Border crossing from Tijuana to San Diego after visiting Hongkong club: what to

22 comments

• Corvus

  •

  10 years ago

  I think you are worried about nothing. But as you say you are a Green Card holder and you may have more to consider? In my experience most border officials are ass holes, not all of them though. And while it is really not any business of the USA what you do in another country, border officials rarely like to admit that fact. The old cliche question is whether you were there for business or pleasure. Not sure if they still ask that or not. But bottom line you can always tell them you were visiting friends. They don't necessarily need to know they were new friends or strippers.
• jerikson40

  •

  10 years ago

  That's a tough one...not sure there's a right answer. My sense from some LE guys is that they're just so fucking tired of hearing lame excuses that they might find it refreshing and respectful if you just level with them. The border guys know damn well that a large majority of single white guys heading to Mexico for the day are there for pussy. Or drugs I suppose. What they don't want is for you to bring illegal shit with you into the US. So if you don't have any illegal shit, I suppose there's nothing to worry about. Assuming the agent isn't on a mission to fuck with you. But hell, I don't know. I think it's pretty irrelevant to them if you did illegal stuff in Mexico. And going to Hong Kong isn't illegal, even if it was in the US. Taking a chick to the hotel and fucking her for money is illegal if it was in the US, but so what? You were in Mexico, and US doesn't give a shit, nor do they have any control, over what you do in other countries. You're under Mexican laws there. Maybe if you told him "Well, I visited Hong Kong and fucked the hottest stripper I've ever seen" he might high five you. Who the fuck knows. Just don't bring illegal stuff back into the US.
• sflguy123

  •

  10 years ago

  "I'm on a scavenger hunt and one of my items is to finger a Mexican stripper." With that ask him if he wants to smell your finger.
• IanSmith

  •

  10 years ago

  Customs and immigration officials are extremely perceptive making near instantaneous and accurate evaluations of each of the hundreds of people they see every day. This is true in every country around the world and it is best not to fuck with them because they have the power to fuck up more than just your day. I say this as someone who has crossed countless borders, been denied entry to a few countries and been PNGed from a few others. Doubt what I say at your own peril. There is usually no need to get too specific with your answers but any deception will flag you for a closer examination. Unless you have done something that would prevent you from crossing into the country, like gone on a child sex tour or have kiddie porn in your camera/computer (international crimes and I hope they take you out and shoot you if you do) or are trying to smuggle drugs or something, you generally have nothing to be concerned with regarding what you did in TJ. Be honest and tell him you went to TJ to drink and party but don’t make up a load of shite or be snarky or comedic no matter how funny you may be down at your local pub. Having a sense of humor is an automatic disqualification for most of these jobs. Lastly if you are in the US as a non-citizen guest, be it on a visa or a green card, then I would recommend you give some long and thorough thought to how far you want to press your luck.
• jerikson40

  •

  10 years ago

  Thanks pikey...good stuff
• grand1511

  •

  10 years ago

  If you were nervous about how to answer the question, they might have been sending you were nervous about bringing something into the country. They don't have jurisdiction over what you did in Mexico, but like has been said earlier, they have keen perception for people on edge.
• Papi_Chulo

  •

  10 years ago

  I can see a non US citizen getting a bit more scrutiny – but I would not sweat it too much. Next time you go – look up a couple of regular bars in TJ and then you can say you went to clubs “xyz” to dance; drink, and talk to the chicas (since many on the US side visit TJ to party and not necessarily hit a brothel) – you may even want to visit a popular local bar or 2 (and just stay there a short time) just in case they ask you how the club/bar was and then you can tell them – you can also eat at a popular local place and you can say you were making a day of it @ TJ hitting bars and enjoying the local cuisine – i.e. have a cover story if you think you need one and might make you feel better.
• jackslash

  •

  10 years ago

  Every time I drive from Windsor, Canada, to Detroit, Michigan, the border patrol pulls me out for an inspection of my car. They make me sit in a little room while they search my car, and they ask me whether I am carrying drugs, weapons or more than $10,000 in cash. When they ask me the purpose of my trip to Canada, I tell them something true but unobjectionable, like seeing the sights. I've never told them I was at a strip club, even if I was. I'm an American citizen, and I don't know why I am always stopped. My theory is that they see a lot of instances of international travel, which could be an indication of drug smuggling or other illegal activity.
• PhantomGeek

  •

  10 years ago

  It's the same thing when I go to Winnipeg. They typically ask if I have any firearms, alcohol, or tobacco; if I'm carrying more than $10,000; if I'm going to be meeting anyone or know anyone; what the purpose of my visit is; and, if I'm staying overnight, where I'll be staying. I tell them I'm going to a play or plays (and have copies of my receipts handy) and might even hit a casino. Far more often than not, I'm just waved through, but a couple of times, they've wanted to do the car inspection thing. As long as you were upfront and honest with them, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.
• motorhead

  •

  10 years ago

  Just say “I knew I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque”
• shadowcat

  •

  10 years ago

  The wife and I were clearing customs in Dallas on a flight from Guadalajara and when we told the inspector that we had stayed at my wife's father's rancho, he wanted to see the bottoms of our shoes. Later some one told me that they were checking to make sure that we were not bringing in any infected feces. I can't think of anything that would explain it better.
• Clubber

  •

  10 years ago

  Went to Mexico once, to "Boy's Town" in Nuevo Laredo back in June of 2001 from San Antonio. Couldn't wait to get out. Walked in and on exit, the officer said 2 pesos. I don't know what the hell a peso is in dollars, so I gave him $2. He was happy and sent me on my way. There was a road block about 20 miles up into Texas on I-35. They looked inside my rental, a mirror underneath and a dog sniffing. Officer asked why I went to Mexico and I told him to try a real Tecate. He chuckled and waved me onward.
• Clubber

  •

  10 years ago

  BTW, the clubs in Boystown, I reviewed after they appeared on TUSCL. They were Tamyko and Marabu.
• Dougster

  •

  10 years ago

  Pikey: "Lastly if you are in the US as a non-citizen guest, be it on a visa or a green card, then I would recommend you give some long and thorough thought to how far you want to press your luck." Yep. Notorious questions on visa/citizenship question ask if you have ever gambled illegally or visited a prostitute: legally or not. Presumably if you have a green card that could your answer to those questions into question. Conceivable could affect a future citizenship application of the border guy wanted to be a total bitch. Pikey is right: why take a chance?
• Estafador

  •

  10 years ago

  what the fuck would be in your bag that they need to search in relation to HK? I don't get it.
• mjx01

  •

  10 years ago

  what PC said.
• EastCoaster

  •

  10 years ago

  I went to HK three times last month, and the only thing I was asked -- all three times -- was whether I was bringing anything back with me. I thought to myself, "God, I HOPE not..." but just answered "No" and was sent on my way.
• ilbbaicnl

  •

  10 years ago

  If you are a US citizen, you are asking for a big hassle if you lie to ICE. If you're not a citizen, you're risking not being admitted to the US. Give them as little info as possible without lying. Say you went clubbing. If they ask you what clubs, tell the truth. I think there are very, very few US laws that control what you can do in a foreign country. You can't pay bribes for the the benefit of a US business, that's the only one I can think of off the top of my head. In the case of a visa holder, even a green card, there is a chance ICE could decide you've shown evidence of bad character and not let you in. But I think you worry too much. The US has forced Mexico to turn itself into a war zone, just so the US can continue the theater for dumbasses known as the Drug War. If the US really wanted the TJ vice dens to be gone, they would be, in a heartbeat.
• shadowcat

  •

  10 years ago

  Back in the 70's my best friend and I put together a "55 VW dune buggy with the intention of driving the Baja 1,000. We took it down to Ensenada MX one weekend for a trial run. We came back through customs at San Ysidro, CA with the buggy covered in mud etc. They directed us to the inspection area to be searched. We knew we were going to be there for awhile so my smart assed buddy says just loud enough for them to hear "Where did you stash the stuff this time". 2 hours later we were on our way. 2 Months later we drove the Baja 1,000 then took the ferry to Mazatlan and then drove down to Acapulco and then home on the mainland side. We crossed the border at San Luis AZ. We declared 2 bottles of tequila and they waved us through even though we had been in Mexico for 2 weeks.
• crsm27

  •

  10 years ago

  I have never been to TJ or anything like that. But like others have stated. Don't mess with the border agents. They can make your day/night a living hell if they want to. Those who are a US Citizen... They can do searches of vehicles, your person, cavity, etc. They can hold/detain you for awhile, etc. So don't mess with them or try to be too funny. Clubbers example of "try a real Tecate'" was about all the further I would take it. Because you better to be ready to say... I went to a bar/club to explain if the agent wasn't in a good mood. Also if you say you went to HK isn't a big deal. I am sure not every person who goes to HK goes to get fucked. Some go to just get tit in the face and high contact dances and party. So saying if you went to HK doesn't mean you paid for sex. So telling a border agent that you went to the clubs isn't that big of a deal. Like others have stated many people go to Tj to just party or say they have been to TJ.
• shadowcat

  •

  10 years ago

  "What's the nature of your visit?" [view link]
• skibum609

  •

  9 years ago

  Always tell authorities the truth. They have a script in their mind allset up before they ask you anything, based on you lying. I got stopped for DUI outside the Inner Room Cabaret and the cop (who had been hiding in their back parking lot) who had followed me asked me where I was coming from. I responded " I smell;l like cigarettes, pussy and someone spilled a beer on me..so of course the Inner Room" He literally said um ten times before asking me if I knew what the speed limit was because he has planned on me lying and then calling me on it. No dui just a speeding ticket. When I awoke the next morning, 10 hours later, I was so messed up from drinking that I just ate the $100 greens fee and stayed at the hotel al day. Would have blown about a .3.