Taking greyhound - Page 2

Hey guys,
I haven't been on DAP for a while. Whenever i get in my bad immigration mood, i usually get on here to see what's going on. But lately, i feel like the news has been getting worse and worse, so I even try to avoid this place.

I wanted to share my Greyhound experience. This happened last month and it scared the s*** out of me. I'd taken greyhound texas to florida and back multiple times before, and had never encountered anything close to a border patrol agent. But this time around, at a stop in Baton Rouge, i experienced exactly what you saw in one of the videos previously posted.

When the bus stopped, the driver told us to stay in our seats. An old, short and fat border patrol agent came in and told us that he was doing an immigration check. I got scared s**tless and really started thinking that this would be it for me.

He started walking through the bus and asking everyone if they were US citizens. At first, it seemed to me that everyone was showing him some form of ID (i assumed Driver's licenses). The people who said weren't citizens were showing him passports or some other form of ID. At this point, i'm totally freaking out. I was thinking that I'd have to say that i'm not a citizen but i forgot my documents at home - but obviously, unless he was retarded, i'd be doomed.

Thankfully, i was far enough back in the bus to see that at some point, whenever he'd ask people whether they were citizens, if they said "yes", he'd just take their word for it. Part of me couldn't believe it, but of course, I realized that was my only way out. I knew i had to try to look calm and act as "american" as possible. So i got up, followed some people, and when he asked me if i was a citizen i just said "yes sir" like the 2 or 3 guys that went before me. I even tried to look at him in the eyes, as to not make it seem that i was scared of him. Deep down, though, i was shaking.

I got out of the bus and was freaking out for the 30 minutes or so we stayed in Baton Rouge. I tried to spy on the border patrol agent and see what he was doing, see if he was checking papers for people getting back on the bus. I wanted to know where he was at all times, but whenever he'd come in the bus station (he mostly stayed outside by the buses) i'd freak out even more.

Eventually, I went back on the bus. We pulled away, and for the rest of the drive, until i got to my destination, i was a nervous wreck. Those must have been the most stressful 20 hours or so of my life. At every stop, i would freak out, wondering whether a border patrol agent would board the bus and not be so kind as to take my word as far as being a citizen.

So now that i'm home safe, I have to think of my return trip. I have to go back to texas, and unless i get a ride there (that's a pretty big favor to ask someone), i'll have to get on the greyhound again. I've tried to look up as much as possible on this situation. It seems like Rochester and Tampa are two stops where border patrol agents stop a lot. I've also seen something about Baton Rouge online. I just wish there was a way to find out where these guys were! And of course, one of the most puzzling questions I have, is how the hell do these guys just accept a "yes sir" answer when they ask you if you're a citizen? It seems, from what I read, that you pretty much have to give them suspicion to not believe you (strong accent, foreign clothes, etc.), but still, I'd hate to have to take these chances. I've also read that they'll try to have a conversation with you or ask you where you were born, so you have to be ready to answer if that happens (thankfully, that didn't happen with me)

Anyway, that's my story. If you're looking to travel on greyhound, hopefully that gives you some perspective as to what you might encounter if you're unlucky. It still seems like those checks are relatively rare (for all my trips, i've only seen one of those green monsters once), but still pretty damn scary.

It seems then that it is about the same thing they do at the border checkpoints along some state highways. (Check out this guy's channel, he's done this many times, it's pretty cool how he gets under their skin at the checkpoints)

Remember though, that if you get caught lying about being a citizen, you are pretty much doomed. Think real hard. And again, try to avoid Greyhound as much as you possibly can.

I must say that driver was an a$$.

hey the dream. im glad your still here dude

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I just joined the DAP recently and have been really grateful for all the information in all these threads. So, is it safer to travel by flight or to use Amtrak? I really need to go to NYC, and I don't know what to do! Pls, pls, someone, I need help! Living in the shadows is sOOOOO miserable. Can't do anything, can't go to school, can't work, just STUCK, completely STUCK, helpless & useless!!!

Anyways, I really need to make this trip, and I want to know which is the safer option? My visa & I-94 expired years ago; I came here young. I have a valid passport, but I don't know if they check all those things in the airport. Pls, someone, anyone, Help!!!!!

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Hey bro, thanks for sharing your story i really enjoyed it. You're a pretty good writer too, "An old, short and fat border patrol agent came in..." nice touch. lol