It is a known problem. The U.S. has an official policy, that stems from a law, that prohibits entry to the U.S. of any non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident reasonably believed to have offered sex for money in the past, although there are some time limits as to how far back they go in a lady’s life (presumably Grandma ain’t selling tail any longer). They have a pretty massive database of names and pictures.
Facial ID is being used to detain and ban sex workers from entering the country—and it’s a harbinger of a rapidly encroaching surveillance state fueled by artificial intelligence.
www.thedailybeast.com
Ridiculous? Of course.
But who is going to fight it?
It might surprise some of you folks, but the U.S. does have sex worker rights organizations that lobby and work with law enforcement. Some of their hard work has made it safe in the U.S. to see independents who screen, especially in more open-minded localities. Recently, their work has shifted more “to the left” in trying to eliminate laws and enforcement of policies directed at “loitering for prostitution” which provides a better life for street-based survival sex workers. Most Johns who see upper-end, higher priced escorts have no interaction with the lower-end of that scene, but I suppose we should admire the work of the sex worker rights groups.
I mention this half-humorously. The U.S. rights groups have always yawned and found something else to do when it comes to the subject of foreign sex workers, who often tour the U.S. at prices below the very high U.S. rates, being denied entry. Those policies are certainly a human rights issue, but it is doubtful that U.S. sex workers will ever lobby too much for their foreign sisters.
It might also surprise some of you who don’t travel much that crossing borders as a U.S. citizen, especially into Canada, is not hassle free. Canada is much more intrusive than Europe, where they say “Welcome”. The article I linked to has mention of a U.K. sex worker being questioned at length in Vancouver, but was allowed entry. U.S. guys know to delete their internet browsing and search history, especially for Terb, Merb and Perb., when entering Canada. And to not have an open text conversation with an escort or agency. Phone searches do occur, and there was one credible report of a denial of entry at the Montreal airport based on phone searches, although the reasons have been vague and do not directly mention the intent to see sex workers. And the guy posting about it had a bad attitude and said it was because he was Asian, so who knows what he said to the Border Agent. But it is good to understand that there are no real Due Process rights for non-citizens at any border crossing.
Not saying that the U.S. isn’t the worst. Of course it is. But clearing a phone of evidence, and not having automatic passwords that grant entry into your Hobby Email, is Basic 101 stuff when crossing the Canadian border. And even when a U.S. citizen crosses back into the U.S. after traveling, he needs to be cognizant of what is on a phone or computer. The U.S. extends its law prohibiting sex with minors to its citizens and permanent residents when traveling outside the U.S., regardless of the age of consent law in the foreign countries. For a single male traveler, or guys traveling in groups, coming back from a country, such as Thailand, believed to have the availability of underaged sex workers, U.S. Immigration is more likely to look through pictures on a phone or computer. You don’t want that Immigration person seeing sexy pictures and trying to decide if she is 18 or over.
The gist of the article is that the U.S. is building a massive database to use at Immigration, and even within the U.S., from daily life, both commercial and non-commercial, of U.S. and non U.S. people. Disturbing, and we all hope it doesn’t get adopted by other countries.
And hopefully, Canada always recognizes that U.S. guys spending money in Canada is a good thing and will always let such guys in. But it is still a good idea to not rub intentions in their face if a phone is searched.
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