originalheather

Wish I could say that I thought that was true.

The strange thing is, we're supposedly about to go to war any second, right?

Then tell me why no one is checking my passport at the border anymore? We're supposed to be at a stage of "red alert" or something akin to that at the border crossing. A month ago, my trunk was still being opened, I'd be questioned as to what I was doing in Mexico, what I was planning to do in the US, etc. They at least made sure I was American before waving me through.

Now, I am American, but it's not that obvious, since half the Customs guys speak Spanish to me when I drive up. They're assuming that I'm Mexican until I open my mouth, but the last 4 times I've crossed, I haven't even had to speak.

My passport was issued in Guadalajara as a replacement, so it's not a laser passport, it looks funny. I am 100 pounds lighter than I was in the picture and my hair is a different color, so from looking at that pic from 3 feet away I doubt it even looks like me.

I've been seeing Mexicans getting waved through as well without the Customs agents swiping their visas to make sure they're real. It would be a real stretch to look at me and assume I'm from the Middle East, but one thing I remember thinking while looking at the footage during Desert Storm was, "Damn, these guys look Mexican".

If we're at war, why aren't we checking who's slipping across the border? Seems to me that San Ysidro, being the world's busiest border crossing, would be an excellent way for terrorists to get into the US.

I don't feel too safe. I doubt that Mexico would be much of a terrorist target, but I'm only 10 miles from the States as the crow flies. San Diego, with its multitude of military bases, is a juicy target for terrorists.

I guess that US Customs has given in to the pressure of people wanting a quick border crossing rather than acting as the first point of defense for America. I don't like long border crossings, but they don't open all the gates ever, better to have more agents and check everyone the way they did after 9/11 than to just wave everyone through for expediency's sake.