Sunset Limited along the International Border

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I actually paid international roaming for some web use on my phone while riding the Sunset Limited, it's that close.
 
I actually paid international roaming for some web use on my phone while riding the Sunset Limited, it's that close.
this is why people need to make sure their smartphones(or cellular devices with data capability) must be set to deny international data roaming access. (usually under settings / mobile network) :)
 
FrensicPic,

You are going the right direction today. Our 2 is going nowhere fast! Sweating out another potential delay. Do you know when the clock starts for the engineer/conductor? Is it when they take over the train or are taken to the train?
 
FrensicPic, You are going the right direction today. Our 2 is going nowhere fast! Sweating out another potential delay. Do you know when the clock starts for the engineer/conductor? Is it when they take over the train or are taken to the train?
We passed each other a while back at Dragoon. We are just now arriving in Benson. Hope you make up a bunch of time!

My international roaming is always off unless I intend to use it.

Last December, we had Border Patrol walk the train in El Paso...both directions of our trip.
 
We learned the answer.... the hard way! Ugh.... looking forward to forward progress! Crowd is getting surly but not at our wonderful crew, who looks just tuckered out! We ran into lightening before Tuscon. Enjoy!
 
FrensicPic, You are going the right direction today. Our 2 is going nowhere fast! Sweating out another potential delay. Do you know when the clock starts for the engineer/conductor? Is it when they take over the train or are taken to the train?
We passed each other a while back at Dragoon. We are just now arriving in Benson. Hope you make up a bunch of time!

My international roaming is always off unless I intend to use it.

Last December, we had Border Patrol walk the train in El Paso...both directions of our trip.
I remember when I saw Border Patrol coming onboard the train and asking everyone the same question: "What country are you a citizen of?"

It was real funny when an elderly man started singing "Proud to be an American...." (from "God Bless the USA") Turned out that he was

a newly-naturalized US citizen and was taking a long train trip across the USA just to celebrate his new citizenship. :)
 
FrensicPic, You are going the right direction today. Our 2 is going nowhere fast! Sweating out another potential delay. Do you know when the clock starts for the engineer/conductor? Is it when they take over the train or are taken to the train?
We passed each other a while back at Dragoon. We are just now arriving in Benson. Hope you make up a bunch of time!

My international roaming is always off unless I intend to use it.

Last December, we had Border Patrol walk the train in El Paso...both directions of our trip.
I remember when I saw Border Patrol coming onboard the train and asking everyone the same question: "What country are you a citizen of?"

It was real funny when an elderly man started singing "Proud to be an American...." (from "God Bless the USA") Turned out that he was

a newly-naturalized US citizen and was taking a long train trip across the USA just to celebrate his new citizenship. :)
Do they check their IDs after that or what? Because a lot of illegal immigrants do speak decent English.
 
I actually paid international roaming for some web use on my phone while riding the Sunset Limited, it's that close.
Wondering how close? This was taken from the Sunset, just west of El Paso. Across the fence is Mexico-

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Do they check their IDs after that or what? Because a lot of illegal immigrants do speak decent English.
They should check IDs (since everyone on Amtrak is supposed to have one) but legally that's all they can ask. If you say no they may ask you to show your passport or green card. It's really to do behavorial profiling, with the question just a pretense.
 
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On the East bound SL the border patrol walked the train in Lake Charles several times when I was riding. The tap on the door and looking out the curtain to see someone in uniform and a badge was a little unsetteling the 1st time it happened but they just ask If I'm a US citizen. I could understand it taking place in Houston, MAYBE, but Lake Charles ?
 
The times I encountered this in El Paso I was out on the platform and they didn't pay any attention to us. My wife was in the sleeper when they came through, asked if she was a US Citizen, she said yes, and they moved on through the train. Just got of #1 this morning at LAUS on time and here at the computer an hour later!
 
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yes, they brought dogs once on the Sunset and inspected in LAX as well. I have been where Border Police have pulled people off the Lakeshore Limited as well near Buffalo. Border police have gone through late at night asking for IDs or Passports. I sometimes shopped in Progresso, across in Texas, and the Border patrol check everyone out and inspect the packages.
 
Surely accent is not a reliable test of whether someone is a US citizen. And it's not like every illegal person panics and starts to sweat. My guess is they question everyone to create the appearance of fairness, but actually they go after people based on appearance, just like 'stop and frisk' in NYC. (The Daily Show had a painful skit on that.)
 
yes, they brought dogs once on the Sunset and inspected in LAX as well. I have been where Border Police have pulled people off the Lakeshore Limited as well near Buffalo. Border police have gone through late at night asking for IDs or Passports. I sometimes shopped in Progresso, across in Texas, and the Border patrol check everyone out and inspect the packages.
correct me if I'm wrong.... at non-border locations, the Border Patrol has the legal authority to ask any question they wan to ascertain your citizenship or legal status in the US. however, they do not have the right to inspect your packages or vehicles unless there is reasonable suspicion that you're carrying something illegal. (as opposed to inspections at the actual border where they have the right to inspect every package they choose, with or without suspicion)
 
yes, they brought dogs once on the Sunset and inspected in LAX as well. I have been where Border Police have pulled people off the Lakeshore Limited as well near Buffalo. Border police have gone through late at night asking for IDs or Passports. I sometimes shopped in Progresso, across in Texas, and the Border patrol check everyone out and inspect the packages.
correct me if I'm wrong.... at non-border locations, the Border Patrol has the legal authority to ask any question they wan to ascertain your citizenship or legal status in the US. however, they do not have the right to inspect your packages or vehicles unless there is reasonable suspicion that you're carrying something illegal. (as opposed to inspections at the actual border where they have the right to inspect every package they choose, with or without suspicion)
You are basically correct. According to the 4th amendment to the US Constitution, they have no right to ask any questions or search anyone without "probable cause" or a warrant. However IINM the Supreme Court has allowed, as a "mild intrusion", for the BP to ask, "Are you a U.S. citizen?", at internal checkpoints which could involve Amtrak trains. Refusing to answer that question regarding your citizenship status will more than likely result in an unwanted delay in your trip. So why bother?

If you are a U.S. citizen and declare such, then I think they are done with you, as U.S. citizens do not have to prove that fact if they are within U.S. borders.If you answer that you are not a U.S. citizen, they will ask for your Permanant Residency (green) card. If you don't have it with you or you do not have one, then many more questions are sure to follow. Further questioning of a U.S. citizens is not permitted without reason.

However, given the "probable cause" provision, the above scenario could change (for example, they saw you jump the fence in El Paso and climb aboard the SL). No matter what your citizenship status that will entail a bit more interrogation.
 
Do they check their IDs after that or what? Because a lot of illegal immigrants do speak decent English.
They should check IDs (since everyone on Amtrak is supposed to have one) but legally that's all they can ask. If you say no they may ask you to show your passport or green card. It's really to do behavorial profiling, with the question just a pretense.
I disagree. A U.S. citizen does not have to prove his citizenship within the boundries of the U.S. A driver's license from most states (whch is sufficient ID for Amtrak) does not prove U.S. citizenship or even legal residency. If the BP has probable cause, he can detain you for further questioning, of course. Then there are the few "bad applles" that will bend the rules.
 
The times I encountered this in El Paso I was out on the platform and they didn't pay any attention to us. My wife was in the sleeper when they came through, asked if she was a US Citizen, she said yes, and they moved on through the train.
Is it that black and white? Anyone who says they are NOT a US citizen is considered an illegal alien? I am not a US citizen, I live in the United States on a visa, am 100% legal, have SSN, pay taxes everything.. so if I was on the Sunset and they asked me and I said no I am not a US citizen (and I am brown skinned) will that put me on suspicious list? Would they ask me to show my visa and other immigration papers? I don't carry around those things when I am traveling domestic.
 
Is it that black and white? Anyone who says they are NOT a US citizen is considered an illegal alien? I am not a US citizen, I live in the United States on a visa, am 100% legal, have SSN, pay taxes everything.. so if I was on the Sunset and they asked me and I said no I am not a US citizen (and I am brown skinned) will that put me on suspicious list? Would they ask me to show my visa and other immigration papers? I don't carry around those things when I am traveling domestic.
Unfortunately, while in most of the US no one ever asks to see your papers, the border area is a different matter. I don't think a foreigner has a legal right to refuse to show documents.
I am a citizen now but had a green card for years. Once on the road outside San Diego our car was stopped, they peered in and noticed that although brown-skinned we were not actually Hispanic, and let us through. But they could have asked for papers, which we weren't carrying. After that I always carried my passport and green card near border areas (even in Detroit).
 
The times I encountered this in El Paso I was out on the platform and they didn't pay any attention to us. My wife was in the sleeper when they came through, asked if she was a US Citizen, she said yes, and they moved on through the train.
Is it that black and white? Anyone who says they are NOT a US citizen is considered an illegal alien? I am not a US citizen, I live in the United States on a visa, am 100% legal, have SSN, pay taxes everything.. so if I was on the Sunset and they asked me and I said no I am not a US citizen (and I am brown skinned) will that put me on suspicious list? Would they ask me to show my visa and other immigration papers? I don't carry around those things when I am traveling domestic.
Yes they will ask for your "papers" if you state that you are not a U.S. Citizen. My wife and I were pulled over at a BP checkpoint on I-8 near Yuma, When we were asked if we were all U.S. citizens my wife (a legal resident at the time) answered, "no". He then asked for her green card which she had left at home. Fortunateley she remembered her A# which the agent put in his computer to verify. Then we were OK to go, but not without a stern warning that all non-citizens need to carry their green card or other proof of legal residence.
 
Unfortunately, while in most of the US no one ever asks to see your papers, the border area is a different matter. I don't think a foreigner has a legal right to refuse to show documents.
It's not like I want to refuse showing documents, it is just the logistical headache of hauling my passport and other original documents everywhere I travel, because now if I manage to misplace/lose them, I am in even deeper trouble.

Yes they will ask for your "papers" if you state that you are not a U.S. Citizen. My wife and I were pulled over at a BP checkpoint on I-8 near Yuma, When we were asked if we were all U.S. citizens my wife (a legal resident at the time) answered, "no". He then asked for her green card which she had left at home. Fortunateley she remembered her A# which the agent put in his computer to verify. Then we were OK to go, but not without a stern warning that all non-citizens need to carry their green card or other proof of legal residence.
I find it scary to carry my original passport and immigration forms with me everywhere just because there is a risk that I might lose them and then have to go through long annoying process of getting them reissued. So as a backup I have scanned them all and carry PDF copies on my phone and on my laptop. If I show that if stopped for "random check" would that suffice? Or they insist on seeing the original documents? Anyone has experience?
 
It's not like I want to refuse showing documents, it is just the logistical headache of hauling my passport and other original documents everywhere I travel, because now if I manage to misplace/lose them, I am in even deeper trouble.
I find it scary to carry my original passport and immigration forms with me everywhere just because there is a risk that I might lose them and then have to go through long annoying process of getting them reissued. So as a backup I have scanned them all and carry PDF copies on my phone and on my laptop. If I show that if stopped for "random check" would that suffice? Or they insist on seeing the original documents? Anyone has experience?
I'm an immigrant myself, but I can't say I sympathize with your problem. Basically you are saying "it is not convenient and also I might lose it". Convenience does not trump the law. Would you drive without a drivers license and registration because it is not convenient to carry them and also you might lose them?
In the US, Europe, etc., one generally does not need to show papers and so one is spoiled by living in a non-police-state environment. But foreigners don't actually have the right to wander around without documents. And regrettably, the border is a police-state environment.

Regarding copies, the other post you quoted said that the A# was enough, so presumably copies would be even better. It is not legally sufficient but the agents generally don't hassle people who are credible. I do carry a copy of my passport when sightseeing in other countries, leaving the passport in the hotel safe, but if I had to produce the original it is in the same city, not somewhere else altogether.
 
The times I encountered this in El Paso I was out on the platform and they didn't pay any attention to us. My wife was in the sleeper when they came through, asked if she was a US Citizen, she said yes, and they moved on through the train.
Is it that black and white? Anyone who says they are NOT a US citizen is considered an illegal alien? I am not a US citizen, I live in the United States on a visa, am 100% legal, have SSN, pay taxes everything.. so if I was on the Sunset and they asked me and I said no I am not a US citizen (and I am brown skinned) will that put me on suspicious list? Would they ask me to show my visa and other immigration papers? I don't carry around those things when I am traveling domestic.
Yes they will ask for your "papers" if you state that you are not a U.S. Citizen. My wife and I were pulled over at a BP checkpoint on I-8 near Yuma, When we were asked if we were all U.S. citizens my wife (a legal resident at the time) answered, "no". He then asked for her green card which she had left at home. Fortunateley she remembered her A# which the agent put in his computer to verify. Then we were OK to go, but not without a stern warning that all non-citizens need to carry their green card or other proof of legal residence.
Same thing happened to my late wife! (she was Canadian) She Lost her "Green Card" in Windsor, ON (too many Free Drinks and Slot Machines in the Casino :giggle: )and when we crossed through the Tunnel back into Detroit on the way to catch the Early Wolverine to Chicago she was fortunate that she had Copies of all her Paperwork and since it was 5AM the Agent looked it up and waived us through! (I had my US Passport which wasnt required then)

But she was told Very Sternly it was a Pretty Good Idea to have your Original Documents when Leaving and trying to Enter the US! (this was pre 9-11). YMMV
 
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