German Author And NSA Critic Says He Was Barred Entry Into The US

from the because-fuck-you-that's-why dept

Tue, Oct 1st 2013 2:41pm — Mike Masnick

German author Ilija Trojanov, an outspoken critic of the NSA's surveillance efforts, is claiming that he was just barred from entering the US. He was in Brazil, and was intending to head to Denver for a conference, but discovered some problems at the airport:

"The airline worker had hardly entered my name when she paused, stood up and disappeared without explanation behind a door," he wrote.

"A few moments later she returned with clearly a high ranking person who told me in rapid Portuguese and then almost as quickly in English that because of "Border Crossing Security" she was duty bound to inform American authorities immediately about my arrival at the airport.”

Three-quarters of an hour before his flight was due to leave Trojanov was told he would not be allowed to travel.

The US is already unfortunately infamous for just how difficult we make it for foreigners to visit the US (not to mention letting our own citizens back into the country). There could be many reasons why Trojanov was barred from flying, but this kind of thing is happening all too frequently, and certainly suggests a level of ridiculous pettiness on behalf of the US government, rather than any legitimate security reasons for barring some people from flying or entering the country.

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Filed Under: ilija trojanov, no fly, nsa, nsa surveillance, us

31 Comments

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silverscarcat (profile), 1 Oct 2013 @ 2:54pm

Can we just...
You know, get rid of the TSA right now?

Maybe we could use the money that goes towards fake security for stuff like food stamps or maybe getting our roads fixed or maybe, just maybe, getting internet on par with google fiber everywhere in the country.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Oct 2013 @ 3:14pm

Re: Can we just...
TSA likely had nothing to do with this - this is customs and border control at its finest.

More than likely, if he arrived in the U.S. from Brazil, he'd be stuck in Customs until he left again.
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Disgruntled American, 1 Oct 2013 @ 3:38pm

He is not missing much
Had he came here he would have been spied on, had monitoring malware installed in his electronic devices when they are "inspected" at the border and generally treated like the terrorist the government thinks he is for being critical of their policies.

I'm surprised they did not let him come and then lock his journalist ass up in Gitmo.
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nbcart (profile), 1 Oct 2013 @ 4:21pm

Trojanov was knocked off his horse by petty US reaction to criticism
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Anonymous, 1 Oct 2013 @ 5:00pm

Re:
But since he's rubber, he'll bounce right back.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Oct 2013 @ 5:07pm

And who keeps reckoning the USA isn't turning into a 'look alike' of the country and regime that was in power 70 years ago a few thousand miles away? This is starting to get pretty serious! I wonder how long before the person who is behind all this is either exposed or makes him/her self known?
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Wolfy, 1 Oct 2013 @ 5:33pm

We could use TSA cardboard cutouts and have just as good security as we have now, and it would cost much less.
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Atkray (profile), 1 Oct 2013 @ 5:38pm

Re:
...and they would smell nicer.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Oct 2013 @ 5:50pm

The TSA are like SMAUG the dragon, you have to let them smell your crutch, and hope they don't bite.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Oct 2013 @ 5:56pm

This is why I don't fly anymore. Imagine being out $500 for your ticket because TSA, NSA, or whoever wants to "send you a message".

The airlines aren't going to refund your ticket, or allow you to catch another flight. You'd just be standing there SOL with your all your luggage around you.

At that point, you better have a lot of cash or credit cards on you to get yourself home.
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Anonymous, 1 Oct 2013 @ 5:57pm

Re:
Thank goodness I don't use crutches!
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Oct 2013 @ 6:04pm

Reasons
"There could be many reasons why Trojanov was barred from flying, but this kind of thing is happening all too frequently, and certainly suggests a level of ridiculous pettiness on behalf of the US government, rather than any legitimate security reasons for barring some people from flying or entering the country."

You're being too generous. They barred him simply because they could.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Oct 2013 @ 6:47pm

United States is a fascist country. Prove me wrong.
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Zem, 1 Oct 2013 @ 7:24pm

One day
and one day the people will just stop coming.

Just another example of the massive risk to the long term US economy that stuff like this poses. Forget the government shutdown, the collapse of the US tourist industry as foreign visitors abandon the US for other countries that want to let them visit would be far far worse.
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Edward Teach, 1 Oct 2013 @ 8:14pm

Of course they bar NSA critics...
The second batch of folks on "The List" are going to be those that criticized "The List" in the first place. "The List" will preserve itself and its personnel at just about any cost.

The anti-war people will be the third batch on "The List". Because, you know, they do things publically, so they're easy to infiltrate.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Oct 2013 @ 9:02pm

Americas real life sequel to 'White Nights' should be good.
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2013 @ 12:37am

Good job of "Welcoming public debate" on surveillance here by the administration!
Actions speak louder than words.
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Duarte, 2 Oct 2013 @ 1:28am

Re:
I agree with you, the US are becoming more and more like Nazi germany in some sense.

Only in countries like North korea does this kind of thing happen. If americans don't open their eyes, they will be living in a dictatorship pretty soon, this is how it starts...
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Niall (profile), 2 Oct 2013 @ 1:57am

Re: One day
Yes, I'm surprised that the UK hasn't realised this yet with the Miranda seizing. After all, if even passing through London can get you 'arrested' and your stuff seized, it's not going to be long before people start avoiding London as a transport hub.

Similarly yes, the US seems less and less attractive all the time to visit. I'm wondering if I'll ever bother again.
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nico78, 2 Oct 2013 @ 2:22am

any chance he can enter now that government has shut down? or will all the evil departments remain open?
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relghuar, 2 Oct 2013 @ 3:44am

...rather than any legitimate security reasons...
I disagree :-)
If your favourite security model is "security by obscurity" - and from what we've seen in last months I strongly suspect it's the ONLY security model US government even knows - then preventing people to speak about it openly is actually a pretty legitimate security reason...
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Manok, 2 Oct 2013 @ 4:02am

Re: United States is a fascist country. Prove me wrong.
Fascism is socialism.... and socialism is communism... Even though the U.S. is half socialized... the police, the fire brigade, the army, roads... do NOT call them communists !! The mere thought of "everybody is equal" and "we got to share the riches we have" is sooooooooooooooooooo unAmerican.

There's your proof...
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Ninja (profile), 2 Oct 2013 @ 4:06am

Re: Can we just...
Can we just get rid of the Govt as it is and reboot?
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Big boy, 2 Oct 2013 @ 4:08am

Re: Can we just...
Sure we can, but then who will check inside my asshole? Most importantly who will wipe it for me?
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Pragmatic, 2 Oct 2013 @ 5:45am

Re: Re: Can we just...
You'd need a politically engaged population that can think for itself without writing people off as "Liberal Socialists" or whatever when they disagree with them.

Otherwise, when you hold elections, the same people will be voted back in because they belong to a particular party or group, not because they're actually good at governance.

Seriously, that creepy lockstep echo chamber thing has got to go. Then, and only then, will you get change.
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The Real Michael, 2 Oct 2013 @ 5:47am

Re:
I can explain it. The British monarchy, along with the international bankers, formed the not-so-secret society of Freemasonry in order to enlist the services of Americans who are willing to betray their own country in exchange for power, money and protection. They want to transform this country into a communist nightmare.
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Pragmatic, 2 Oct 2013 @ 5:49am

Re: Re: United States is a fascist country. Prove me wrong.
You don't know what any of those words mean, do you, Manok? Look them up, please.

The mere thought of "everybody is equal" and "we got to share the riches we have" is sooooooooooooooooooo unAmerican.

See the preamble to the Constitution for details of what it is supposed to mean to be American. Giving people a better deal is not the same as confiscating all wealth and sharing it out in equal portions. Why does it have to be an all-or-nothing proposition, and how does enforcing your viewpoint benefit you? Are you being paid for it, or something?
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The Real Michael, 2 Oct 2013 @ 6:01am

Re: One day
The way I see it, the drop-off of tourists and such, as caused by incidents such as the above-mentioned, are done intentionally as part of an effort to undermine our credibility. The only way we're going to restore this country is if the people decide they've had enough and start pushing back.

Imagine if, for example, someone was filming cops on duty arresting someone and then when the cops walk up and attempt to take away the camera/phone, every single bystander in sight immediately surrounds the offices and intimidate them back. That's the key, that people are willing to respond to abuses immediately with a sort of hive-mindset, no matter where they are, in order to come to the aid of their fellow Americans. Protect one another!
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Anonymous, 2 Oct 2013 @ 4:21pm

Re: Re:
The worship of the military in America is on par with that of North Korea.
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Sheogorath (profile), 3 Oct 2013 @ 9:12pm

Re: Re: Can we just...
Sure we can, but then who will check inside my asshole?
They still do yours? Aw, they haven't wanted to do mine since the time I groaned and asked them to do that with their fingers again. ;D
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Oct 2013 @ 11:27am

Re: Re: United States is a fascist country. Prove me wrong.
Probably one of the worst syllogisms I've ever read. Hoping it's satire.
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