If you are a Saudi male between the ages of 22 to 35 years of age and traveling to the United States be prepared for the likelihood of intimidation. Unless you are traveling on either an A1 or A2 visa you’ll probably get pulled into “secondary” interrogation at US Immigration on arrival at your first point of entry into the United States. Even if a Saudi male is a son of a Saudi diplomat but on a visitor visa vice a diplomatic visa, there are no exceptions. He too will undergo secondary interrogation.
Secondary interrogation can happen based on profiling as well as based on the manner in which the Saudi male answers questions with the initial Immigration Officer at the point of entry. I guess it is not all that surprising that Saudi males ranging in ages from 22 to 35 are subjects of secondary interrogation. Yet let’s think about this… before any Saudi national arrives in the United States, he or she has been cleared by Homeland Security database checks and allowed to be issued a visa for travel based on those checks and input from the initial interview at the American embassy.
Saudi Arabia and the United States are supposed to be partners with good bilateral relations so why do these intimidation tactics continue against Saudi males? And yes, I am sure you must be wondering what kind of tactics are used. I will describe one recent incident which I have learned is also very typical.
A Saudi male in his mid-20’s arrived in the United States. He had traveled previously several times to the States and on a diplomatic passport during those times. The most recent visit was on a regular Saudi passport. Immediately on presenting himself to the immigration officer, rather than ask him many questions, the immigration officer looked at his computer, looked at the young man’s passport, put the passport in a yellow plastic folder and pressed a button. Shortly a second immigration officer appeared asking the Saudi to come with him. The Saudi male was taken into a room which was obviously a holding area lined with chairs and he recognized many other Saudis who had been on the same flight with him. He patiently awaited his turn to be called into yet another room where individual interviews were taking place.
When it was his turn to be interviewed, he entered a small room where there was another immigration officer. They sat across from each other at a small table. The officer asked the young man many questions which included why was he coming to the States; what was his exact address and phone number while staying in the States; who all did he know in America; what other relatives or friends of his have been or were in the States; where did he live in Saudi; what did he do in Saudi; did he know anyone who was a member or associated with a terrorist group; would he be willing to swear on oath that he did not know anyone associated in any way with terrorism. Then he was apprised of all the rules and regulations for entry to the United States. He must be at the address he provided to them. He must be willing to come in for further interviews at any time if requested. If he were to travel anywhere he must notify Immigration in advance or he would be immediately deported and also denied further requests to come to the United States. The young man was also asked his age and birthday. He told the immigration officer who in turn said the young man was wrong; that he was a year older than he claimed. The young man, intimidated and concerned at that point, chose simply not to respond. He knew what his age was and what year he was born but did not want to appear as if he were challenging or contradicting the immigration official.
Finally after more than an hour he was released from the secondary interrogation but not before he had sworn an oath with his right hand raised and signed a document that all information he provided was true and accurate. On leaving, he was given a sheet of 15 pages which contained instructions covering that he could be contacted at any time for further interviews. And another caveat of his admission into the United States was that he had to agree to an exit interview by Immigration before he returned to Saudi. The packet of pages included information on how to arrange this interview.
As a result of the secondary interrogation it took this young man 4.5 hours to exit customs. Not surprisingly his family who were waiting in the international arrivals area were quite concerned.
This experience has also altered the young man’s view of US officials. He continues to enjoy America and the American people but has less respect for the American government and their procedures of arriving guests in the country. Yet in order for Saudi males between the ages of 22 to 35 to come to the United States it seems they must accept and endure such a welcome. Can you imagine though what kind of an outcry there would be if Saudi Arabia were to choose in turn to scrutinize and interrogate each American male arriving in Saudi Arabia?
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