U.S. visitor (to Canada) turned away over long-ago prank

[alp227]

Source: CBC News

An American man says he was denied entry to Canada at Vancouver's airport because of a conviction stemming from a high school prank 20 years ago.

San Francisco resident Jon Cobb, who says he has visited Canada four or five times before, flew to Vancouver on Saturday planning to see friends for a few weeks. Instead, he was sent home the same day after at least seven hours of questioning.

"I was basically flabbergasted, trying to figure out what these questions have to do with visiting friends in Canada."

Cobb said border officials questioned him about his uncle's death in a bus accident in 2009, scrutinized his belongings, took his cellphone and read his text messages.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/07/18/bc-canada-entry-denied.html

---

Similarly, British comedian Russell Brand was deported from Japan over 10-year-old criminal charges. And a recent high school graduate in Indiana over a senior prank.

[RKP5637]

1. Yep, dealing with the minutiae and missing the big one. Picking the low hanging

cherries while the forest is burning.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. My BIL was denied over a ten year old DUI.

[naaman fletcher]

3. Canada is tough...

they won't let you in over DUI's, most of the time.

[idiotgardener]

4. Is Canada the problem?

Or the fact that our government is providing this level of information about us to others?

[naaman fletcher]

5. good point....

I really don't see why we should share this info with other nations.

[roomfullofmirrors]

9. the patriot act in action, keeping Americans safe.

:patriot:

[BNJMN]

14. They can't both be the problem? n/t

[Boudica the Lyoness]

6. I don't understand why they let Bush in..

Didn't he have a DUI?

[Lasher]

8. Yes, and Cheney has two.

How ironic it is that we have Junior to thank for this, since he gave Canadians access to our criminal record databases. That information is now theirs to do with as they please, and that's just what's going on. This has been going on since 2007 at least.

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0057.shtm

[Fuddnik]

7. The FBI started sharing information about a year ago. Modern day Iron Curtain.

Any stupid bullshit will deny you entrance.

I'm going on a 7 day Caribbean cruise in late Oct. I have a 30 year old drug conviction. I'm wondering if they'll even let me on the same boat I took the same cruise on 3 years ago.

[No Elephants]

10. If we want other countries to share info with us, we have to share info with them.

What they do with that info is a separate issue. Seems some rule of reason should apply.

Lord forgive me, but I hate the Patriot Act!

[No Elephants]

11. You must admit, we WERE warned from elementary school on about our permanent record.

[nebenaube]

12. Yeah, except that it didn't really exist then... n/t

[Kolesar]

13. American gun nuts want to be able to remove gun-related convictions from criminals' records

Read it on DU last month

[Blue_Tires]

15. By that logic, none of the Stanley Cup rioters would be allowed in ANY country...