Being screened/profiled for being Somali [and Muslim]

[Warsame101]

I planned a trip to the States before I head off to Somalia, I had everything sorted, arrived on time, passed through the initial check-ins with flying colours. Just as I was about to enter the lounge for the final check-in, two security officers approached me, "could you come with us Sir?"

I co-operated without giving them a hint of problem untill we approached the airport's entrance where I asked what the hell's going on? "They will let you know at the ticket counter, Sir". Once we arrived at the ticket counter, this American lady who worked for the Homeland Security came to me saying I am not allowed to enter the States. I questioned why? She said, "we are not allowed to disclose that information Sir, I am just allowed to tell you that you are barred from entering the States."

I said, "hold up, why would, an European citizen need a Visa to enter the states. Am I not Exempt from acquiring a Visa? Isn't that the purpose of the whole Visa-waiver program?" To wich she replied "Well, if you have a criminal convinction or have ties to terrorist networks, you are barred from entering the US so I suggest you have a word with the embassy in London".

I rang the embassy straight away, booked a Visa appointment, was forced to pay a substantial fee and arrived there the next day for my appointment. After going through zillion security measures, 6 hours of waiting in the lounge, having my finger-prints scanned and archived, I finally came in to face to face with an American consular.

I explained to him my situation and questioned to him why I have to endure this discriminatory process. He re-iterated the same standard reply that they are not allowed to disclose that info and proceeded questioning me my purpose of visit to the States, when I left Somalia, what the hell I was doing in the UK, if I had any family in the States, whether I was working?

I answered in great detail, provided him evidence for certain questions. After half-hour typing an essay on to his computer, he concluded with the following words: "I cannot approve you for a Visa at the moment untill we get a clearance from the FBI on your background information. This can take up to a minimum of 3 months and longer than a year".

At that precise moment, I knew I was wasting my time, no matter what I said or do, the main reasons behind the denied-entry are :

1) My full name (I share the same name as several of the high ranking al-Qaeda officials not forgetting the Taliban officials)
2) Muslim
3) Somali (thanks to al-Shabab and their string of waves of suicide-attacks, not to mention the brainwashed Diaspora kids who sneaked out of the US to fight on the side of fitnah)

A wasted trip. Good luck for any European Somali heading to the States in the near future.

[Twisted_Logic]

I am sorry to hear about the horrible experience you were forced to go through. But really, these are a sign of the times and continuous involvement of the Somali youth in the West with known terrorist organizations makes these sorts of security measures necessary. We as a society have failed in tackling this terror menace and our youth are leaving the comfort of their homes to fight jihad not only in Somalia but as the latest arrests in Australia show, even within the very countries that have offered them sanctuary from the daily massacres and injustices in Somalia.

The government needs to go a step further, sadly, and aggressively monitor all the Somali businesses and individuals who donate to these organizations and arrest sympathizing clerics.

There should be a Zero tolerance for such destructive behaviors.

[Serena]

Maybe someone on Snet reported you to the FBI

[Highland]

Warsame, sympathy and empathy for that horrible experienxe. The way I see that these security personnel have no independent calculation or assessment when such cases of racial profiling arise. It's an iron-cage, blind procedure in relation to some harsh measures taken against the people whose countries of origin the host country is at war with . "Are we human or we dancers"


It reminds me of the Japanese Internment during WWII. Almost the same.

[Twisted_Logic]

Gedo, sympathy and empathy for that horrible experienxe. The way I see that these security personnel have no independent calculation or assessment when such cases of racial profiling arise. It's an iron-cage, blind procedure in relation to some harsh measures taken against the people whose countries of origin the host country is at war with . "Are we human or we dancers"


It reminds me of the Japanese Internment during WWII. Almost the same.

lol

The killers whose lyrics you quoted " are we humans or are we dancers" are one of the few pro-Bush supporters in the rock scene

[Advo]

Warsame, my condolence sxb.

It has everything to do with these Alshabaab stupid fukers, thanks to them, we will be highly profiled for sometime to come, The feds have focused their lenses on us and opened the biggest investigation case since 9/11, not to mention the somali terrorist that were caught in down under yesterday which will add more fuel to the existing fire. Times are certainly not good for us. My cousin experienced the same thing you have, except he got turned back in london, not once but twice, so now he just gave up.

[Highland]

TL, the Bush policies are still in place.
Are we human or dancer or are we human or robots.

Getta enjoy it.

[Gedo_Boy]

I've been through that same crap myself.

[LiQaaye_TDH]

Warsame im sorry to hear that sxb, There was a Time, when i was intressted in the States, but Not anymore, im not planning to go anywhere near that coumtry in the next 30 years anyway.. I love Europe

If your a Muslim 85% |You will be denied to Enter That shidhole....

[STOP!]

HAVE YOUR LAWYER WITH YOU IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES!....JUST LIKE YOUR BELONGINGS!

[American-Suufi]

Warsame, my condolence sxb.

It has everything to do with these Alshabaab stupid fukers, thanks to them, we will be highly profiled for sometime to come, The feds have focused their lenses on us and opened the biggest investigation case since 9/11, not to mention the somali terrorist that were caught in down under yesterday which will add more fuel to the existing fire. Times are certainly not good for us. My cousin experienced the same thing you have, except he got turned back in london, not once but twice, so now he just gave up.

^^^^

this dude is

[Ka darag]

Warsame, my condolence sxb.

It has everything to do with these Alshabaab stupid fukers, thanks to them, we will be highly profiled for sometime to come, The feds have focused their lenses on us and opened the biggest investigation case since 9/11, not to mention the somali terrorist that were caught in down under yesterday which will add more fuel to the existing fire. Times are certainly not good for us. My cousin experienced the same thing you have, except he got turned back in london, not once but twice, so now he just gave up.

[sadeboi]

Yeah this is a crazy situation for anyone to be in but somewhat expected. Any young Somali wishing to travel outside of America is kind of in trouble. But it is weird how it is easier for American Somali males to leave more so then non-American Somalis to enter.

[Warsame101]

Twisted, it won't be long before the British youth adopt the same way.

Serena, I highly doubt it.

Highland, exactly

Advo, I don't blame him, twice is the cake.

Liqaaye lol, I had so much planned upon arival in the States, now I lost a week of holidays going through this, non-refundable tickets and waste of time.

STOP!, unfortunately, entry to the US is a privilege, not a right, otherwise I would have contacted every Islamic rights group in the States and the UK.

sadeboi, the trend started there and it will finish in Australia.

Once again, any non-American Somalis wishing to enter the States, don't bother at the moment.

According to this news report: 3 Australian Somalis denied entry to the US.

Minneapolis Somali Justice Advocacy Centre director Omar Jamal said two Australian Somalis had tried to enter the US to attend a fundraising conference three months ago.

"They were from Australia and they were denied entry to the US," he said.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 62,00.html

The thing is, yeah, I have been profiled before but that was minuscule (Western Union, one time froze my transfers for a month).

According to the US Embassy in London, administrative processing will be carried on the following nationals:

1) Somali Nationals
2) Northern Cyprus

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/vi ... onals.html

[S-D-M]

It may be little tougher now, but this thing was going on even back in 2003. I was held in Detroit for 5 hours on my way back from Nairobi and I had to catch another plane since I missed my flight.


Also in 2007 when I went to Ethiopia I was held at Logan (Boston) for about 4 hours. I was so infuriated I was cursing none stop cursing.