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Am I able to visit the United States without being arrested?

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Suzanne Allen

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington

In 2015, when I was living in Mainland China, I was a voracious downloader of internet files, primarily from Usenet and Torrents. I had set up my system to automatically sort all the files I downloaded into different directories so I would never have to look at them. I would organize later. During this period, I signed up for Microsoft OneDrive and proceeded to upload all my image files into their system. A few days later, I received an email stating my account had been suspended due to inappropriate images. Surprised, I checked my image folder miscelaneous sub-folder, where images were automatically sent before I sorted them. To my disgust, there was a child porn image and a bestiality image in the directory. I immediately deleted the folder (and the entire hard drive) and informed Microsoft what had happened. I was still permantly suspended from their system.

I am a Canadian who was living overseas in China at the time. I am not 100% positive how this crap got on my computer but it was probably downloaded inadvertently during my massive downloading period (I don't do this anymore. I check everything). Is it safe for me to visit the United States? I have never been contacted by Canadian Customs or Canadian Police whenever I go back to Canada but I am terrified that I am on some sort of list in the United States and would be arrested as soon as I crossed the border.
 


Suzanne Allen

Junior Member
Unless you were charged by the United States you won't be arrested for that. Were you charged?
That's just it; I don't know. I have not tried to enter the United States for years. Would I be arrested as soon as I crossed the border? From my readings online, what happened to me is not uncommon but I am still paranoid. Am I on a list somewhere in the US and would get flagged if I cross? Or am I worried about nothing?
 

Ohiogal

Queen Bee
That's just it; I don't know. I have not tried to enter the United States for years. Would I be arrested as soon as I crossed the border? From my readings online, what happened to me is not uncommon but I am still paranoid. Am I on a list somewhere in the US and would get flagged if I cross? Or am I worried about nothing?
How would ANY of us KNOW?
 

Suzanne Allen

Junior Member
How would ANY of us KNOW?
That's why I'm asking. What does American Law say about such matters? If a warrant is out for someone from Canada, is it automatically sent to Canada or do they wait to see if the person attempts to enter the US? There was no intent to distribute, just a temporary possession and it was destroyed as soon as I discovered I had it.
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
That's some awesome free legal advice. I ask a sincere question and this is the answer I get. You got a real friendly website here.
It's not a matter of friendly or unfriendly ...there is just no way any internet forum can assist you in this matter. Even to guess would be irresponsible of us. You might try calling a criminal defense attorney in the US and pay for assistance.
 

Suzanne Allen

Junior Member
NO ONE HERE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. No one.
Sorry, I must have misunderstood the purpose of this forum. I thought it was giving free legal advise and from reading many of the posts, I saw that there was a diverse range of legal questions, usually with an answer. I realize my question was unusual, which is why I was asking it. Didn't realize I would get such vitriol with no explanation as to the anger and frustration my question seemed to have aroused.
 

Suzanne Allen

Junior Member
It's not a matter of friendly or unfriendly ...there is just no way any internet forum can assist you in this matter. Even to guess would be irresponsible of us. You might try calling a criminal defense attorney in the US and pay for assistance.
"If a warrant is out for someone from Canada, is it automatically sent to Canada or do they wait to see if the person attempts to enter the US?"


Nobody can answer this question?
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
Sorry, I must have misunderstood the purpose of this forum. I thought it was giving free legal advise and from reading many of the posts, I saw that there was a diverse range of legal questions, usually with an answer. I realize my question was unusual, which is why I was asking it. Didn't realize I would get such vitriol with no explanation as to the anger and frustration my question seemed to have aroused.
There is no anger ...perhaps some of the answers may suggest a little rolling of the eyes...but no anger. Commonsense should tell you that a advice site that doesn't have your full info (don't post it please that's against the TOS)can't help you. There are just some questions that require paying an attorney. This is one of them.
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
"If a warrant is out for someone from Canada, is it automatically sent to Canada or do they wait to see if the person attempts to enter the US?"


Nobody can answer this question?
It might be...but that would depend. I would think that if you were wanted for international child porn....they could, if they knew who you were, send a warrant. For one image...likely not. But to be sure...CALL. A. Lawyer. K?
 

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