Legal Experts: What allows them to "interview" you after deboarding?

[Bonobo]

Another plane from the UK has been diverted to Bangor Maine.

CNN announced the passengers will be "interviewed" for the next few hours.

My quesion: What gives them the right to stop you and interview you? Outside of airports, the police can't just haul you in for questioning. They would have to make an arrest, wouldn't they? So why is it so different AFTER coming off a plane?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts/answers.

[hobbit709]

1. Name, Rank and serial number

[electropop]

2. CBP has the legal authority to do that.

Anybody entering the US is subject to search etc without probable cause.

[savemefromdumbya]

3. probably the patriot act

and because the people had long beards and turbans?

[radwriter0555]

4. All airports are considered ports of entry, as are hospitals....

something about that little detail there.

[crim son]

5. Well, yippee. I'm just a few blocks from the airport.

I really love the way our little town is the first stop whenever something undesirable happens on a plane coming from Europe.

[JackBeck]

6. "Show me your papers."

Coming soon to a fascist country near you.

[HuffleClaw]

7. some racist idiot hears someone speaking a foreign tongue

and its called 'suspicious'. there was a day, in the not so distant past, when a black man could be expected to be stopped for the crime of walking down the street. and it still happens. only now the gestapo has widened its net.