U.S. Customs Raid

What is the name of your state? GEORGIA, although this happened in Miami, Florida.

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We took a 7 day cruise. Upon our arrival, we were raided at 7 am in Miami. I assume we ported right before that time.

7 armed U.S. Customs agents entered our suite without waking us for approx. 10 minutes while they searched. There were 5 in our party and 1 of us was awake when they entered but she shut her eyes because she was scared and didn't know what was going on. She finally opened her eyes to a man standing above her peering down at her. They started to wake us all ( I was in a seperate room ). They told the guys to get dressed but made me have a female agent watch me dress, first with lifting my night gown completely in her presence.

They reviewed our personal digital camera's, EVERY SINGLE personal picture. They tored our room apart looking for something. They did NOT even say who they were or why there were raiding us. After approx. 30 minutes, one agent said it was random, while another agent shortly after said it was due to "complaints".

The agents kept making comments about our room (which was the Royal Suite...it's the largest and most expensive room on the entire cruise ship). They asked how much we paid, how much money we made, and other things pertaining to money and status. (We are a group of young people...and we don't look like young Republican's of America). I own my own businesses and I have self obtained wealth. The female reviewed our plane tickets which are first class and then showed another office they were first class. The whole thing seemed unreal. It was like we were being persecuted for being successful. Another agent asked my husband about his shirt which he wore on his first day that said "Porn Authority"...as if we were pegged from the beginning to be watched. The T-shirt he wore is a shirt we sell in one of our stores, it is obviously a novelty shirt.

We cooperated and answered all questions. The raid was over in about 1 hour. This raid may have been legal, but it just doesn't sit right with me. From them not identifying themselves, going through our things while we were asleep first, going through our PERSONAL digital pictures...

Does anyone know if this is normal? I feel my rights were violated, especially that I had to show my body to this agent in my own bathroom while I did NOTHING wrong??

Thanks
~Susan

When you leave US waters and then return, the ICE has pretty broad powers to search. Something tipped them off to you guys. They may have suspected you were involved in drugs or some other criminal activity. Why they suspected you, I can't say.

If you think your rights were violated, contact an attorney. However, I think you will find that there is nothing here you can act on. The minimal intrusion and inspection can be argued to have been done for officer safety and to prevent the concealing of whatever evidence they thought they might find.

You seem to have the money, so hire an attorney and see what they have to say.

- Carl

Paradise, it was not on debarkation, it was our arrival back to the USA. The raid did not delay anything, even if it did delay debarkation, it was not as if we "asked" to be raided or as if we did anything criminal...we did nothing.

Second, when I stated they did not identify themselves, this is 100% truth. They went through the suite for approx. 10 minutes before my friend decided to just "wake up" and deal with this. When they came into my room, they told us to get up and that they were searching our room. I asked who they were and if this was routine, and the female agent just replied that this was a random search. Of course, we realized who they were, but when entering a suite 7 deep, it would seem appropriate to state who you are.

Also, we did not do anything wrong and they did not find anything, which is why they left after not finding anything. If "people like us" piss you off, then apparently innocent people piss you off.

The story I told you is exactly the truth, as I stated it, which is what I find so bizaare. It would the same as if they raided "your" cabin, Paradise...

CdwJava, thanks for your constructive advice. I also feel there is nothing we can do, but I did file a complaint because I feel that documented complaints will at least help curb unethical practices by the same agents in the future.

P.S. What is also bizaare is one agent said towards the end of the raid after not finding whatever it was they were searching for, that we were wasting "their" time. I find it ludicrious that you (Paradise) would make a similar comment (that people like me piss you off)...when we did absolutely NOTHING wrong. They seemed angry that they didn't bust us for anything. I just don't see how innocent people can be wasting "their" time for them not finding anything, as if it would have been "better" had they found something illegal. This is the most ridiculous comment I have ever heard.

Six of the seven of you slept through a good portion of the raid? I sometimes have trouble sleeping - what were you on?

Stealth, not sure if your being serious or sarcastic...but to answer you:

There were not 7 of us...there were 5 of us. 2 of us (myself included) were in a seperate room. That means only 2 were sleeping during the beginning of their search. It was 7 AM...and from what my friend said (the one who was awake) was that they were not talking loud, they were simply going through our things...unannounced. Which is why...I feel our rights were violated. Again, I filed a complaint.

P.S. I do not do drugs, not even sleeping aids...not because I judge those that do, but I actually fear anything that alters my senses. In fact, I don't even drink...which makes this raid and their accusations even more ironic.

Some more thoughts on the matter..

Susan --

I've read all the previous posts and must first advise you that many of the people in here seem to have a slightly warped sense of humor and like to be sarcastic/insensitive/sardonic in their replies, just to get a reaction. From your own replies, I am sure you are being very sincere in your description of events, and sorry you even have to waste time responding to such "humor."

I've observed also that cdwjava's comments usually are pretty helpful, from what I've seen in my short time here. If he really is a cop supervisor as his signature claims, he should be pretty well-qualfied to comment on the legal issues involved, and I've even contacted him directly about my own issues.

That said, I am a former US Customs officer myself, and deputy sheriff before that, but it's been awhile. Having served in those positions, I have become pretty fierce about my own reactions to violations of my civil rights by goons of any stripe, esp. sworn officers, and to others experiences. I am not current on the exact protocol for agents making such an entry and search, particularly as regards entry into a ship's suite, since it is similar, legally, to the automatic search you're liable to at any other border re-entry. But I have to think that a search warrant should still be necessary -- which would be a key point to check out with an attorney. Whatever the case, the agents should also have identified themselves immediately with ID, since they easily could have been pirates in disguise otherwise, no? I'm not being silly, since many of our fellow citizens have been injured or killed responding to such break-ins with an instinctual defensive reaction, fearing they wer ebeing attacked before they realized these were the people who were supposed to "serve and protect" them.

The really sad thing in this post-9-11 era is that we are all considered potential terrorists, when, in fact, too many of those in uniform are little more than domestic terrorists, while we cheer them on in "protecting our security." The old adage about "freedom is not free" has never been more true than now, and I heartily encourage you to very actively explore all your legal options re: this situation. It WILL be an uphill battle, but these goons will never back off from trampling on our rights and freedom until we force them to do much better homework before they come crashing in. Keep in mind that they are ALWAYS the ones who snivel the loudest when the tables are turned on them, or they don't automatically get their "get-out-of-jail-free" card. Trust me, I know about this one, and have observed this vicious double-standard for many years now. Along these lines, I co-authored two books with the most-decorated Green Beret in history, who was actually indicted with trumped-up charges to shut him up about his first-hand evidence of major drug trafficking by extremely high-level USG officials. The better book is "Called To Serve" if you're interested.

Meanwhile, tho', I would refer you to Just Cause Law Collective (lawcollective.org) as a very good starting point for your own education on how to deal with these matters. The director's story there is tremendous, and I know, because I was THERE at the time myself... There are many, many more such sites, and I would suggest doing a Google search on "reporting police abuse" or related phrases. You'll be stunned at the number and quality of helpful sites. Once you feel you're up to speed, by all means try and meet with a really good attorney with experience dealing with out-of-control cops. Even tho' I used to be one, I have felt for many years we're under far more threat from then than any turban-clad Islamists... so far, anyway.

All my best,

MK

Thank you MagicKristian. I read your post thoroughly and agree with you. I know there is nothing we can do...but quite honestly, it was scary and I felt like a criminal because they came in "accusing us". I have never even been to jail, so exposing myself to the agent was short of traumatic to me. Nonetheless, I appreciate you taking the time to advise me and posting the link.

~Susan