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In the news: Turned away from U.S. for 24-year-old drug charge

A man says he was turned away from the U.S. because a police officer caught him smoking marijuana when he was 17, more than two decades ago. After years of travelling south without issue, he was pulled aside by Homeland Security and told he was convicted of narcotics possession.

24 years earlier, he was caught smoking a joint of marijuana in an Oakville, Ont. park. He and a group of friends were given a fine, but didn't go to jail or face any other punishments.

U.S. officials have been requesting more criminal information from Canadian authorities in the last few years, leading to more people being denied entry.

Familiar story?

Read more: Man turned away from U.S. for 24-year-old drug charge

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  1. actatek38June 13, 2014 at 3:27 PM

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  2. AnonymousJuly 15, 2014 at 10:56 PM

    I have also just been denied entry to the US for possession of marijuana 30 years ago and had been charge with a $250 fine. I have been going back and forth to the US on business and holidays with my family. They said I now need to get a waiver to get allowed to enter. So I have to spend money to get copies of my conviction and submit back to the border I had been denied entry at. They then will send it to the FBI to approve after I pay then over $500. This is why the US is getting further in debt by not allowing good Canadian citizens into there country to spend there money. Last when telling the Canadian customs they just shake there head and think the US takes things to the extreme

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 28, 2014 at 3:55 PM

    I may have a topper! 35 years ago, when I was 17, I bounced 2 cheques. I was charged with "false pretenses"...twice, once for each check. I received a conditional discharge on both, the condition being I paid the cheques back, which i immediately did. Skip ahead a few years, and I applied for a pardon, and received it.

    Skip ahead again, to 1995... 16 years after the offences. During my interview with them, when asked if I had a criminal record, I responded "yes, but I received a pardon". I then told them I had two charges of "false pretenses". I was told I would require the waiver of inadmissibility to be submitted...for my NEXT visit...and they let me in for that one.

    I didn't give much though to it, and the next year got married in the US, and have been there many times over the years. Last month...denied entry. Next day I show up with my criminal record indicating no charges...ever. I also have a record from the courts here...no record of me ever being in court. I also get a letter from the Parole Board of Canada (who look after pardons)...no record of me ever having a pardon.

    I think "I'm golden..." um no...because I TOLD them about the convictions, it is irrelevant to them what the paperwork indicates.

    Here's the clincher. Had I received only 1 charge/conviction, I would be admissible. But because there were 2...not admissible.

    "False Pretenses" is considered a crime of "moral turpitude". Other crimes in the SAME category you ask? Murder, rape, and fraud!!!

    This is the reader's digest version, but the short of it I was inadmissible for bouncing 2 cheque's....35 years ago.

    ReplyDelete

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