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Back a few years ago I was traveling frequently to Mexico for work. I hated it, but, it had to be done. Something about Mexico and my stomach that just doesn't make a happy match. I like Mexican food, but Mexico doesn't like me eating there. I've traveled many other places and eaten some very odd stuff [Andrew Zimmer type stuff], but Mexico has been my nemesis.

In all of my previous travels (lots), I'd never been sent to secondary screening.

So, I'm coming back from Guadalajara into DFW with a terrible case of Montezuma's revenge. Feeling horrible, light-headed, queasy, unsteady. I must have looked a wreck too. I hand my passport to the guy at passport control and after a normal amount of time he hands them back to me and says "good luck". Not the usual "Welcome Back". This comment didn't register with me until later.

So I pick up my bag and go to exit, handing my customs declaration over to the agent near the exit. I notice a small alarm sounding... Sounded like an oven timer... The agent shows me a small beeper and says "Sorry, but you have been selected RANDOMLY for additional screening." Then I remember the "good luck" comment. So I said "Randomly?, Yeah right." and rolled my eyes. The agent started to explain how his little beeper was "random", but feeling as I did, I had no inclination for his lies and just told him "I'm coming along peaceably, don't worry about it."... I was off to a good start, eh?

Long story short.... They spent about 20 minutes inspecting my one bag, and my laptop/backpack. All the time I can feel myself swaying and sweating, and trying desperately not to hurl. Thankfully, my stomach was empty as I hadn't eaten anything in 24 hours or so...

After thoroughly checking my bag the inspector looks me with the "bad cop stare" and says "Before I check this bag again, is there anything you want to tell me?" I replied evenly, "The only thing even remotely illegal in that bag is the Cuban cigar SMOKE on my clothes, and if you don't hurry this along, you might want to step back so I don't puke on your shoes." My "I'm not joking around here either" stare must have told him that I meant every word. He said "ok, have a nice day", and sent me on my way...

I was also treated like a criminal once when I actually had something to declare. I filled out the form, went over to the "goods to declare" line to pay the duties and was promptly searched and investigated. When I finally had enough I said, loudly and angrily, "is this how you normally treat people who are up front about declaring excess goods?".. One of the managers overheard me and came over. I explained [still angrily] that I was done being treated like a smuggler for properly declaring my excess goods, and wondered rhetorically "now I know why people don't bother filling in customs forms properly".. The manager went over to a computer and, I assume, looked up my passport records. A minute later he handed me my documents, apologized for the "misunderstanding" and sent me over to the pay window.

These incidents happened about 8-9 years ago, close together...
So far, I've not had any similar issues coming home.

Overall, yes, I think our BPS guys could be more polite. But, honestly, if you've not done anything wrong, refusing to answer a few "feeler" questions just to make a point is asking for a headache... If you have the time and inclination to make that stand, I say "more power to you"... After 14 hours on a flight home from Taipei, I just want to make my connection and get into bed...