Why does my elderly mom keep getting questioned at customs?

Post date: 2024-04-20 04:16:00

Mom (80 y.o., white, US citizen) flew to Amsterdam earlier this week to embark on a river cruise with her 75 y.o. bestie. At customs, she was questioned by the agent more than others in line ahead of her. This isn't the first time it's happened with recent international travel and she's mystified as to why.

In Amsterdam, the customs agent asked the purpose of her trip and if Amsterdam was her final destination. She was taking the train to Antwerp for the cruise, so she said no and the agent seemed to get irritated. "Why didn't you fly into Antwerp, then? Why are you going to Antwerp? Do you have proof that you are going on a cruise?" Last year, after arriving home from Germany, she was pulled out of line and her suitcase was searched by U.S. customs.

Is there a way to find out what's in her "file" (if there is such a thing), or is there anything she can do to reduce the chance of this happening in the future? She finds it very unnerving. She has no criminal record in the U.S. and was approved for Global Entry. She did get a citation in Berlin a few years ago for getting on the U-bahn without a ticket (due to a misunderstanding for which they were not at all sympathetic!), but she paid the fine.

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