<font color = “limegreen” > When an Australian magazine editor flew to Los Angeles last week to interview Olivia Newton-John she had no idea she would become the story.

New Idea editor Sue Smethurst said she would lodge a formal complaint with US authorities after she was treated as a threat to national security and deported back to Australia after nearly 15 hours of interrogation at Los Angeles airport.

"I would have walked across broken glass to get home," Ms Smethurst said today.

The 30-year-old said she was interrogated, fingerprinted, had mugshots taken and was refused access to a lawyer.

"I was being made to sign documents and swear oaths - and I was quite concerned that that could be misconstrued and I had no help at all," she said.

Ms Smethurst was expecting to interview Newton-John about breast cancer on a visa she had used on eight other occasions.

But security staff withheld clearance leaving her in detention for almost 15 hours.

"Their justification for refusing me was that under American law ... [they] have the right to refuse a foreign journalist entry," she said.

"They said to me you don't understand, you have no choice, no rights here under American law."

A frequent business traveller to the US, Ms Smethurst said she still did not know why she was detained although she asked repeatedly what the issue was.

"Their words to me were: we will tell you when we have a problem and your silence is appreciated."

During the ordeal, "innocuous items" like lipliners and make-up - deemed "a national security threat" - were taken from her, she said.

A cup of tea was also forbidden, she added.

Arriving home yesterday, Ms Smethurst said her greatest concern now was to have her record cleared.

"I have a file that's half a centimetre thick," she said.

She said she was unsure whether she would be able to re-enter the US ever again and would take up the case with the authorities.

"I know that immediately when I travel, and probably regardless of the fact that it's in the United States, I have an immigration record," she said.

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With the bush paraniod tour going down well in Britain, good to see there is no let up on your home soil. :rolleyes:

Source :- The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...027021940.html

[ 11-19-2003, 05:40 PM: Message edited by: wellard ]

I'm so lucky to be a citizen. It would take me about 10 mins. with the Blue Coats to pull a Neo and say "Here's my finger, now give me a lawyer." That'd be it for old TL.

ouch.. i hope i wont get that kind of treatment.

<font color = lightgreen>Upon returning from Europe back in 1985, well before the over-zealous era of post 9-11, my teacher who organized the trip warned us that we should not joke or make any statement that might be misconstrued to US Customs officials, unless we wanted to be detained for who knows how long. Those folks are spooky and have no sense of humor whatsoever.

This kind of crap has got to stop, before we don't dare exit our house for fear of being brought under scrutiny.</font>

Just hope PATRIOT II does not pass, otherwise they will be able to revoke your citizenship and give the 'enemy combatant' treatment.

Immigration are a breed unto themselves. It has to be part of the training. On about my fourth visit the woman, on seeing my occupation as "Shop Manager" actually cracked a joke "Who's minding the shop then". I thought it was a trick question so I concentrated on maintaining my poker face! :D

I'm looking for fellow investors to start up a Jack Boot company. Anyone interested?

warning: your replies may be monitored.

your posts are belong to us

:D

I like that saying, Timber... "To pull a Neo" [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img] That's a stayer for me! [img]smile.gif[/img]

We all know that those lipliners are just carrying cases for Weapons of Mass Destruction... :rolleyes: