Border Control – How Much Do They Know?

September 11, 2001 made us realize the continuation of an existing treachery among men, unspoken, but relentless threats to our daily lives and that every single human being on this planet, could be a suspect of deception at any given time, especially when crossing borders.

As a result, Countries all around the world heightened their border securities by enhancing the numbers of security personnel and applied new methods to secure infrastructures; such implementations are without contest, bear logic and give travelers and worldwide citizens a sense of safety.

Before 9/11, people traveled from one country to another, legally and illegally, and Border Patrols were most vigilant for fraudulent documents; passports and visas were the main two documents which underwent intense scrutiny, separating genuine from counterfeit.

Back then, legal and illegal migration held one main purpose, especially to the west; people were trying to cross borders for a better opportunity of life, mainly employment.

After 9/11, illegal migration began to wear a face, suspected of terrorism and only terrorism; thus, security methods went into a frenzy. Security immediately went to being a psychologically studied subject, avoidance results were being certified by so-called professors of security studies and trainings intensified in creating qualified trainers for security officers.

Aided by new technologies, national passports routinely changed without citizens being notified beforehand, some became machine readable, some adapted to a chipped, navigational system and some with computerized authentications embedded within their pages; the sophistication of travel documents has surpassed its imaginable plateau and one would think that borders are now fairly safe and that fake travel documents are 99% detectable instantaneously.

I am a non-European, who has been legally residing in Europe, consistently, for the past nine years. I currently reside in Switzerland, holding an “Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung)”.

An Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung), in Europe, is the equivalent of the infamous Green Card in the United States of America and the immigration rules surrounding the Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) are similar to the rules of the Green Card in the USA.

An Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) allows the holder to legally reside and work in Switzerland and or the state where it was issued and by extension, this documents allows the holder to freely and legally move within all Countries under EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association).

Unlike the green card, this document is a simple two-page booklet, with a photograph on one side and official immigration information on the other side; this document is of paper-like material bearing the holder’s signature, an official stamp from the immigration authority and is encased in a plastic folder. Like the green card, this document is expected to be embedded, if not in all border security databases of the world, at least in all European Border Control systems.

However; this does not seem to be the case, which was proven by my most recent travel.

Despite the increase numbers of security personnel, including immigration officers and airport police, knowledge varied to recognize my Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung).

I recently travelled to Mexico from Zurich via Frankfurt and while entering Germany on my outbound route, the immigration officer at the passport control desk, recognized and approved my document with five seconds and I went on my way.

Exiting Mexico to return home, I encountered a delay, which told me an entire story about the Mexican Immigration System. The Mexicans have become quite complacent with the foreigners, who visit their land and their database has adapted to these foreigners, which are mostly US Nationals, Canadians, British and other national from the Americas.

Any diversion in this flow will creates an immediate confusion; thus, mine did.

Considering that my encountered passport control officer, in Mexico, appeared to be no older than twenty-two years old, I was patient even though I was wondering about her training. After not recognizing my document which accompanied my passport, she conferred her lack of knowledge with her supervisor, who was apparently the same age as her and also did not have the slightest clue to the authenticity of my travel document.

After running around for a while, a verification was somehow made, an apology for the delay was given to me and I was on my way; I was not annoyed, strangely, maybe because I was way too early for my flight or the fact that I narrowed it down to a complacent, Mexican system.

After flying for ten hours, I landed back in Frankfurt and could not wait to catch my connecting flight to Zurich, but my anticipation of a smooth transition hit a bump, when the immigration officer in Frankfurt, Germany, did not recognized my Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung).

After taking it from its case and having difficulty putting it back, he seriously asked “Is it broken?”

As much as I wanted to laugh, I was shocked by his ignorance of the document, but immediately I realized that he had something in common with the two in Mexico; he was just as young.

After a few minutes and with the help from his colleagues, the authenticity of my document was again realized and with another apology for the delay, I was home-bound.

“Outward from Zurich via Frankfurt, the officer I encountered appeared to be older than all three officers whom I encountered on my return journey and this clearly showed that the younger they were, the less they knew.”

The most recent recession has clearly buckled the knees of the world’s economy, resulting in the shortage of cash flow, forcing us to be fiscally creative by doing more with less and although that might be appreciated when applied to some sectors, the sector of border security should not be cheapened; such corner-cutting poses a transparent and deep threat to our livelihood.

Border security officers should be and must be fully trained and possess the ability to recognize a genuine travel document when it is presented, despite its country of origin.

“An acknowledged exercise of expertise, in any profession, offers a silent sense of security equally to a lack of knowledge which concedes insecurity to its clients.” – Ian T. Sebàs

© Ian T. Sebàs 2017

© Ian T. Sebàs

EasyJet – Buy Cheap, Buy Twice

By the time I turned 18, it’s fair to say that I had grasped a full understanding of Cost versus Quality regarding all matters of finances; on top of that, mom always said “Buy cheap, Buy Twice”

So it wasn’t my snobbish ways why I have always resented bargains or cheap deals. I avoided and resented anything cheap because experience had taught me that when it’s cheap, the quality is usually poor and being disappointed in its promised result was inevitable.

So the first time I booked an EasyJet flight. I should have not been surprised about the quality of service which was received at the check-in counter.

Wanting to be punctual for my first EasyJet flight, I made sure that I was at the airport, even before the check-in clerk arrived to open her counter and as expected, a queue of people were behind me later on.

But my punctuality only awarded me to be first in the line to deal with an obnoxious Check-in clerk who seemed as if she hated her job and could not care less about the passengers, I remembered it like it was just yesterday, flying from Zurich Airport to London Gatwick. After the ordeal with her, I then had to travel to what seemed like the outskirt of Zurich’s airport, to the aircraft. As if that was not annoying enough, the passengers ran like they were running for cover, towards the aircraft; it took me a while to realize that they knew something that I weren’t aware of.

Cheap ticket with EasyJet meant non-allocated seats, no on-board snacks and no warm hospitality.

On top of that experience, after exiting the aircraft in London Gatwick, I realized that I’d forgotten my favourite hat on the seat, where I sat. Needless to say that EasyJet made no attempt to find it and I had no other choice than to take the blatant loss.

After that disappointed experience, surely I swore to never fly with EasyJet again, like I said, mom always say, “Buy cheap, Buy Twice.”

So years followed and with my travels in Europe, I flown with Swiss Air, KLM and a few others. Deals and offers were sometimes given, but never to be considered cheap, hospitality and the appreciation of choosing them were always apparent, and flights included meals, snacks and drinks (hot and cold beverages).

Last month, a friend of mine flew with EasyJet to Greece and praised the airline for being cheap and good (Hmm, cheap and good, to me, never logically go together); he even informed me of the new ‘Allocated Seating’ now offered by EasyJet. Of course, I responded with a ‘Wow!’ “You should try it” he said “It’s really value for money!”

So when I had to go to London on a very short notice, especially after just returning from my holidays, my finances weren’t in the best of shape to afford another luxury flight, hotel and taxis. It was now an opportunity to go against my block for EasyJet and accept my friend’s recommendation to fly with what he called, the new EasyJet.

I hesitantly booked the flight online and read closely, all the terms and conditions, and felt somewhat comfortable. My flight date arrived and again, I was first in line, before the Check-in Clerk arrived. When she arrived, she look at the waiting queue, but with no real facial expressions of delight or resentment. I was then told that my bag could be either check-in luggage or cabin luggage; I actually had a choice and it was free of cost. As I was going to be lingering around the airport for another two hours, I chose to check in my bag, which weighed 9 kilograms.

Considering that I had flown with EasyJet years before, everything that reminded me of the last experience, made me a little nervous, so when we had to journey to the farthest part of the airport again, I was slightly on edge, but the allocated seating did ease my anticipation of discomfort. The aircraft was clean and the Steward and Stewardesses were friendly and professional and the Pilot was very informative.

That was Zurich to London.

On my way back wasn’t so simple, it was like a blast from the past, except the last obnoxious clerk was about 40 years old, and this clerk was young enough to be my daughter, I doubt if she was older than 25 years old. After approaching her counter, other than saying hello, every other word that came out of her mouth was with an attitude. She even referred to me as ‘dude’. It was as if I was an ex-boyfriend of hers, who had a bad break up, and she found the opportunity to lash out her grief.

She suggested a Thirty Pounds charge for my bag of 9 kilograms, which I objected to, with the indication that the very same bag arrived in the UK with me, free of charge. After showing her proof of that fact, her defence was that, in Switzerland my bags were handled by Swissport, who are not affiliated with London Gatwick, and at London Gatwick, I am required to pay Thirty Pounds, she further added that because it was a full flight, I did not have an option of carrying on my bag.

What should have routinely been a 5 minutes counter transaction was lengthening with aggravation. I caught myself by realizing that I was dealing with a youngster, who probably is just learning how to use eyeliner pencils and lipsticks and who probably were employed based upon her ignorance.

She verbally said, “Dude, you are flying budget…” which actually reminded me of what mom said, “Buy cheap, By Twice.”

I was flying with EasyJet, a budget airline, what did I expect?

I compared it to my stay at the Hyatt Regency where I was treated as if my money was appreciated to when I stayed at a cheap Bed and Breakfast, only to find a used condom in the bathroom.

I paid EasyJet the Thirty Pounds before saying, “It won’t make any real financial difference to either of us!”

Paying Thirty Pounds was a worthy price for ridding EasyJet off my chosen airline list (again). I endured the flight back to Zurich, with the aid of my music and headphones to blank out any other activities that was likely to be experienced.

And when we landed in Zurich, I was relieved.

The Jamaican Coke Rush

The Jamaican Coke Rush
‘Found Gold and Lost its Sole’

After the abolishment of slavery, and many years of British Government ruling, the Land of Wood and Water, Jamaica, was given ‘independence’ on August 6, 1962 and a new era had began; Shilling and Pence were something of the past and among other things, Jamaica had its own Dollars and Cents, ridding the Union Jack to Jamaica’s own Green, Yellow and Black banner.

Thereafter, Jamaicans apparently had and enjoyed years of personal control over their Country’s future and its directions, whilst making no fuss of the watchful, supervisory presence of the British Government (The Governor General) that lingered.

Jamaican Citizens had no reasons to fuss, considering that they could travel back and forth to the United Kingdom, as they pleased; a valid passport, a ticket and an address in the United Kingdom were the only requirements, and that in itself was obviously fair.

Jamaicans did just that, hassle-free, for decades.

“But, that has changed!”

In 2002, after some 35 years of independence, cocaine, which most Jamaicans had heard about but never actually saw, was washed up on the Jamaican shores a year earlier. Apparently some smugglers from South America, on their way to the United States of America, had to abandon their cargo. Good luck it seemed for some poverty-strickened Jamaicans, who had the fortunate findings.

But Jamaica, who owns its reputation of being violent, was still too clean and cocaine sales would not be profitable in The Land of Wood and Water.

So what happened after, was the turning point of Jamaica’s independence era and or its relationship with the United Kingdom. The poor finders, who did not know the real value of the white substance, sold it to someone who did, but the someone who did (another class of Jamaicans), didn’t have any personal use desire, but knew that people overseas did, and would pay a lot for it; so, they got to work.

And even though the United States of America was closer, it was too much of a hassle (they required visa from Jamaican Nationals and in order to be qualified for a visa, they wanted health checks, school reports, criminal records, your parents info, and other ridiculous requirements, which made most Jamaicans think that the U.S. must be heaven). Besides, the U.S. Dollar valued too little; therefore, if one is going to take a risk, Britain was most ideal, with no visa requirement and the Jamaican viewpoint of, “The Pound is strong!”

So hundreds or maybe even thousands of mules (people smuggling drugs) started to travel to the United Kingdom from Jamaica, in attempt to rid their find, and be financially better off.

But Jamaica which does not produce cocaine, famed and in this case, even proud that marijuana was its guilt, knew that one day all of the cocaine which were washed up on its shores, after the many airport busts and the sales of some which past the ports, the coke barrels were destined to be empty.

Jamaicans are famous for saying, ‘Lightenin nevva strike the same place twice!’ which meant that this finding was a once in a lifetime stroke of luck.

Jamaicans (Independent, JLP, PNP, NDM and the Rastafarians) knew that fact and if the Jamaicans did, so did USA’s, UK’s and the rest of the world’s diplomats, who had heard of The Jamaican Coke Rush.

Some diplomats were waiting it out; after all, people (mules and dealers) were dying, cocaine was being smuggled out of Jamaica successfully and unsuccessfully, but one thing was certain; it was heading to its drought, its end.

Other diplomats could not wait for the Rush to past, and also saw it as a risen opportunity and a loophole to put back shackles on the hands and feet of Jamaicans (keeping them grounded) and stopped their ambitious trend of migrating to the United Kingdom, working their butts off, before returning to Jamaica with their life savings to build big mansions and own their own businesses.

After much debate of whether a grounded action was even legal and millions of sporadic surveys tossed over the internet, trying to find out if they could actually get away with the idea, an amendment was made, making visa mandatory for Jamaican Nationals to travel to the United Kingdom.

The fact that Jamaica has a Governor General, meaning ‘A representative of the state’s sovereign’ (Queen Elizabeth II), made the visa requirement appear as being qualified to enter one’s own home; it would be the same as a resident of a parish in Jamaica, needing a visa to enter another.

Illegal?

No one could say; changes in constitutions are often made, some violating democracy and left uncontested.

Illogical?

Definitely!

‘One’s own home’ being referred to as The Constitutional Monarchy and The Commonwealth Realm which Jamaica shares with the United Kingdom.

Jamaicans being required a visa to enter the United Kingdom, could only be fair, if Jamaica and the United Kingdom did not share the same monarch, and in which event, a Governor General would not serve a valid purpose.

Claiming that the United States of America is indeed united; George W. Bush, Barack Obama,Hillary Clinton and the American people, proudly own and accept Beverly Hills hot shots and the O.G.s (thugs) of Compton, midtown Manhattan and the projects of Harlem as their own USA.

United Kingdom consisting of posh Buckinghamshire and crime-filled Brixton is still the United Kingdom, and while colonized with Jamaica which has Jacks Hill, Tivoli Gardens, Cherry Gardens and Arnette Gardens (Jungle), must realize that these neighbourhoods are what makes Jamaica, Jamaica and remains in union with the UK, sharing the same monarch.

The United Kingdom having Jamaica as one of the Commonwealth’s Realm, was expected, by Jamaicans, to accept them for their fortunate or unfortunate findings, and while the Jamaicans possess liberty, the UK must decide if the price for such colonial residents is worth the purchase.

Bottom line is, a Mother should accept her children, despite their actions and what they turn out to be, and a Mother cannot claim to be a Mother if she abandon her children for any reason.

The fact is, Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning Monarch and Jamaica’s Head of State, officially called “Queen of Jamaica” and it has been said since 1714 that “The Monarch reigns, but does not rule”; an indication reflecting full independence to countries such as Jamaica.

Jamaicans had some expectation of sharing similar freedom as British Citizens, and were not happy with the visa policy.

Some argued that Britain’s Blacks are 90% Jamaican spawn, giving them strong roots there. Others claimed that Jamaican Immigrants are building blocks to modern Britain (being the first bus drivers, postmen and nurses in England, not to mentioned those who suited up for the British Army) and that today most are minimum wage workers; cleaning toilets, vacuuming offices and are forced to ‘run off’.

While some believe that true independence would certainly mandate a visa, but that it would also mean the removal of the Governor General.

Still, Jamaicans remain proud today, admitting that most of the past, were ignorant, but brags that Jamaicans of today aren’t idiotic.

Out of Many, One People.

© Ian T. Sebàs 2014