Rotflmao

[sunnysan]

http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/blog/article/234116/


Paul O'Grady held at airport over communist fears


Paul O'Grady has revealed that he was held by officials at a US airport because they thought he was a communist.
The TV presenter said he was taken aside for questioning at Miami airport by staff who made the assumption because of his 'funny' accent.
He was then held for two hours while an officer accused him of being an 'illegal alien' from Cuba.
He told listeners of his Radio 2 show: "How could I be accused of being an illegal Cuban alien? Do I look Cuban? Do I sound Cuban?"
He added: "I've been to hell, folks - it's called Miami airport."
The Channel 4 star was later released after the customs officials studied his passport and found no links with Cuba.

[HairyArsedBloke]

He added: "I've been to hell, folks - it's called Miami airport."

Yup.

[Lockhouse]

I've been through Miami many times. It helps if you are in business or premium to get to the passport control first, but just being polite and filling in the forms correctly usually gets you through quite quickly.

I bet PoG was being lippy as he's a scouser.

[sasguru]

I bet PoG was being lippy as he's a scouser.

Probably tried to tea leaf the immigration officer's pen through sheer habit.
Bet he was wearing trackies tied at the ankle with string.

[sunnysan]

Usa

I think a lot of people get a fright when they go through US customs for the first time, and realise that you need to fill in everythign properly, answer the barrage of questions coherently, and not exchange pleasantries with your "interrogator".

[EternalOptimist]

Probably tried to tea leaf the immigration officer's pen through sheer habit.
Bet he was wearing trackies tied at the ankle with string.

watch it. ball bag

[RichardCranium]

I've been through twice.

If found Merkin customs there to be made up of obnoxious, offensive, sneering, red-necked, pig-tulip thick, ignorant, gun-toting, arrogant c***s.

I am not the least surprised they would harass a bloke with a camp voice.

I wouldn't go back: primarily because I have no desire to ever experience them tulips again.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Don't smile at homeland security.

The reason being is that in most lower lifeforms showing teeth is a sign of aggression.


Also, see my story from yesterday.

[elwray]

Well I had experience with being treated like an 'illegal alien' by miami immigration some years ago .
I was working for an American cruise ship company for a couple of years - so I had a visa to work in US waters but not on land . So on the day i decided to resign I was classed as a 'risk' because I might just walk off the port and try and find work on land in the US . So when I did walk off the ship I was 'escorted' to Miami airport (believe or not the escorts were in fact Cuban) had my passort confiscated from me aswell . When I got to the airport I was handed over to an airport security (another Cuban ). After checking in I was escorted to some Immigration holding room and handed over to an Immigration Officer (this time American )- passport handed over to him , I had to stay in the room until departure which was not for another 6 hours . I was not allowed to leave a room and I don't think I was allowed to even make a phone call ( even a criminal has the right to that !) . So departure time arrives so I was escorted to the departure lounge all fellow passengers gawped at me as if I was some psychotic serial killer worried that I might slit their throats while we were crossing over the atlantic . I was the first one on the plane - my passport was handed over to the stewardess ( no idea why I not going to parachute out of the plane at 10,000 feet! ) . Once landed in london I was the first one off and then handed over with passport to UK Immigration - after a few seconds at looking at my passport told me I could go !

But I can laugh at it now but at the time it was rather daunting and humiliating at the way i was treated as a criminal . However I did see the benefits from my experience :

1. Saved myself $20 dollar taxi ride to the airport
2. I was the first one to check in because of my 'special circumstances'
3. I was the first one on the plane at departure - no queuing for me
4. I was the first one off the plane - again no queuing !

[expat]

I've been through twice.

If found Merkin customs there to be made up of obnoxious, offensive, sneering, red-necked, pig-tulip thick, ignorant, gun-toting, arrogant c***s.

I am not the least surprised they would harass a bloke with a camp voice.

I wouldn't go back: primarily because I have no desire to ever experience them tulips again.

No indeed. If I wanted to go to a closed-border paranoid violent country that practises judicial killing and state torture, and accepts no outside judgements of their behaviour, and maintains huge standing armies to threaten others, I'd go to China where at least the food might be interesting.