U.S. Customs & Borders Protection Agency
Rudeness and Power Abuse by a CBP Office

I, together with my wife and 3 friends, drove back from Vancouver, B.C. Through the Blaine U.S. Customs & Border Patrol Station, after spending 3 days in Vancouver. Agent Kranzler sent us to the customs building for inspection. We stood at the front of the line for about 20 minutes. I then asked an agent at the cashier counter politely as to how long we had to wait since we had a wedding to attend. The agent (name unknown) bluntly said, "This is a place where you meant to be waited". I didn't appreciate his attitude but let go with it. We continued to wait on the line for another 25 minutes when agent Kranzler came to the counter. She asked us how long did we wait. We told her that we had waited for 45 minutes. She said that the wait was not long. She then asked another person waiting in the next line, which was for visa application or other purpose than inspection, the same question. The gentleman told her that it was about an hour. She then selected to serve the gentleman and his group first. I then made a comment to my wife that the U.S. Customs service was so inefficient, referring to the long wait. She overheard my comment and immediately asked me to sit at the bench. I told her that she was abusing her authority by punishing me just because I had expressed my opinion. Another agent sat next to her bluntly and loudly demanded me to follow her instruction. I complied knowing that they had the supreme authority to arrest me if I did not follow their instruction. My group sat on the bench for 2 hours. When my name was called, my group and I went to the counter. As I walked by Agent Kranzler, I looked at her name tag to get her last name. She immediately shouted at me and questioned why I starred at her. I didn’t say a word knowing that I would possibly get more retaliation from her. She said if I wanted to get her name, she would write it down for me. Another agent interrupted, “If you want me to get you out quickly, do not confront with her”. I then walked over to him who was able to get us out within 15 minutes with a “clean” inspection.

I believe my constitutional right (first amendment) has been abused. I was not violent or hysterical at the scene but simply made a negative comment about the U.S. Customs. Agent Kranzler unreasonably “punished” me by further asking my wife and I to sit at the bench, purposely delaying my inspection service for at least an extra hour.

I understand and appreciate that U.S. Custom is the first line of defense for criminals and violators to enter into our country. As a U.S. Citizen, I need their protection. However, majority of the public passing through the U.S. Border is law-abiding citizens and visitors. They should be treated with respect and welcome rather than rude attitudes from CBP agents like Kranzler, which are the sources of instigating tension.in my case, Agent Kranzler abused her authority, wrongfully labeled me for being angry when her and another agent expressed even more anger by yelling at me in front of the public. She needs to be reprimanded for her abusive action and behavior.

There are many large countries in the world that have friendly customs service. Being a world leader, our country should set good examples. It is imperative that CBP officials, as employees of the nation’s largest law and enforcement agency, are trained in and held to the highest professional law enforcement standards. I hope U.S. Customs would be able to enforce a true and better image of its agents as it has portrayed in its promotional videos by transforming its agents’ rude and unprofessional manner into respectful, professional and polite individuals.

Thank you in advance for your attention and action to this complaint.

Company: U.S. Customs & Borders Protection Agency
Country: USA
Address: 1580 H Street Blaine WA 98230 01
Phone: 3603321721
Site: cbp.gov

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