We Were Detained at an American Airport | PHILLY Series!

We got taken aside for secondary questioning at Philadelphia airport and this is what happened!
#Philadelphia #Philly #Airport
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[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

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[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

I say this because I love you, if you call that being detained then you are the most privileged people on the Earth lmao

[@shadow1sd]

@@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072 right

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

2:50 ok shut your traps before I staple them shut! They aren’t profiling anybody! I mean it’s true that minorities or more likely poorer, like people sneaking to Puerto Rico in order to get to the mainland that way happens a lot so that’s probably what you were seeing. Illegal workers are usually minorities because sadly minorities are more likely to have an ancestry of poverty. And Africa is just poor in general unfortunately

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

6:41 more like illegal work They’re not trying to look for people who look guilty all the time because guilty people can come in all shapes and sizes

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

7:23 sorry but they can’t like America is at the forefront of people trying to get in illegally or sneak illegal stuff, frequent visitors going back and forth into the country and out again is another thing that causes concern. America is just popular in all the right and wrong ways

[@jamespaffel2283]

Joel - "No drug dealer would wear embroidered slippers..." Me - "That's where you're wrong, kiddo!"

[@1776SOL]

I think Pablo Escobar would've had embroidered slippers

[@familybills2908]

@@1776SOL agree 😄

[@barryfletcher7136]

Advice: You were sent to secondary screening because of the contradictory answers you gave to the Immigration Officer. You are not a household unless you live together. In the future, complete separate Customs forms. When you travel to the USA on the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) then visiting Canada matters. If you enter the USA on the VWP and then travel to Canada OR Mexico OR both then the time spent in Canada/Mexico counts toward the 90 day limit on how long you can be in North America. In this case (previous trip) you first entered Canada and then visited the USA, so the time in Canada did not count. You needed to tell that to the immigration Officer, and be clear in the future. They do care about the amount of time you spend in the USA over multiple short trips, though there is no stated maximum per year (an actual USA tourist visa has a stated maximum of 180 days/year). Never, never, never say the words "job", work", or anything similar when asked by US Immigration/Customs about your planned activities in the USA. They get really excited when they think they have caught someone planning to illegally work in the USA while visiting as a tourist. Be more prepared in the future to answer questions about what you do for a living and how much you make. YES, they can ask you that. So can the Immigration Officers in every country. You were probably saved when Joel said his "accountant takes care of all that". I think you came within a hair of being denied entry due to the contradictory answers and when one of you said the word "work" when asked about your plans. That would have been REALLY BAD since being denied entry would have effectively made it impossible for you to visit the USA in the future. In another comment I recommended joining Global Entry. Please do that. Belonging would have almost certainly allowed you to avoid being sent to secondary screening: www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/international-arrangements www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/international-arrangements/UnitedKingdom/global-entry-UK-citizens www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/benefits www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/tsa-precheck You can do Enrollment on Arrival in the USA or at a Pre-Clearance center such as an airport in Canada or Ireland: www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/enrollment-arrival kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHLdXn2ofMiWm6s Best wishes in the future!

[@barryfletcher7136]

@@irenewills9736 I joined GE in 2012 and it's worth its weight in gold.

[@ClarkJ2265]

I agree. They seem to be a bit flip with the security. They need to take this more seriously. They’re not royalty. Their behavior was not adequate.

[@jeanettes2170]

Can they really ask you how much is in your bank account? I think that was going too far.

[@StephenASmithESPN]

@@jeanettes2170 if you were American and traveled to Germany you wouldn’t even ask if there allowed to ask questions you would answer all of them bc you aren’t a citizen of that country you would be more formal and take it more serious. People travel to america and show no respect bc we are so nice to everyone kinda annoying how they take our airport security annoying bc there so serious and there not even us citizens, consider what we been through with 9/11 , who are they to question our security the audacity

[@erickelley1680]

@@jeanettes2170 i was asked when i entered japan. they want to make sure you have enough that you wont get stuck in the country.

[@NaturalNeuron]

You were questioned because they thought you might be working here without a work visa. I once witnessed a woman from the Netherlands get immediately deported because she came here, said she was going to teach at a tennis camp over the Summer and she did not have a work visa. Since she was only working for room and board, she didn't think of it as a real job. You two missed the same treatment by the skin of your teeth. Don't ever tell the immigration or customs people that you plan to work unless you have all the paperwork.

[@barryfletcher7136]

Exactly!

[@benfelps]

in any country.

[@DrVVVinK]

​@@benfelpstrue in any country, except if you live in the EU and travel within the EU, which I am assuming what the woman from the Netherlands was used to. Nope

[@MsCateStar]

If you think US border officials are harsh... then don't travel to places like Singapore or Vietnam. They aren't friendly, they mean business.

[@hannahpumpkins4359]

They got really mad at me when I said to them, "Vietnam, China, Japan - they're all the same, ya know"? LOL!

[@EricW800]

I've been to Singapore a million times...never a problem.

[@JW-uy2on]

Really? I've never had any issue with border officials anywhere but the US.

[@AlexOhioo]

For me Australian border control was a bitch

[@dadaismotienekasepta]

US borders officials aren't harsh, they're just paranoid af (and stupid ofc)

[@jonathancathey2334]

Your frequent travels and inconsistent answers got you thrown into secondary questioning. Part of their job is to find and to detain drug smugglers. Let alone anything else someone might want to smuggle in.

[@pgray5223]

I had a similar experience at Heathrow when I was coming back to the US. I am nearing 70, so I don't think I look too wild. But come to find out, I had a tube of hand lotion in my purse that I had bought in Seattle Airport. They were testing it for explosives. Not all TSA people are rude, but you sometimes run into one that takes themselves too seriously.

[@hannahdyson7129]

Sorry about that . The IRA were using all sorts to smuggle in bombs.

[@pgray5223]

@@hannahdyson7129 I didn't mind. I knew they have a tough job to do. If it had been explosive and I blew up the plane, they couldn't say they let me go because I was just an old lady with hand lotion.

[@marydavis5234]

Joel and Lia was questioned by Custom Agents not the TSA, they even said it in the video.

[@pgray5223]

@@marydavis5234 I know that. I am just saying that it goes both ways. They are trying to do a job and it isn't always easy. I was surprised that the agent was so brisk with me and then slightly amused that it was over a tube of lotion that I had bought inside an airport. And I was especially amused when he told me rather sternly I could have avoided it if I had had the lotion in a zip lock bag...as if that would prevent any explosive from working. I had already been really chewed out by the customs guy for carrying a sandwich off of the plane.

[@marydavis5234]

@@pgray5223 Did you have your hand lotion in the original bottle or did you put some in those clear travel bottles you can buy, you are to mark the clear bottles with what is in them.

[@biblehistoryscience3530]

I once made the mistake of saying something funny about the massive delays to a Chunnel passport officer, then he diverted my car to a little building in the distance where heavily armed soldiers and dogs emerged and searched everything in our car, including the clothes. The moral of the story is to speak only when you're spoke to at border entries.

[@jeffmorse645]

You have no idea what the other people were in the room were there for. Don't assume before you condemn the process. That said, when I was boarding the plane home at Heathrow I was in the departure lounge and heard my name called over a loudspeaker. I walked up to the counter and the woman proceeded to grill me as to what I had been doing in England, where I stayed in London, who packed my suitcase, etc... They then opened my suitcase and went through literally every nook and cranny in it. On either side of her was a military looking guy with an automatic rifle in his hand. I was scared shitless. I have no idea why I was singled out and when they finished with me they repacked my case and sent it on to the baggage handlers. All this was in full view of every other passenger that was going to be on the plane. Needless to say they were all looking at me and whispering. So yeah, it can happen at airports in your country too.

[@hannahdyson7129]

If you are an Amercain it would have been due to the threat of the IRA . A lot of Americains supported them throughout. Donating money and even trying to gun run for them . The US would offer sanctuary to known IRA members often wanted for terriost actives and murder . The IRA often targeted and killed Customs officials so that's why the armed guy was there . You could have well tried to kill the official. It's unfornate it happend to you . But it's an uncomfortable need . Sorry it happend . But it's better than potentially going on the tube and denotation a bomb

[@thurber72]

Wait, serious question. Is the IRA still around? Haven't heard anything about them in decades

[@kevinp8108]

You will always be taken to secondary screening if you're a tourist on a tourist visa and you mention the word WORK to a Customs Border agent. If you're suspected of illegally working in the US, you will be denied entry and sent back on the next flight back to your home country!

[@kronos2611]

Honestly the way you are describing it the border officials had no choice other than to take you to secondary screening. Screwing up your landing card looks really bad and the talking over each other also looks really bad as though you're trying to hide something. In the future maybe go through separately. Don't be overly surprised if you get enhanced security checks in the future...

[@johanargente6731]

With all the carrying on about racial profiling, I would have thought you'd be grateful that they'd balanced the scales a bit by hauling in two innocent white Brits.

[@rebeccashepard7507]

You take them 100% serious. No joking. You were making things worse. lol.

[@ChefStone101]

As a citizen of the US, the police have stopped me for " you match the destription of a suspect" they will put handcuffs on me for "your and our safety".

[@edwardmiessner6502]

When you're handcuffed is the scariest part about it outside of being stopped by undercover officers for that reason. Because some cops will take "liberties" with you. And undercover officers? Sometimes they'll come off as police impersonators and violent criminals (James King Institute for Justice).

[@HamburgerHelperDeath]

When the IRA tried to bomb a UK airport in the early 90’s, I was pulled aside a few days later and searched at the airport. I was an American student studying in the Uk and I was leaving. Clearly they searched me because my last name was Irish. I didn’t complain because it made sense. Customs probably thought you were pretentious. Only the fabulously wealthy don’t have any clue how much money they have. It’s not only about drug smuggling either, a lot of people do come over and never go home. The US has more immigrants than anywhere in the world. We took in 2 million this year. We normally take in 1 million.

[@stacyr4070]

You had to have been profiled due to your frequent visit previously, your inconsistent answers to their questions, and the hostage situation in Texas that happened a few weeks prior by a UK citizen. They always get more cautious after an incident.

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

What does THAT have to do with anything?

[@thetruthhurtsyou147]

@@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072 A lot!

[@stacyr4070]

Obviously the two aren't connected but just saying that Homeland Security was on heightened alert due to the UK citizen getting into the country thru the airport and taking hostages in Texas. So Joel and Lia unfortunately got profiled.

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

@@thetruthhurtsyou147 how?

[@specialnewb9821]

@@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072 Because our border security apparatus is pretty dumb.

[@frankrotondo3771]

They finally caught you guys 😂

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

😂finalllly!

[@clevelandmaker386]

@@ThoseTwoBrits1 I know why this happened.....it was only a matter of time Lias just too damn fine you see Lias hotness is a threat to not just national security....but the security of the universe Sorry Lia....it's the burden of being one of the beautiful people

[@CaptainFrost32]

@@clevelandmaker386 or Joel was suspected of human trafficking... constant international travel, inconsistent stories, limited luggage, evasive on details.

[@christophermckinney3924]

The issue is there are two agencies looking at your bags. TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is checking for bombs and explosives, etc., while (CBP) Custom Border Protection only checks interenational fliers for customs violations (contraband). So you can pass throguh TSA and be held up by CBP. So to answer your question, no they don't necessarily know in CBP what is in your bag unless they search it and scan it a second time. TSA's scans aren't shared with CBP. I work at an Airport and I travel to and from the UK frequently. I recently flew through ATL and passed seamlessly through TSA only to be held up by CBP. Happens to Americans too.

[@pacmanc8103]

@F. A. I lived in the Middle East for 9 years, traveling to and from the US twice a year, and I have a place in the Middle East where I spend 2-3 months during winters now that I’m retired. I have never once been stopped by Border Control or Customs. For the last number of years I’ve been a member(?) of Global Entry, which requires a full background check and eye biometrics prior to issuance of your card. I haven’t even spoken to a Border Control officer for probably 7-8 years - it’s all done through an ATM-like machine. I leave again in 2 weeks - I hope I haven’t just jinxed myself!😮 Point is - Middle Eastern passport stamps (I have most Arab countries) have NEVER tripped me up.

[@bkm2797]

Good to know, Thanks for sharing.

[@davidbush131]

No. International arrivals deal with immigration and customs. No TSA.

[@gotham61]

TSA and CBP are there to do totally different things. TSA is for when you want to enter the secure area of an airport, and they are only concerned with airport and flight security. They have nothing to do with arriving passengers or border security. CPB is about only concerned with who and what is entering the country from other countries.

[@judyl5260]

No worries, I was treated by security at Heathrow to show two ladies in a locked room that my bra was an underwire, because it was causing the alarm to ring…what fun!

[@keptbygrace6221]

😲😬

[@hannahdyson7129]

At least they didn't make you strip in front of everyone ...

[@kenbrown2808]

I wear Carhartt jeans, and I didn't even think about the consequences of going through the heightened security in them. yep, two extra rivets triggered a hand check.

[@ofrabjousday1]

Just after 911 happened, I couldn't get through an airport without being stopped and having my bags gone through, and taking my shoes and shirt off. It also happened while trying to get on a Greyhound bus in NYC. I tried an experiment, which was to shave off my moustache and beard, and I never had a problem since. I'm not kidding.

[@annafields6584]

They pulled my white, elderly mother aside for secondary questioning on a domestic flight a few years ago. Never knew why, but I’m old enough to remember 9-11, so I guess I’m glad they are being vigilant.

[@irmamckinney2356]

I know right?! They can search and ask me anything. Makes me feel safer.

[@peggyford3801]

Bad people try to use the elderly, who unfortunately, can be inattentive with their belongings

[@cavlizzy]

I flew to Arizona from Houston to see a friend. On the way back I got stopped by security at the Phoenix airport. They began asking me all these questions about "What do you know about guns?" (I was so confused, but as a Texan I know quite a bit.. so I didn't know how to answer) I explained that I owned a gun but it was at home. *Then the security held out 3 Hollow Point Bullets they found in my purse!!* OMG! I about died. I explained that I had kids so I didn't keep the bullets in my gun & I had forgotten they were even in there. Needless to say I was pulled aside & detained for a bit. Luckily I always get to the airport early or I would have missed my flight. The weird thing was they did NOT catch this at the Houston airport on my way to Arizona! (Bush Intl)

[@specialnewb9821]

Can only assume this is just how Texas is so no big there but for the rest us it was 😬

[@garyballard179]

Yeah, even TSA in Texas isn't phased by a couple of bullets, if there's no gun present.

[@cavlizzy]

@@specialnewb9821 Bush Intercontinental Airport is pretty tough. They always have dogs climbing/sniffing all over the luggage and my bags have been searched numerous times when returning from overseas. (I have gotten notes in my luggage stating this, plus my bags are a mess from their searches!) I had not flown in about 2 years when this happened so I had totally forgotten to remove the bullets. I was absolutely shocked when they showed them to me! They probably have me on a list now? (being female might have saved me?)

[@edwardmiessner6502]

Not Just Texas and Arizona they're strict in Florida too. Once I flew to Fort Lauderdale from New Orleans and back. I packed, what shall I say, an adult toy in my checked in luggage. When I got back from Florida there was a note in my suitcase saying my suitcase was checked by the TSA people. They must have thought it was C-4 explosives!! Needless to say I was mortified. But taking it carry on would have been worse.

[@mr.balloffur]

"We're just friends" that's what did it! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@hazelibe]

Next time you guys travel again check your boarding passes if it has SSSS on it because that means you’re in their security list.

[@andrek1709]

This story reminds me of the first visit to the UK (pre-pandemic) where I was pulled aside by the border force for further questioning. They noticed I was traveling very light, traveling alone, and I'm of mixed ethnicity. They checked what luggage I had, swabbed some of my belongings, asked again what I did for a living, if I know anyone in the UK, purpose of visit, checked for my return flight etc. I was tired after the 10.5 hour flight from SFO to LHR so I didn't argue with them. I figured I'd just cooperate, go with the flow and let them do their job. Anyways, I don't think they'd deny my entry because I haven't done anything wrong. 3 weeks later, just before I boarded my return flight at Heathrow back to the US, I was pulled aside right at the gate for a secondary search where there was a space with a curtain where they inspected my passport, did a pat search before I got to walk through the jet bridge to the aircraft, lol. Definitely that was racial profiling, but what the heck.

[@ambermasloski1882]

The income question is a serious question. They want to establish if you have enough money for your stay as well as a return trip home. They don’t want people booking a one way ticket and just stay in the country due to insufficient funds.

[@familybills2908]

It happens, and the questions are quite normal. Honestly, your contradictory answers was the big no-no that sent up a red flag, and not knowing basics like how much you make. If you said you work in social media with KZbin that would have sounded better, but it would have been best to NOT say you are here for work - say for travel/fun. I’ve been questioned going from the USA to Canada - they will ask the same question in several diff ways to check for consistency in your answers.

[@corin164]

Don't feel too bad, it happens to Americans flying into the U.K. I had a similar situation arriving in Glasgow from the JFK when I was questioned by the Border Police. He started to ask me a series of silly questions when I embarrassed him by telling him I was there to visit my wife's grave. That ended the interrogation.

[@patrykkasprzyk348]

Same things are already happening in the uk with eu citizens. If there is a suspicion that someone is travelling to the uk on a tourist visa for a job/job interview, they might be detained.

[@seandesmond5560]

Love story time with Joel and Lia!!! I always have nerves going through customs in another country, hoping you have all the correct information. You were there legitimately Joel and Lia and had nothing to worry about!

[@marydavis5234]

they said they filed one customs form saying, they were one household and when their passports was scanned, it showed they had different home addresses, they even said they filed out one custom form and checked one household in the beginning of this video.

[@blizardt]

Your secondary screening showed because you were just in the US in November. You're in the US on the Visa waiver program I would encourage you to read through it because a lot of the comments you're making in this KZbin video can get you banned from entering the US.

[@BeeuTforAshes]

I've been detained 2 times out of a dozen trip for my container of baby powder. I travel to Guatemala often and at 2 different home airports they pulled me aside and swabbed down the contents of my purse and carry-on. Did I complain and call them idiots later, no, they were doing their job. Do some TSA seem to be on a power trip, yes, but can you imagine all the idiots they have to deal with. I'm sure they've had their share of being cussed out. I wouldn't want the responsibility of keeping flying safe. Just remember 9/11.

[@familybills2908]

well said - good point! small price for being safe.

[@ericsierra-franco7802]

I think it had everything to do with the British citizen who took hostages at the synagogue in Texas shortly before you flew to Philadelphia. The inconsistent answers certainly didn't help.

[@hannahdyson7129]

They have been doing it to none white Brits for at least a decade . Freinds of ours who are of British Indain descent got pulled because they thought they were Muslim .

[@pandabear153]

I thought that too about the incident with that British citizen that took hostages in a Texas synagogue. Unfortunately for me It's difficult for me to possibly obtain a passport to even cross into the Canadian border which is 10 miles north of where I live

[@robertrichardson2617]

That is probably true.

[@christinaFaith84]

They guy was called"British" when he was actually a Muslim of middle eastern origin. Very obvious in pictures. It literally was an Islamic issue. He was demanding that another Islamic terrorist be released from Prison. I don't remember her name. The media tried to act like it had nothing to do with Islam. I wish the truth would be told instead of "We don't want to offend anyone".And, of course, it was Jews that were targeted.

[@kevinp8108]

The terrorist in Texas was a brown British citizen, not a white British citizen!

[@rickyruddell2733]

You two aren't the only people who has had this happen to.

[@deanronson6331]

Talking over each other - not a good practice at the port of entry - not even in a YT video.

[@BrwnSugr410]

I was once detained in the Miami airport, years ago. The agent said that I was randomly selected to be searched. She rifled through my purse and swabbed my makeup compact. She said that there was cocaine residue on the mirror. WTF? Lady, I don’t do cocaine and if I did, it’s gone now, I need to catch my flight

[@stephenulmer3781]

Maybe they didnt like the way Lia kept calling Denny's "Denise"in the Denny's video or the hate for American chocolate that you constantly express in your videos 😂😂😂

[@kathryn1304]

Ouch

[@whynot8586]

Their concern was more likely that you were coming into the US to work and not that you were smuggling drugs. Even a small, one time, paid gig in the US could be the basis for denying you entry. As KZbinrs, you are considered videographers so, if for example, you sell any of your footage while here in the US, you are considered to be working. They are searching your luggage for paperwork like printed emails, contracts, rental agreements, college admission letter or anything to suggest that you are planning to work or stay for an extended period beyond what would be expected by a tourist.

[@beverlydust5381]

It could have been because you were in the US before and back so soon, or just random questioning we will probably never know for sure

[@charlenemorris5516]

My boyfriend and I were taken to the back room for a through search when coming home to America. Our problem was we were in two different lines, and when they first looked in my bag they saw mens shoes, clothes, etc. THEY LOOKED AT EVERYTHING…. in both of our bags. We had been traveling for 3 months, had lots of things we bought. but answering the questions with simple answers is the key to a speedy exit from passport department.

[@martinez16chris]

You guys talking over each other with different answers is the exact reason why you got searched & questioned , usually when people do that its cus their lying or hiding something that's y they thought yall were suspicious

[@thatveganchick668]

They were just doing the same thing they do in their videos. 🤣 Tbh, one is much more guilty than the other of the “talk-over”. 😏

[@christophermckinney3924]

TSA randomly selects people to search and question. Splitting you up was to see if you gave inconsistent information.

[@specialnewb9821]

"Randomly"

[@edwardteach2625]

Go on...

[@pacmanc8103]

It wasn’t random at all - they misrepresented information by filling a form as though they were a household. BTW, Border Control (not TSA) computer systems knows all about you before you even present yourself at the booth.

[@ClarkJ2265]

Lesson learned. You’re not one household. Plus You just went to Toronto. Then Nashville. Then Miami. Lots of travel when not a lot of people are traveling.

[@ESUSAMEX]

Foreigners who frequently visit the US get called in for secondary checks. You should know how much you earn a month and how much time you have visited the US. People tend to forget that it is the traveler's responsibility to convince the immigration officials to allow you into the US. Under the law officers can ask you anything they want. Moreover, they can deny you entry into the US for any reason. He asked you about the radio interview because if you were receiving payment, you would be breaking American immigration law by working here without an employment visa. As for the minorities, those people most likely had passports from poor nations and thus they had to prove that they the funds to pay for their trip. Every nation does the same type questioning and/screening. As an American, Canada pulled me out of line once because I am self-employed and they wanted to make sure I wasn't going earn money while in Canada. One time I asked an immigration agent on a train at JFK Airport in NYC why immigration officers were tough on travelers? He looked at me and said because travelers lie on a daily basis. Some lie because they committed crimes, while others do so because they are smarter than the officers.

[@zzkeokizz]

Don’t mess with security. Keep your answers simple. Don’t smile or laugh. Give the same answers. Keep it short.

[@KellyTheRN]

Same thing happened to my British boyfriend’s sister-she was denied entry because they thought she could possibly be planning to stay illegally since her brother was here, she had no husband/children and had just left her job in England. She was banned from entry after that. She hadn’t been allowed in for over a decade, and only just recently got an attorney to take care of it so she was free to come back and visit again. A total nightmare. You can’t be flippant with immigration, it can shut down your visits for good.

[@sukie584]

This happened to me when I flew in to London. I’d been flying in frequently to see a boyfriend. They set me aside to question me more, & then put a special stamp on the back of my passport.

[@gemoftheocean]

Had the same at Heathrow in 2010

[@duckmyass]

Have experienced this type of crap when entering the UK, and when entering Canada... Easiest place I've ever had was in Brazil where I passed through customs without a passport by simply slipping a janitor 100 dollars and he took me through a side door pass immigration.

[@kentbrasloff3945]

Ok. Now we're even. You're exact experience happened to me at Heathrow many decades ago, when I was your age. It IS very unnerving and scary; and I was traveling alone. The officers were not nice and I was forced to leave my open bags (plural) in the middle of a walkway with my 35mm camera and a fat envelope of travelers checks on top. I was doing an internship with a very posh firm in Oxford Circus but had been advised to say I was on holiday, visiting friends. Well, that didn't play well either given that I was staying in Stoke Newington (not very swank at the time) and my friends were journalists who were very anti-Thatcher. My bags were full of suits and silk ties and "embroidered slippers" and I was wearing a wool Safari jacket. I realized immediately that they thought they had a drug runner; and like you I realized I needed to keep my snarky lip zipped. These guys weren't kidding. Eventually, I was released "intacta"and got on with one of the best summers of my life. Sidebar: they will NEVER tell you why you were flagged.

[@hannahdyson7129]

That would have been at the height of the " Troubles " unfortunately 😕 If you are Amercain you were probably profiled like these two . Some Irish Americans were known for financially supporting the IRA or other smuggling . Not pleasant but it was known to happen .

[@kentbrasloff3945]

@@hannahdyson7129 Thanks for that. It never occurred to me. As a Jewish American the only "terrorism" I was interested in was storming Harrod's and Harvey Nichols for sales! :)

[@hannahdyson7129]

@@kentbrasloff3945 Unfortunately paranoia and profiling can do. Everyone for a certain demographic becomes a security concern Sorry you went through that all the same .

[@bobthebikerny]

When you don't have a 9 to 5 job, when you don't know how much money you have in the bank you look like someone who might overstay their visa and become an illegal alien. It's that simple, no power trip going on. Watch your own UK Border Force documentary TV show in England and you see the same questions and techniques. As to racially profiling, those people may have all come off the same plane from an area known for smuggling. Again watch the UK Border Force TV Show and see the same thing. As to not knowing what your monthly income is, just take your previous years gross and divide by 12.

[@williampilling2168]

I'm going to guess, that they thought you had drugs on you. A lot of those questions seemed more to get you rattled, than actually something they wanted an answer to. As a person from Philadelphia, sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.

[@mkphilly]

It's not Philly, it's TLA anywhere

[@mkphilly]

@@irenewills9736oops, my bad... of course... but the premise is the same: it's not just a Philly thing... it's every airport accepting international flights

[@Dako108]

I have to say in all fairness that I have gotten similar treatment passing through Heathrow a couple times. And once when I had already passed thru immigration and got pulled aside for questioning while walking thru the airport pulling my hand luggage, (I was waiting for a connecting flight to Amsterdam.) They also went thru papers in my jacket, found a private letter from a friend and read it. I'm told they are mainly looking for people coming into the country and planning to work without permits. I also have a British friend who works as an immigration and customs agent in Paris at the Channel Tunnel departures terminal and he told me they relish picking on the Americans coming to England in particular.

[@DP-nl4uq]

Drug dealers would totally have embroidered slippers. Escobar, Tony Montana, totally have embroidered slippers

[@arunsalwan8558]

To be fair it’s for our safety and it’s the world we live in ..

[@hildadionne8184]

Yes welcome to America. Even citizens go through that. It is criminal

[@incantations446]

I got stopped in London and they were rough to me twice. Both arriving and departing. Aggressive questioning about why I was there and if I had accepted packages, etc. I mean AGGRESSIVE

[@hannahdyson7129]

I am not excusing the rough behaviour but years of terrorism makes for a very paranoid security force . We had thirty years of the " Troubles " Not pleasant for anyone

[@bryncraigracing]

Least your safe and don’t be smuggling me legends 😂

[@Abbyonice]

I went to France 2 weeks ago for a study abroad trip, but it was awful so I booked a flight home the next day. It was SO EASY to enter France and I was actually annoyed because they didn’t even check all the documents I had which are supposed to be « Required » for entry. But when I tried to leave (first to Toronto then to the US) it was very difficult to leave! I’m a US citizen, but they wanted me to show them some form that was supposed to be for immigrants entering the US. It really wasn’t their fault because every time they slid my passport it was flagged saying I had to show them the paperwork. Makes no sense to me. Because I left in a hurry I had to go get a new COVID test even though I had just had one 2 days before. They wanted it to be 24 hours before. Then they wanted me to show them all the paperwork that they should’ve asked for upon entry. So I had to leave the airport and get a test then come back. That was like 120 euros. When the lady was checking my bag she got really frustrated with me because she was speaking french and I didn’t understand her. Then at the second airport (in Paris) I had a 17 hour layover. I tried to go to my terminal to sleep there but the security officer turned me away. I came back to were i got off my last flight to sleep there because there was a couch and a charging port. Then the police came and asked me and these 2 guys for our passports and why we were there. They told me I couldn’t stay there. They actually tried to get me to leave the airport and get a hotel but I was not about to spend more money and have to go through checkin again. So they escorted me to the place where you get your passport stamped and it was a big confusion because I had just come from there when I tried to go to my terminal. They didn’t understand why I was wondering around the airport I guess. They ended up taking me to a more populated area that I could sleep so I think in the end they were looking out for me. But then when I tried to leave Paris to go to Canada they called me up by name to verify my documents even though I already did that at the check in counter. THEN on the plane (this happened on 2 of the planes) they called me to the front of the plane to see my passport and ask if I was traveling alone. They were also suspicious that I had a student visa and was leaving so soon. But once I got back to America it was a breeze and everyone was so nice to me and didn’t interrogate me. I think it’s just like that when you go to another country, their officials aren’t as nice to you as they are to their own citizens.

[@joegoss30]

Yes, the work angle is most likely reason for getting scrutiny. Some performers & others come to the US and then perform for cash & sell CDs, etc. Someone was getting paid to speak at a conference, but didn't have a visa. There are a limited set of activities you can do on B1/B2 visas as long as you aren't getting paid from a US source.

[@Deanstanley]

I'm surprised they don't know that. Revenue generated in the USA by non-residents from KZbin or any social media platforms are subject to tax withholdings.

[@markshannon2959]

The "we're one household" - "no, we're just friends" flagged you as giving contradictory answers.

[@kathryn1304]

SPEAK TO MY ACCOUNTANT bwahah😂😂😂

[@LarryHatch]

This is the same TSA that dug through an old lady's urn full of her husband's ashes and asked her "what are these hard things", meaning the residue of his bones! They ask one disabled boy with crutches if he'd ever used them as rocket launchers. They also unpacked a guy's suitcase containing the ring he was going to propose to his girlfriend with in Hawaii. They made him tell how much he spent for it in front of her. They patted down a cancer patient with a urostomy bag and made him walk to his plane soaked in urine, not offering to get him fresh clothes or have them cleaned.

[@Ruespieler]

It sounds like Joel and Lia were questioned by the US Customs and Border patrol, which I believe is a separate agency from the TSA, but I agree they both sound bad.

[@pacmanc8103]

@@Ruespieler Customs and Border Control are separate. Border Control agents are who you see first upon entry - before you get your luggage and then proceed to Customs, a different agency. Border Control and TSA are part of the Department of Homeland Security, but they have different functions.

[@barryfletcher7136]

The were sent to secondary screening by US Immigration, not TSA.

[@boatlover1875]

There are restrictions on working in the US if you are not a citizen as well as how long you can stay. I would imagine your answers to those questions did raise some questions. The same would hold true for people traveling to the UK. I watched several episodes of reality TV regarding your border security and there are lots of similar things happen. Glad you made it okay!

[@joannezimmer143]

So sorry you had that experience. I'm American and when I've traveled within the states, I've been stopped for traveling with GF cake mix and for a rock I painted for my nephew for his birthday.

[@christinehicks5177]

I was stopped twice on trips that went through Gatwick. My son worked for a cruise line and I was going to catch the ship in Southampton.

[@charlesheyen6151]

I got pulled into Australian secondary questioning because I use my middle initial instead of my full middle name on my airline ticket... dont joke with TSA or Airport Security!

[@blueptconvertible]

I've had more trouble with Canadian border control than American but then again I'm American.

[@Elizabeth-aka-Pippi]

My mom in her 80's would always get pulled aside. She had a bad habit of staring and looking guilty. 🤣. After a while, we just started expecting it to happen.

[@hulahickey6959]

LOL that happens with my sister. Every time we go thru I tell her to get "that look" off of her face.

[@suzannemccoy9610]

About 10 years ago, my husband and I (American citizens) were traveling back from the UK to the US and I was questioned by US Customs. He wanted to know what I did for a living and who I worked for. I told the border agent that I worked for a defense company. The border agent was very rude and yelled at me (in front of everyone) and said, “I asked you who you worked for!”. I then told him and he again yelled at me and told me to go straight home. I was certainly taken aback by the rude behavior but I understand that they have a tough job and it’s not one that I would want to do. I’m so very sorry Joel and Lia that you went through this.

[@MikeGoode]

Those are the same questions you hear while watching the British Border shows. "How do you not know how much you make? That is suspicious." It's pretty common for border agents to ask things to try to spot smugglers and etc.

[@thisisbs808]

I had a similar experience as an American flying through Toronto airport. It. was. awful. And completely unnecessary. They were incredibly rude, antagonistic, patronizing, and like you said cocky. After the whole ordeal I still had to go through TSA and they were absolute assholes as well. By the time I finally got to my gate I was literally in tears. No need to treat everyone like criminals, geeez!

[@sassygrammy1258]

Give some people a little power and they become Hitler.

[@Pinatabrat]

This happened to me in Toronto as well. I was doing a solo travel there and they acted like everything I said was suspicious. My trip was for 2 weeks, they felt it was too long. They didn't like how I was by myself. They claimed a hotel stay of $150 a night was expensive. They didn't like how my hotel reservation was booked a month in advance (too short of time). They combed through my phone for texts and pictures. Looked up all of my phone numbers. Edit: American traveling to Canada and this was Canada customs questioning me.

[@garycard1456]

@@sassygrammy1258 The most LiedAbout and UndeservedlyDemonised man in history. The reason why the Ashkenazaic-controlled media and Hollywood goes to such lengths to keep the masses uninformed of theTruth is because the ingenious economic policy devised by the economist Gottfried Feder effectively put the AshkenazaicRothschilds (of the for-profit CentralBankingSystem) out of business: no longer could the Ashkenazaic bankers impose their Usury. Gottfried Feder NationalisedGermany's bank so that it worked for the betterment of the GermanPeople. To learn more, refer to: "Usury: the Root Cause of All Problems on the Planet"- Entity Art UK.

[@DW-vd9mp]

@@Pinatabrat same happened to me in Toronta back in 2005. I was meeting my husband there traveling from the U.S. to Canada. They questioned me about the hotel and why I was traveling.alone. I was only there for 4 days too. They were quite rude and overly suspicious.

[@thisisbs808]

I was traveling to Buffalo via Toronto. They thought that was weird. It saved me $300 on my ticket price to fly to Toronto and drive across the border. I didn't realize it when I was leaving, but because it's a border city they have it set up where you go through US customs at the Toronto airport before you get on the plane instead of when you land. My mom had packed me breakfast so I didn't have to buy expensive airport food and there was a little tangerine in there. I was happy to give it up. But that wasn't enough... had to go through the ordeal of them going through every single item in my bags and treating me like a criminal for an honest mistake. Not worth the savings on the ticket, won't be doing that again.

[@antwan1800]

News bulletin :Joel & Lia legends finally caught lol

[@aggiemanda]

I felt this way being questioned going to London from USA. I was being drilled by the passport stamper and suddenly she just said ok and handed me my password. The attitude is to see what sort of nervousness you get and if it might catch someone doing shady stuff.

[@ZippityDont]

This happened to me, an American, returning after a month’s stay in Paris. Over the top agressive. Incredulous that I had spent a month in Paris - “YOU WERE IN PARIS FOR A MONTH!?!?!?” He was literally screaming at me. I went through the scanner. Again. Once through I got pulled aside, he snapped on the rubber gloves, and put his hands in my pants!! In front of all the other people going through! Well welcome back to your country! Btw - I got no such treatment entering or leaving France. I understand they have to be very careful these days, and expected a certain amount of questioning, but this bordered on out right abuse. Sorry you had this experience.

[@erichbrough6097]

Honestly, I would call that conduct abusive, borderline deranged, actually - seems some are paid to be outright paranoid and hostile, not just professionally thorough and somewhat suspicious! (what did he think an ordinary American citizen would be 'up to' in France??)

[@ZippityDont]

@@erichbrough6097 Yeah,when he asked what was doing in in France, I said was on vacation, he yelled at me again, “You were vacation for a month!!?!?” Um…yeah. I was in shock. They try to fluster you into contradicting yourself. When you do they think they’ve caught you in a lie. I’m sure that’s what happened to Joel and Lia.

[@erichbrough6097]

@@ZippityDont It's just nuts! Israel has arguably the best traveller screening in the world; I'm confident they would never behave this way.

[@ms.tenatravels2067]

What?? I would've lodged a complaint against that man. Don't go off on him at the moment because then you might get arrested and put on the no-fly list, but lodge a complaint and follow through with it.

[@barryfletcher7136]

I am a US citizen and have traveled to the USA almost countless times since I was age 11 and have > never < been questioned about my activities while abroad. US Immigration does not have the authority tom deny entry to a US citizen so the never ask you anything unless you are on a watch list or are wanted for a crime.

[@XtomJamesExtra]

PPC is Person of Potential Concern.

[@dm7761]

That's their job. We shouldn't be surprised. It keeps us safe. Unfortunately...good people must endure the process. Love you guys! ❤️🇨🇦❤️

[@kathrynernst6981]

Tried to find your good morning america interview! Im so proud for ya'll. Im sure u have been told 1000 times that gma is huge. So so happy for u both

[@christophermckinney3924]

A few years ago, a single airport seized $400,000 worth of pocket knives and blades.

[@guardian35]

Aww. Your first border patrol experience in the US. I live in Las Cruces, NM, just north or El Paso, TX, and just 20 minutes away from the Mexican border. There are border patrol stations on every highway out of my city...mind you, these stations are Inside the US. You see them outside of every town or city considered in the Borderlands. It's because we will get a lot people coming in with work visa's or they have day passes to shop or visit family but they can't go any further than the border patrol stations. I've gone through these stations my entire life with my mom and never got stopped until I was by myself and in my 20's. If they don't just wave you through, they may ask if you're a US citizen, where are you coming from, and where are you going. Most times, just the Citizen question. They are mostly looking for smugglers of people, weapons, or drugs. As a pot smoker, I have had the drug dogs bark at my car so they pull me over and ask if they will find anything. I've always been honest and tell them that I do smoke pot(even when it was still illegal in my state) and that they might find a random weed stem or "roach"(butt of a joint). Then they search my car with the dog and open my backpack or overnight bag just to glance inside. They appreciate the truth and can be pretty respectful, in my experience at least. They want to catch the big drug mules, not the random stoner going to visit his mom. If you ever do visit the borderlands of California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas just have your passports ready and stay calm. They may search your car and luggage if they're on high alert for foreign nationals at the time, but it's just routine to them.

[@realityorfiction]

I grew up in Alamogordo nm and ^ is right on point

[@JimSamuel267]

I once drove to Canada with two friends from the UK. The Canadian border guard asked where we were from. I said "Philadelphia." My friends said "Leeds" and "Luton." The border guard said "Ah...one American and two British." One of my friends then said "You can't be too British" and laughed. The border guard did not think it was funny and directed me to pull my car into a different area for a complete search. The lesson: Do not tell jokes at border crossings.

[@realityorfiction]

Wow, I guess me complaining about having to go through the body scanner looks trivial compared to your experiences lol

[@handbagaddicted]

I, an American, was detained at the U.K. Border in Manchester because I had made an honest mistake on my landing card with the address of where I was staying for 10 days and the agent then thought she would try and catch me in a lie when I just finally said “why don’t you phone my friend he’s likely waiting at arrivals for me worried where I am”. Ages later after ringing my friend who sorted her out, she finally let me go. Of course not without scolding me that I should have been better prepared with the address for my landing card. You were selected for extra questions when you talked over each other with different answers and because you were just recently here.

[@danhalstead705]

While they do have some leeway to make judgments based on appearances, one of the much bigger factors they look at is country of origin. Which for obvious reasons does some filtering by race all on its own.

[@sassy-4-ever3]

OH MY GOSH 😲😲. You two are so sweet & probably innocent 😁. I get pulled aside to be frisked every time I go through security in an airport. Irritating at first then it just kind of becomes funny. I have metal in my lower back so it looks like I have something stashed. 😂😂

[@bkm2797]

Aww, maybe you should have a physicians note with you when you travel.

[@samanthaflynn6140]

Careful now that you have been "flagged" you will probably be flagged for the next time too.

[@s.miller791]

A few year's ago I took my cousins who were visiting us to Mexico.for the day. It was a walking trip as we parked on the US side and walked through the border check to enter. On the way back my cousins who were loaded down with bags and bags of souvenirs were were through customs in a flash after showing their passports and saying they were bringing back souvenirs. I on the other hand had one fairly small package wrapped in newspaper and I am a US citizen and I was questioned about my purchase and made to unwrap it and let them inspect it before I was allowed to proceed. Mind you we were all older women and none of us appeared to be drunk or high but there you go. We laughed about it on the way home. I think it depends on their mood. Also I think there is some profiling. Like you said you are young and they may have suspected drugs. In my case a lot of older people go to Mexico to buy prescription drugs cheaper but that wasn't what I was doing, Sometimes you just have to just shake your head and laugh when it is over.

[@sassygrammy1258]

She doesn’t matter. I’ve read where a few grandmas in their 60s and 70s were arrested for having meth. Stupid knows no class or age.

[@benrast1755]

I’ve watched “Border Security Canada” and “Border Security Australia” TV shows, and your experience sounds like what people go through all the time in most countries. Random checks. Part of international travel these days. Inconvenient, but you weren’t picked on.

[@cmtaylor531]

Had our car and stuff searched by Canada border security when crossing into Canada fro. Detroit. It wasn’t to bad (other then annoying questions) until they called a women over to go through my bag and you could tell she was frustrated they called her over and then it just got progressively worse.

[@petern6808]

Just FYI….not many checks are random 😜

[@benrast1755]

@@petern6808 You're probably right about that. But what triggers those checks is not necessarily a person's race. Perhaps national origin, or odd answers on paperwork or during initial questions? Nervous expression... I'm sure you're right about very few being random.

[@petern6808]

@@benrast1755 Wasn’t suggesting race at all….but there is almost always a reason! What people forget is that returning to one’s own country is TOTALLY different than entering someone else’s. I enter my own country by right and cannot be refused entry.

[@pimpincrv]

New subscriber here!! I heard yous on the Preston and Steve show!! Sorry to hear how they treated you at the airport.

[@dancoll8166]

Lia, your jumper is to DIE FOR.

[@Timotimo101]

Sorry y'all went through that. I think I agree with another commenter about the UK citizen who recently caused problems by holding hostage people in a synagogue. He was a Muslim from the UK I believe. I have the feeling it's to do with that. Also, don't feel bad as when I went to Montreal some years ago (by car) I was detained upon re-entry in the US (I am a US citizen) and they scoured my entire car and absolutely everything in my luggage and bags. When it was over they "hinted" that it had to do with ... ummm sex/drug trafficking but I'm not sure if that was it. I had made a few trips previously to see some friends in Colombia, South America so I think having all those stamps in my passport raised alarm but I suppose I'll never really know if that was actually what it was about. Wish these border patrol people would be nicer even as they do their jobs because they have a reputation for being extremely unpleasant. I hate it happened to you two of all people!!!

[@bkm2797]

Was that the Detroit tunnel you were detained at? I had a very unpleasant experience with them I will NEVER forget, lol.

[@Timotimo101]

@@bkm2797 No it was in northern Vermont and I believe it was near the town of Alburg. I was not on a major highway so perhaps that made them suspicious but I was just trying to avoid the congestion on the Interstate highway.

[@bkm2797]

Thanks, now I know another way to avoid, lol.

[@thetruthhurtsyou147]

It reminds me of the Absolutely fabulous episode, where Pasty and Eddy get detained at the airport, I think in Morocco, they find drugs and ask who's are these, they both point at the daughter and say hers, they put the daughter in prison and Pasty and Eddy, walk away laughing hysterical. Lol

[@justaveragejoe1282]

Joel and Lia - It was just Philadelphia, one time their American football fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus.

[@doyodance06]

Pleasure or business?…fun 😂

[@kimberlyferguson2501]

I'm American and we were pulled out for extra scrutiny from the customs police coming home from abroad. He was so mean and rude. We were on a vacation with my husband and children. I made the mistake of asking questions. He asked if we had alcohol. I made the mistake of answering with, "We don't drink." He got so rude and said, "You could have bought it for someone else." I was so mad how they treated us. After I went into the bathroom and bawled. I never cry, FYI. He was so mean.

[@sassygrammy1258]

If someone gets that rude with me I ask if their dog died.

[@michaelbrown1101]

Okay..HUGE HUGE fan here. I get this was really annoying, especially since you are innocent. But try to see it from their pov. They and we deal with alot of smugglers and other illegal travelers. And yes, a HUGE percentage are people of color... Incidentally, I was detained in Amsterdam and they really gave me grief, all because I had traveled from Jordan on my way to the US. These are different times. We gotta expect these inconveniences... Regardless, I'm sorry your checkin was a bummer.... be safe and happy.

[@elizabetherwin9192]

I don’t travel much after 911. So sorry you two had to go through that.

[@that1sha405]

I'm so sorry but I am cracking up. The inconsistencies with your answers definitely made u look suspect. 😆 yes Lia get those stories together. Glad u can laugh about it. And hey... new experience!

[@MrSamosisimo]

Sounds like you were detained for smuggling good vibes! I would say you both are guilty as charged :0)

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

hahaha love this!

[@tekurioteva8907]

Welcome to America ! Guilty till proven innocent 🤣😩

[@3DJapan]

I had a layover in Beijing when my friends and I went to Japan. We were in the security line reading all the things that were not allowed in your bag and laughing at the last item "crystal ball". We all got through except one friend, they held her back and made her empty her entire bag. Guess what she had? Turns out a "crystal ball" is a snow globe. She had a very tiny one that she didn't even know was in there.

[@deborahryan8452]

In the 60s, when the borders were more open, my family was crossing into Canada to celebrate our priests birthday. The guard asked if we had anything to declare. My mom piped up and said just a present for our priest. We had to pull over and unwrap the present to show that it was a sweater before we were let into Canada. My dad was really mad. None of that would have happened if my mom hadn’t be so honest.