The following post was submitted on CaliforniaRSOL’s site:
First, I would like to thank everyone for their informative posts regarding the denial of entry of ports of entry. I was convicted of a lewd offense (Indecent Solicitation of a Child; Felony) in July 2003. The offense involved talking about having sex with a person who portrayed to be 14 but was a decoy police officer. My actions were stupid and I paid a hefty price for my poor chatroom sexual conduct. In addition to my sentence, I was required to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years in accordance to state law. I am no longer a registered sex offender because my 10 year registration period has expired.
Since my conviction, I have traveled internationally extensively to numerous countries as well as done business in China on a special visa without ever having any problems. However, to my big surprise, in July 2014, my visa to continue to live and do business in China was rejected and I was issued an order in my passport to leave by a certain day. I left China on the same because I was already schedule to travel back to the U.S. on the same day I found out my visa renewal was rejected. I applied for a China tourist visa in August to get back to China but that was also rejected. I attempted to travel back to China for 72 hours (visa exempt) with an onward flight to a third country destination (traveling to a third country destination is a requirement to land in China visa exempt for 72 hours) I was denied entry into China and sent back to the U.S. When arriving at the airport in China, my name was called over the airplane’s PA system for me to come to the front of the plane and that they could not deplane until I came to the front of the plane. As I was walking up the isle to the front of the plane as everyone was standing in the isle waiting to get off the plane, 2 Chinese immigration officers were walking towards me down the isle to meet me, which then they escorted me off the plane and into a small room. The officers informed me that I am not allowed to travel to China and I was told that I am being sent back to the U.S. I remained sitting in the small room being watched by 2 officers while other officers rechecked my luggage and checked me into the next departing American Airlines flight. Officers returned to the room with a boarding pass and checked luggage claim tickets and escorted me back upstairs to the departure gate and on to the American Airlines flight. The whole ordeal lasted for about 2.5 hours from the time I arrived at the airport. I was in China for several years and never broke any laws there but now I have been blacklisted from China as result of an INTERPOL Notice provided to Chinese law enforcement authorities.
In less than 7 days after I was sent back to the U.S. from China, I traveled to Bangkok, Thailand where I have traveled on numerous occasions for vacation since my conviction. When I arrived at the airport in Bangkok, there were people standing outside the gate holding up a sign with my name. I approached them which then they presented a police officer badge and had me get on an airport mobile. I was escorted by 4 Thai officers on an airport mobile to a small room. When on the airport mobile, one of the officers sitting behind me showed me the notice which was issued by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) stating that I am a convicted sex offender and that I am traveling to Thailand with the intent to recommitting a crime against children. I was shocked, humiliated and embarrassed. My photo was taken with a mobile phone by one of the officers and I had to sign a document stating that I was being denied entry into Thailand. The immigration officer put a big denial stamp in my passport. I was then escorted to a detention room where I was going to be locked into a windowless room with steel bunk bed and other inmates. I insisted to call someone that what was happening to me was a mistake. I was only able to speak with an airline representative. After talking with the airline representative for almost 1 hour I was able to book a return flight to the U.S. with my credit card (Full Economy Fare) that prevented me from being put in a detention room. I was scared and totally upset. The airline representative came down to the room with my boarding pass and I was then escorted upstairs to the boarding gate.
I was able to confirm that ICE has office housed in U.S. Embassies around the globe. In addition to INTERPOL issuing notices on sex offenders, ICE is also doing it from their field offices. I talked directly with the officer at the U.S. Embassy ICE office in Bangkok who issued my notice and told me he can do it because the conviction is open source information. The officer also told me that it up to Thai authorities on whether they want to admit me or not. Well..DUH…no country is going to admit a person with derogatory information that was in the notice he provided.
Though I had one run-in with the law in my life, I have good character and I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I don’t even smoke or drink alcohol.
Since my conviction I have been living a fully productive crime-free life as I was before my conviction. These 2 denial of entries have financially set me back as well as created a lot of other unexpected hardships and crisis’ in my life. The law enforcement authorities have just made a fully functional citizen into now a dysfunctional citizen. I can only say that the officers who are sending these notices that claimed I was traveling to recommit a crime are scumbags.
I have retained a lawyer and I am currently determining what, if any, legal remedies are available to sue ICE and/or Homeland Security. From doing business abroad for so long now, most of my assets are in a foreign country that I cannot even get into now. I have made Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to INTERPOL, U.S. Marshall’s Service, ICE and to the Department of Homeland Security.
I would like to get a list of names, email addresses and mobile phone number addresses of convicted sex offenders (registered or not registered) who have been denied entry to countries. I would like to share this information with my lawyer as well as I am thinking of filing a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union. Only if you like, and feel comfortable, you can leave your first name or nickname and contact information by sending an email to [email protected].
I am also willing to work with anyone in this forum in researching how to address these sex offender notices on a broader bases to ultimately put a stop to the bad practice. Finally, after already conducting my own extensive investigation on the issue, the culprit entities that are best to contact about these notices are as follows:
1. Secretary of Homeland Security
12TH & C Street SW
Washington DC 20528
(202) 282-8000
This is the headquarters for the ICE field offices that are based in the U.S. Embassies all across the
globe where such notices are originating from.
Go to the following link for a map of ICE field offices, and their addresses and phone numbers:
https://www.ice.gov/contact/hsi-international-ops
2. U.S. Marshall’s Service Sex Offender Targeting Center
(202) 282 8000
3. INTERPOL Washington
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
(202) 616-9000
NOTE: INTERPOL Washington does not speak to private citizens about case information, but all sex
offense cases are handled in INTERPOL Washington’s Sex Trafficking Division and there are caseworkers
who handle the cases and send notices to the foreign countries.
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This was submitted as a comment under “International Travel” by user “AdvocateVoice”. Deserves it own post…
Also see:
Travel is getting out of hand hurting people it was not meant to hurt and causing damage to Families.
Back over 5 years ago I was accused of touching a girls breast on the outside of the shirt. Long story was my Attorney and a bad Judge who has since been removed forced me to take a deal. The charges had been filed incorrectly and was actually a Level of PBL punishable by life! because of a allegation of Weapon or serious injury both not true. To streamline I fought back won a 3850 Hearing and was re sentenced to a 3rd Degree Felony for Attempted Sexual Battery. Time served no sex probation etc. Because of the original charge in Florida you Automatically get PREDATOR status although I had 1 charge and not underage but a 33 year old woman. (This all started from a girl asking for $250,000 to settle and her friends have done this to other men) The civil was dropped her Attorney walked off the case I was re-sentenced by a new Judge and Predator status vacated (I also won my own Motion to the Appeals court.
I traveled with no problems multiple times especially to Costa Rica even last year and November under the worst charges no issue. (Life Sentence Charge Predator Status) This was vacated and re sentenced nunc pro tunc back to original date.
I registered like I always do and gave my 21 days notice etc. When I arrived in Costa Rica they let my wife in and then something caught her eye on my passport scan so she said she needed to ask somebody something. 20 minutes later she tell us I cannot enter because the USA has sent a request via Interpol that I should be denied entry and they want me back. My wife and I showed my registration that reflected I was allowed to be in Costa and had been under a year ago and almost every year for 18 years. Never had a ticket or trouble in 18 years and spending holidays as always with our Family (I have no history of any sex Tourism less anything underage) A supervisor showed me a computer letter that said it was clear I must be turned away the USA wants me back. I need to fix it and I can come back but not on that day. My wife cried we tried to show more info but they talked yet to another person who said they must follow the Interpol Request and I told them it was just a notification I was coming. He said NO it was a return order from my Country. I was taken to a area in the Airport with security and made to sit like 12 hours for the next flight back. I was told I needed to sign papers but I did not. They told me the reason for the return was not listed by Interpol. I was eventually showed a green Costa Rican form that the guy simply checked a box AFTER talking to me about why and what it could be so I was honest. They wouldnt give me a copy of the Interpol Alert as they said it was confidential!. I did take a photo of the paper they kept and did not sign it but a very nice security officer told me it was not related to the Interpol letter but simply a form to give me a quick reason Costa Rica was deporting me. They did not want to pay for my connection and I was going to be stock far away from home but a nice Security guy went to Bat for me and I did get the trip all the way back. I was told I was not banned but that for today I couldn’t enter try another time date or place. I was actually shocked what I was told but I am not going to put that out here. Once returned to Florida with no bags as I lef them with my wife who is still in Costa Waiting for me or will come back soon. I got the usual 2nd check and again a very nice Customs and Emigration agent greeted me I told her my story and she said she doesn’t see anything in the computer that would have prevented my entry to Costa and she did not show USA or Florida wanted me back. In fact she said I would not have been allowed to even get on the plane if what Describe was valid. I checked and my online registration is showing I am in Costa Rica and all looks good. I was told even by my security I should go to Nicaragua or Panama and simply come back by land or fly again the next day. I would have been in my window to do this. My wife and I decided to wait to hear from a lawyer here as she contacts one in Costa before we decide if to go back. I would need to register travel again now next week as a emergency etc. This has destroyed my Family they are all upset. I own property and employ people and I cant even get back. I have been married 18 years and we have all the documents for me to become a Resident and Citizen but you must be in the country to put in the required docs and in person. Please anybody offer some advice. I am also willing to hire a lawyer both her and In Costa Rica but they are insistent the issue is with USA/Interpol and if I get that fixed to come back. I will also scan and post the redacted letter to share. I believe this is a good example for Janice or others to show how unjust this system is hurting good working people of all ages and economical status. I own mulitple companies and my wife is a Realtor!. Who is this protecting and who is it punishing? Costa Rica is losing my Car Rental Hotel and Resort stay and instead I leave a depressed wife at her Moms alone for Christmas. Something has to be done and I want to know why I was even listed with a green . notice based on my lack of threat to anybody and how we can legally see the documents sent. Does a green notice go out 1 time for 1 Country? or each time? I know people have ways around the system but I am looking to simply follow the law but not be unjustly penalized by it. I could be a Murdered and I would have entered no problem. I am willing to take legal action with others or alone on this issue. I also spoke to a nice lady at FDLE and she said although they did report me to Interpol (not sure why but she said they always do as before) it was just a notice to Travel and they had no such instructions to Deny Entry! everybody pointing to Interpol who has no number to call
Thanks
Where is the rest of the article?
“Finally, after already conducting my own extensive investigation on the issue, the culprit entities that are best to contact about these notices are as follows:”
Nothing follows.
Sorry Jerry.
The post has been updated.