Well, we had to go through a border security checkpoint yesterday

[LisaM]

coming off the ferry. And we didn't cross a border.

It's pretty obvious that they are just doing this to net illegal immigrants. However, my SO refused to answer their questions and so we were pulled over to a waiting area (next to some people in a rental car) and if you ask me, since they then were able to run our plates, I don't see what point it did to refuse to give our citizenship while we were in line. Now they can log in our actual trip.

I am going to call the ferry system (I know this isn't the ultimate authority, but if they get enough complaints, they might pass it up - plus they can tell me who to call).

[The empressof all]

1. Which Ferry were you on?

I've never heard of this on any of the ferrys that are going from Wa to Wa.

[LisaM]

2. It's new. It's a dragnet to catch illegal immigrants

under the guise of homeland security.

We were going from Lopez to Anacortes, and it was NOT an international ferry.

[Patriot Abroad]

3. That's incredibly unfair.

The rich people of the San Juan Islands should not be made to suffer this way. If the only cheap means of transportation is being scoured for illegal immigrants, who will mow their lawns, take care of their children, and clean their homes?

Now, the way I read the schedule, http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=ana-sj
which incidently appears to be drawn up by a disfunctional committee of deranged public servants,

Lopez is sometimes served by an interisland ferry, and sometimes is a stop on the Friday Harbor to Anacortes ferry.

The web site does say, bizarrely enough, that "All passengers boarding in Friday Harbor and their belongings are subject to U.S. Customs and Immigration inspections." But the little symbol next to this only refers to the 1:45 run direct from Friday Harbor to Anacortes.

So have they started to check all the boats coming from Friday Harbor? And if you happen to get on one of those boats when it stops at Lopez, are you checked as well? Given that the last time I checked, we won the Pig War, there shouldn't be any checks at all going on here.

Flip side, immigration got burned by the guy that almost got through on the Victoria ferry, so maybe they're erring on the side of ridiculous vigilance. And if they catch some illegals and drugs as well, added bonus for them! Personal rights are so last century . . .

[Patriot Abroad]

4. Note, I used to live near Port Townsend . . .

Despite my tricolor. I feel your outrage, but at the moment I'm actually more angered at the current state of the ferry system - they appear to have let it get to crisis stage in not replacing their fleet. They might as well bring the Kalakala back at this point - it's not much older than some of their current boats.

[newmajority]

8. The Port Angeles - Victoria ferry is not operated by the state of Washington

So WSDOT policies really don't have anything to do with that particular ferry run. Last time I was on that boat though (2003) your vehicle was subject to inspection both at the dock in Victoria (where you're parked for literally hours) and upon arrival in Port Angeles.

They got the terrorist guy at the PA dock in 1999 by doing routine border inspection, because the guy was acting nervous as Hell. They didn't need post-911 Patriot Act "Show Us Your Papers" nazi bullshit to stop him, just ordinary law enforcement. And right around the same time, they caught another terrorist on the east coast (Maine, I think) also using what was routine procedure then.

That should be a lesson. Fuck the fear tactics, the existing laws were sufficient, as long as they were enforced correctly.

[tavalon]

5. As much of a pain in the ass as it is, it really is best to refuse to play the game

It gums up the works and makes them think twice about asinine ideas like this.

[tavalon]

6. So. other than showing your fatherland papers, what questions were asked?

[LisaM]

7. They only asked our citizenship - nothing else.

Ironically, they probably knew more about us from running our plates than if we'd just answered "US".

BTW, not everyone in the San Juan Islands is rich. We're not rich. We're quite lucky in that 80 years ago my SO's grandparents happened to buy a cottage that has stayed in the family (and is shared by a lot of people) but you shouldn't write off everyone who travels to and from the San Juans as rich. There are plenty of people who live up there doing whatever they can to get buy, but to live a slower lifestyle. Moreover, the immigrants are not just ferried in to mow lawns, etc. A lot of them do farm labor, and whole families live there.

It's actually not a very pleasant experience to have a bunch of customs agents in sunglasses motioning all the cars to stop and answer questions.

I particularly don't like that they are framing their immigrant dragnet in terms of terrorism.

The ferries that go to Canada always get stopped for customs inspection.

[maxsolomon]

9. the terrorists & illegals are crossing the channels to get to the san juans

and then its smooth sailing straight to the place where they TAKE OUR JERBS!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

10. Interesting you mentioned farms

and the fact that everybody is not rich over there.As much of a pain in the arse as it is,you really have to look at as though you are dealing with customs when crossing a border ,or in that context given it is the fed. I mean as far as getting on with your business. At a bridge they can keep you in holding for as long as they choose to,than refuse you entry or exit.
The way it is framed,that's more a political ,moral issue. I don't think the ferry system ,on board a ferry is the place to choose the battle.

Homeland security ,Fed. ,I would look at about the same as crossing the Boarder ,answer the questions properly and go on about your business.

Or why have your time fried ?

Back in the eighties carpenters ,framing contractors were very needed over there. Island people are very fine people ,It's a different place,a good place to be.