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CHIMO

(9,223 posts) Fri Nov 29, 2013, 04:50 PM Nov 2013

Canadian woman refused U.S. entry because of depression [View all]

Source: CBC News

A Toronto woman denied a flight to New York as part of a cruise trip wants to know who told U.S. border agents about her history of mental illness.

Ellen Richardson says she was told by U.S. customs officials at Pearson International Airport on Monday that because she had been hospitalized for clinical depression in June 2012, she could not enter the U.S.

As a result, she missed her flight to New York City and a Caribbean cruise, for which she had paid $6,000.

U.S. border guards are allowed to bar anyone they deem a threat to themselves, others or their property. They have access to police records — including even uneventful encounters with officers — but medical records are supposed to be held in the strictest confidence.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/canadian-woman-refused-u-s-entry-because-of-depression-1.2444960

Nov 29, 2013 9:33 AM ET| Last Updated: Nov 29, 2013 2:27 PM ET

Watch out for big brother. Need a trade agreement for live humans now!

95 replies

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Canadian woman refused U.S. entry because of depression [View all] CHIMO Nov 2013 OP

this is seriously messed up Voice for Peace Nov 2013 #1

She should have flown from Toronto to Havana instead warrant46 Nov 2013 #54

What we know so far: struggle4progress Nov 2013 #68

ok, that sounds like a different situation altogether Voice for Peace Nov 2013 #69

Always there to justify state repression, are you? JackRiddler Nov 2013 #79

The language of the current law seems to appear in amendments to struggle4progress Nov 2013 #81

The border agents fucked over this lady. JackRiddler Nov 2013 #83

If the issue is worth discussing, it's worth trying to root out the underlying facts, isn't it? struggle4progress Nov 2013 #86

The law is one thing; what's right is another. Comrade Grumpy Dec 2013 #92

An Ontario group has a website devoted to this issue: struggle4progress Dec 2013 #94

Yes indeed. Shame! The very nerve of some people - LTX Dec 2013 #93

Soooooo stealing that....nt msanthrope Dec 2013 #95

"she missed her flight to New York City and a Caribbean cruise, for which she had paid $6,000". BlueJazz Nov 2013 #2

People like to assume there's this dangerous, monolithic entity called The Mentally Ill. (nt) Posteritatis Nov 2013 #10

Especially rickyhall Nov 2013 #27

... People also like defining "mental illness" as "anything I don't like." (nt) Posteritatis Nov 2013 #33

They may have figured there was a chance that while in the US she'd make yet another suicide attempt struggle4progress Nov 2013 #13

Oh, and they thought making her miss an ocean cruise would cheer her up? Ken Burch Nov 2013 #18

In my reading, 8 USC § 1182 places no special emphasis on Canadians: it simply says struggle4progress Nov 2013 #32

Thank You CHIMO Nov 2013 #36

I don't see any actual relation of this to NAFTA. The question, whether US authorities received struggle4progress Nov 2013 #42

OK CHIMO Nov 2013 #43

This is the law enforcement and administrative overreach campaign...... Swede Atlanta Nov 2013 #39

She is a paraplegic from what I am reading below Mojorabbit Nov 2013 #41

Yes, she's paraplegic because she critically injured herself in one of her various suicide attempts struggle4progress Nov 2013 #44

Then why had she been allowed to travel via the U.S. three times previously polly7 Nov 2013 #45

It's simply a fact that such an argument won't fly in any court. She should just seek struggle4progress Nov 2013 #46

She had no idea she NEEDED a waiver. polly7 Nov 2013 #47

Of course, if she had a crummy travel insurance policy, that is an entirely separate matter, struggle4progress Nov 2013 #48

She 'alleges'. polly7 Nov 2013 #49

As we seem to have exhausted topics to discuss, I'll just wish you a pleasant day and move along struggle4progress Nov 2013 #50

Oh I got that a while ago when you refused to answer anything that didn't go along with polly7 Nov 2013 #51

QED struggle4progress Nov 2013 #53

May I CHIMO Nov 2013 #52

The feds on both sides got themselves a "database" Hassin Bin Sober Nov 2013 #40

They might have been concerned Ms Richardson would attempt or commit suicide in the US, struggle4progress Nov 2013 #73

I understand but tonight 325 people will sneak across our borders and (probably).. BlueJazz Nov 2013 #74

Sickening. polly7 Nov 2013 #3

then how the fuck do republcan members of congress retain the ability to fly anywhere dembotoz Nov 2013 #4

Woo, four replies before the first "mental illness = politics I dislike" post. (nt) Posteritatis Nov 2013 #9

Is she the author of "Hope for the Heavy Heart: For the War-Weary and the Heaven-bent"? struggle4progress Nov 2013 #5

The woman denied entry does seem to live in Ontario: struggle4progress Nov 2013 #11

Ummm ...yeah, it's the same woman. polly7 Nov 2013 #12

" ... Previous to her hospitalization in 2012, Richardson had attempted suicide in 2001 ..." struggle4progress Nov 2013 #14

Apparently that wasn't a problem. polly7 Nov 2013 #20

Dunno. I've only heard her version of events. As I read the law, mental illness alone struggle4progress Nov 2013 #24

Well of course, the 'mentally ill' woman has to be lying. polly7 Nov 2013 #25

Huh? I just pointed out to you that US law makes no such presumption about the mentally-ill struggle4progress Nov 2013 #26

She's traveled through the U.S. three times successfully since 2001 polly7 Nov 2013 #28

As I said, I've only heard her version of events. I have no idea what her 2012 hospitalization struggle4progress Nov 2013 #35

Why would she think this entry would be any different than the three prior polly7 Nov 2013 #37

She attempted to poison herself in 2012, and a relative called emergency services, which probably struggle4progress Nov 2013 #64

I've taken quite a few people, actually, in to the ER for suicide attempts. polly7 Nov 2013 #65

Read the link I provided: you will see the theory, that the ambulance call produced a police record struggle4progress Nov 2013 #66

The 'theory'. polly7 Nov 2013 #67

Well, her version is becoming more complete as time passes: struggle4progress Nov 2013 #71

And? polly7 Nov 2013 #72

For a definitive discussion of what Canadian authorities may have shared with US authorities, struggle4progress Nov 2013 #75

Good for you. polly7 Nov 2013 #76

Bonne chance! struggle4progress Nov 2013 #77

Hey .... I realize it's no biggie when you're not the one having to be concerned about it. polly7 Nov 2013 #78

8 USC § 1182 struggle4progress Nov 2013 #6

For a TRANSIT 'Visa???' elleng Nov 2013 #30

Canadians almost never need a visa to enter the US. It's my understanding struggle4progress Nov 2013 #34

Canadian woman denied entry to U.S. because of suicide attempt (2011) struggle4progress Nov 2013 #7

The facts, so far as I have been able to determine, seem to be these: struggle4progress Nov 2013 #8

I guess that border agent must have read her book, and has a fantastic memory. polly7 Nov 2013 #15

Maybe. But I might guess there were police reports on her suicide attempts or on her 2012 behavior, struggle4progress Nov 2013 #17

Thank you. nt kristopher Nov 2013 #16

thanks for all the research and facts treestar Nov 2013 #55

I expect there will always be more than many very good reasons for anti-government outrage; struggle4progress Nov 2013 #58

Hmmm...looks like another one of "those" stories SoapBox Nov 2013 #19

Exactly what I was 840high Nov 2013 #31

Yeah that's going to help her be not depressed CFLDem Nov 2013 #21

Too bad she wasn't armed. Turbineguy Nov 2013 #22

Now she can be paranoid, too. tclambert Nov 2013 #23

Man I hope they find the person(s) that opened her records rurallib Nov 2013 #29

Maybe nobody opened her records. struggle4progress Nov 2013 #38

clinical depression is an absolutely proper response BlancheSplanchnik Nov 2013 #56

"Mental illness" alone cannot result in exclusion from US border entry: exclusion requires struggle4progress Nov 2013 #59

thanks for that struggle4progress... BlancheSplanchnik Nov 2013 #60

This wouldn't have been an issue if she'd only played her cards right... liberalmuse Nov 2013 #57

Privatization of jobs that used to be handled by provincial government clerical staff arikara Nov 2013 #61

She attempted to poison herself in 2012, and a relative called emergency services, which probably struggle4progress Nov 2013 #62

Punish her! Punish her forever! JackRiddler Nov 2013 #85

The law, as I pointed out upthread, dates to 1952 and was liberalized in 1990 struggle4progress Nov 2013 #87

The surveillance system... JackRiddler Nov 2013 #88

I don't think an involuntary psychiatric hold is confidential Sen. Walter Sobchak Nov 2013 #63

Accusations .. private health details of Canadians .. shared with U.S. border agents sparks probe struggle4progress Nov 2013 #70

hmmm...so there's a lot of us Americans who might be refused reentry in that case yurbud Nov 2013 #80

She was considered an excludible alien due to her fourth suicide attempt in 2012, not due struggle4progress Nov 2013 #82

A citizen cannot legally be refused re-entry. NutmegYankee Nov 2013 #84

how long had it been since the law mattered about anything related to "national security"? yurbud Nov 2013 #89

Once again, a citizen cannot be barred from re-entry. NutmegYankee Nov 2013 #90

I think you meant to post that as a reply to someone else or you missed my point yurbud Dec 2013 #91