-1/2 YEARS to accumulate 4000 posts, so take your slimy attitude and shove it.

Bwana- I experienced that same exact thing at the customs house when I went to get my 4457 for a rifle. The security guard at the front desk jumped out of her chair and I thought was going to taze me.

After I got her calmed down, opened the case, bolt out and proved it wasn't loaded (she thought you could still shoot with the bolt out). I then went to the customs office where they equally freaked out and wondered why I would travel anywhere with a rifle.

After that experience I use the customs office at BWI airport which is a bit more professional.

Don't mind DonW28
He just doesn't know how to have a civil argument and he just takes things he reads between ( that are not even there ) the lines personally.
Sad...

i notice that Don has deleted all his posts. wonder why???

Because I realized that this was the anniversary of 9/11 and as a retired Army officer the posts I made were undignified and giving too much weight to those of you who like to spend your lives posting on the internet. Just finished having a couple of drinks with a friend who was about 200 feet from getting killed in the Pentagon and somehow the drivel of poor mouthing government workers doesn't seem so important right now. My life changed significantly on this day and it is still impacting me so I'm going to end my participation in the bullshit.

Warmest regards,

Don

thank you for your service.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by StormsGSP:
Wow, that is utter bullshit. You should definitely raise a stink about it when you get back from Zim. Keep us posted on how it goes when you are coming back.[/QUOTE

Tanks,
I had this same problem where I was getting sent to secondary the last three times I crossed the border with sentri. I finally went to the sentri office and asked to speak with a supervisor. It took 5 minutes to fix their problem and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

My wife and I have Global Entry. No hunting questions were asked. Then again, We got ours in Texas!