ALVIN, Texas A family in Alvin says it is struggling to accept the rules and regulations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection after a 19-year-old family friend was denied a Christmas visit from her home in Canada.
But federal agents, while not able to comment on the specific case, say the denial is in line with the best practices and mission of the organization.
Dustin Durbin s family bought a round trip ticket for his girlfriend Tanna McCleod, who lives in a small town in Sasketchewan, Canada. Durbin, a Texas A&M student, has visited her twice on solo trips to Canada without any problems.
But on her first trip out of Canada, McCleod never made it past U.S. Customs in Minneapolis.
It was just frustrating that all this happened, said Durbin. She cried the whole time. It was a nightmare for her.
The Durbins say customs agents questioned McCleod about three pills loose in her purse, which turned out to be Midol. They say she was threatened with a $5,000 fine, but the agents had bigger issues with why she was traveling with only $10, no credit cards, and little proof she planned to return to Canada.
With no money, no education, no job that she s pretty much going to run here and live with me forever here, Durbin said agents told his girlfriend. And so that s why they claimed they wouldn t let her through.
Customs agents detained McCleod for 13 hours before placing her on a plane back to Canada. The Durbins, who purchased the round trip ticket, say Delta Airlines has refused to refund any portion of her ticket to Houston.
They had a 19-year-old girl, blonde hair, five foot two. How scary could she be? asked Dustin s mom Debbie. We re not blaming anyone. I understand that everyone has a job to do in this. We just don t understand.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the lack of visible means to support oneself on a visit to the United States is one of the factors used in denying someone entry.
Any person who cannot provide proof that they have strong ties to their home country must be denied entry, a federal agent replied in an email response to the Durbins plea.
That proof, according to CBP guidelines, includes proof of employment, proof of residency, mortgage statement or lease, evidence of utility bills being paid at a home address and evidence of adequate funds for support during their visit, including cash, credit cards, travelers checks or bank statements.
McCleod did not have that proof, but the Durbins say they specifically told the teen not to bother bringing money. They planned to host her for the entire 18-day visit and send her home with Christmas presents for herself and other members of her Canadian family.
Customs agents recommend that travelers visit the federal travel website to avoid problems like the ones the Durbins encountered.
Meanwhile the Durbins are considering an appeal of the CBP decision so that the 19-year-old will eventually have a chance to visit the U.S. for the first time.
