Toronto provider detained by US Immigration and refused entry

[+ tassojunior]

Prostitution is illegal in the US involving transit by federal law. It has nothing to do with "illegally working" anymore than coming here to murder for pay is "working" illegally. It is a question of morals and the rejection is based on bad moral character that prostitution or solicitation shows. Every.single.rejection is based on "moral character". And, of course it's done with facial recognition. CBP announced when it started facial recognition.  I'm not sure why physical passports are as important now.. Europe has been using facial recognition at many airports for years in lieu of passport. 

The biggest company that collects Rentmen and many other sex websites' face photos is Clearview. They sell that database not only to the US government but to local police and states and to private businesses, including banks and credit agencies. They've been sued many times unsuccessfully and are not allowed to operate in most of Europe by laws against invasion of privacy. 

If you watch your targeted ads online you will realize how pervasive facial recognition is. Months ago I noticed the night after a random stop-in trip to Nordstrom Rack where I have no accounts or history to look at some Tumi luggage, after which I bought nothing and had no contact with either, I immediately began getting targeted ads for Nordstrom Rack and Tumi as soon as I got home. I had done no searches for either. I've noticed other targeted ads after only random physical visits places. A year ago a mother with a girl scout troop was expelled from Radio City Music Hall because facial recognition identified her as working for a law firm that had sued NBC. The "face" record was from a directory the law firm published that NBC had from Clearview's database of faces. In the past year facial recognition has snowballed into being ubiquitous in society. Even credit bureaus and HR's easily have your face connected to your online and personal history.  

It's prudent to not make a full-face photo available very often. The one the government requires for "Real-ID" is not public. (But the government most-assuredly knows everyone possible by face and buys Clearview databases to match with them). I think it's great that providers have been pioneers lately in avoiding full-face photos, at least in profile pics. I'd personally suggest they refer to their services as "massage" in ads. The clients who argue "I'll never hire someone without a good face pic" may end up being  some of the first victims as prohibition enforcement shifts to solicitation as the main crime. Facial recognition is crossing a lot more boundaries now than just border enforcement.   

Edited November 25, 2023 by tassojunior

[+ DrownedBoy]

7 hours ago, tassojunior said:

Prostitution is illegal in the US involving transit by federal law. It has nothing to do with "illegally working" anymore than coming here to murder for pay is "working" illegally. It is a question of morals and the rejection is based on bad moral character that prostitution or solicitation shows. Every.single.rejection is based on "moral character". And, of course it's done with facial recognition. CBP announced when it started facial recognition.  I'm not sure why physical passports are as important now.. Europe has been using facial recognition at many airports for years in lieu of passport. 

The biggest company that collects Rentmen and many other sex websites' face photos is Clearview. They sell that database not only to the US government but to local police and states and to private businesses, including banks and credit agencies. They've been sued many times unsuccessfully and are not allowed to operate in most of Europe by laws against invasion of privacy. 

If you watch your targeted ads online you will realize how pervasive facial recognition is. Months ago I noticed the night after a random stop-in trip to Nordstrom Rack where I have no accounts or history to look at some Tumi luggage, after which I bought nothing and had no contact with either, I immediately began getting targeted ads for Nordstrom Rack and Tumi as soon as I got home. I had done no searches for either. I've noticed other targeted ads after only random physical visits places. A year ago a mother with a girl scout troop was expelled from Radio City Music Hall because facial recognition identified her as working for a law firm that had sued NBC. The "face" record was from a directory the law firm published that NBC had from Clearview's database of faces. In the past year facial recognition has snowballed into being ubiquitous in society. Even credit bureaus and HR's easily have your face connected to your online and personal history.  

It's prudent to not make a full-face photo available very often. The one the government requires for "Real-ID" is not public. (But the government most-assuredly knows everyone possible by face and buys Clearview databases to match with them). I think it's great that providers have been pioneers lately in avoiding full-face photos, at least in profile pics. I'd personally suggest they refer to their services as "massage" in ads. The clients who argue "I'll never hire someone without a good face pic" may end up being  some of the first victims as prohibition enforcement shifts to solicitation as the main crime. Facial recognition is crossing a lot more boundaries now than just border enforcement.   

Lovely. The CPD is one of their customers.

However, so is the ICE, so they could be using it on anyone who wants to "work illegally" in the U.S. Or "be in the U.S. illegally" for that matter.

[Bokomaru]

On 11/25/2023 at 10:34 AM, tassojunior said:

If you watch your targeted ads online you will realize how pervasive facial recognition is. Months ago I noticed the night after a random stop-in trip to Nordstrom Rack where I have no accounts or history to look at some Tumi luggage, after which I bought nothing and had no contact with either, I immediately began getting targeted ads for Nordstrom Rack and Tumi as soon as I got home

I pretty much agree with your post, but I’d like to point out that there’s a simpler explanation for your Tumi example, rather than facial recognition: location tracking, which is also pernicious and much more ubiquitous thanks to the  tracking devices we all carry on our person. 

[nate_sf]

For what it's worth, depending on what state you're in Clearview allows various opt-outs. Of course the way one opts out is to provide a face pic, which seems a bit sketchy... sort of like handing the wolf keys to the hen house. But it's available nevertheless.

Privacy & Requests | Clearview AI

WWW.CLEARVIEW.AI

 

[londonmark99]

On 11/17/2023 at 7:00 PM, TorontoDrew said:

A Toronto provider I know was recently held in confinement for 14 hours at US Immigration, questioned and ultimately refused entry.

I would recommend to any non US based provider to hide their face on RM if they ever plan to travel to the US for any reason.  I recently contacted a new Toronto provider and recommended removing his face for this reason.

I dont know for sure how they are recognizing sex workers but they are getting the information some how.

He posted this article on Twitter.

Sex Workers Are Being Detained at the US Border | Novara Media

NOVARAMEDIA.COM

---

Vague and discriminatory laws can bar sex workers from entering the US, but they’re inconsistently applied...

 

Do you have a link to this guy's twitter? You said he'd posted a link to the article, I'm curious if he also talked about his experience on there too

[JTtorretto]

Over the years I know of at least 5 American escorts unable to enter into Canada.  In fact I’m the only American that I know of who’s successfully escorted all of the major Canadian cities over the course of subsequent trips.  

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 11/17/2023 at 12:39 PM, SirBillybob said:

If the primary basis of questioning by border services is facial recognition, given that some ads contain misappropriated photos of persons never associated with sex work, wouldn’t there be reports of such persons, generally young and good-looking, running into problems? It seems to me that somehow the trigger for border patrol surveillance includes identifying information and not simply facial images.

On my recent trip from Canada, the photo recognition software at Customs kept asking me to "remove your mask" even though I wasn't wearing one.  Apparently, I have enough facial hair to confuse the software (for the time being); so, I was directed to proceed to the Border Agent without having my picture taken.  It was a nice feeling of unexpected anonymity.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

If you give them reasonable cause- any reason at all- they will push it.  That's coming or going.

Luckily, as a US citizen, you cannot be denied entry into your own country.

I travel extensively and have for many years without issue.  Global Entry background checks.  SENTRI checks.  I'm always hyper-aware of what I have on my person, my phone, my laptop, etc.  

I would suggest to any other working guy who travels to do the same.

 

[+ APPLE1]

6 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

I'm always hyper-aware of what I have on my person, my phone, my laptop, etc

So. . . like no stray bullets floating around in your luggage? 😉

Edited July 26, 2024 by APPLE1

[SirBillybob]

15 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

On my recent trip from Canada, the photo recognition software at Customs kept asking me to "remove your mask" even though I wasn't wearing one.  Apparently, I have enough facial hair to confuse the software (for the time being); so, I was directed to proceed to the Border Agent without having my picture taken.  It was a nice feeling of unexpected anonymity.

Or did you possibly forget to wash off the skin care facial clay masque touch-up prior to your imminent entrance at The Village?

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

On 7/26/2024 at 12:03 AM, APPLE1 said:

So. . . like no stray bullets floating around in your luggage? 😉

Okay, maybe A FEW stray bullets.  

I mean, it's mandatory in Texas to carry at last a little ammunition at all times., right? 

 

[+ PhileasFogg]

On 11/18/2023 at 10:32 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

 

That said, it doesn't mean that other countries and CBPs can't be shitheads if they want to be.  

... And they sometimes want to be.  

Side note:  having just returned from Toronto last week, I note that US Border Control was at the Toronto end of the journey.   Are they US Border Patrol Agents or Canadian?

[LookingAround]

They are US 

[TorontoDrew]

8 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

Side note:  having just returned from Toronto last week, I note that US Border Control was at the Toronto end of the journey.   Are they US Border Patrol Agents or Canadian?

Coming into Canada you get Canadian customs and immigration.   In the large Canadian airports, when flying to the US , you go through US border security in Canada.

[Jason Dutch]

Hi everybody, I am compiling lots of information about this topic ahead of a workshop I am co-facilitating with Maggie's precisely about this issue, it's on this coming Friday Nov 15 and there's so much legal and technical stuff we are pulling together, but real experiences can be more instructive as we try to to build out best practices for crossing the border...  at least knowing which ways it could go, and being prepared for various potential outcomes...

To that point! If anyone in this thread personally has experience trouble at the border as a result of working in the sex industry in any form, or if you can put me directly in touch with a person who has been through it, please send me a private message right away! Would be very helpful. Or if you're a provider interested in attending, likewise hit me up

[56harrisond]

Attorney advises caution for travelers with phones

We are asking a lawyer how you can protect your phone and data privacy at the U.S. border.

Author: Claudine Ewing, WGRZ-TV

Published: 6:51 PM EDT April 14, 2025 Updated: 10:02 AM EDT April 15, 2025

BUFFALO, N.Y. — There have been reports of people being turned away at airports and border crossings over messages found on their phones and laptops

"Customs and Border protection can ask you to turn over your phone and they are able to look at it and go through it. If they don't like what they see on it and there's something that might be unlawful or contrary to newer regulations, they can keep your phone," said attorney Kevin Burke Jr. at Gross Shuman P.C in Buffalo.

Burke said "the Border patrol can ask to review what's on your phone or what's on your laptop, but you can control the scope of what they're looking at, so what I'm telling folks is it's probably a better idea to log out of any email or to log out of any personal accounts. And if they do ask to review your email, or they do ask to look at your laptop, you say something like yes, officer, let me get that for you."

Some of his business clients have been asked to turn over their cell phones or have their laptops reviewed.  

The political climate and crackdown on illegal immigrants is part of the reason for the increased scrutiny. 

"Strong positions one way or another on what's happening over in Gaza, as an example, strong positions one way or another on Ukraine and Russia, even strong positions on the tariff situation," Burke said. "Those are things that they are looking for and you know if there's a way, to avoid giving them excuse to turn you away." 

We also found this general statement and information on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. :

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for protecting our nation’s borders and enforcing numerous laws at U.S. ports of entry. CBP’s ability to lawfully inspect electronic devices crossing the border is integral to keeping America safe in an increasingly digital world.

All travelers crossing the United States border are subject to CBP inspection. On rare occasions, CBP officers may search a traveler’s mobile phone, computer, camera, or other electronic devices during the inspection process. These searches have been used to identify and combat terrorist activity, child pornography, drug smuggling, human smuggling, bulk cash smuggling, human trafficking, export control violations, intellectual property rights violations and visa fraud, among other violations. Furthermore, border searches of electronic devices are often integral to determining an individual’s intentions upon entry to the United States and thus provide additional information relevant to admissibility of foreign nationals under U.S. immigration laws.

CBP has established strict guidelines, above and beyond prevailing legal requirements, to ensure that these searches are exercised judiciously and responsibly and are consistent with the public trust.

 

Attorney advises caution for travelers with phones

WWW.WGRZ.COM

---

Reports arise of devices being checked at borders amid crackdown on illegal activity, especially affecting non-US-born travelers.

 

[TorontoDrew]

While I have no plans to cross the border, I held on to my old phone that I have wiped and will use as a burner phone if I need it.

[marylander1940]

54 minutes ago, TorontoDrew said:

While I have no plans to cross the border, I held on to my old phone that I have wiped and will use as a burner phone if I need it.

Smart!

Better safe than sorry! 

 

[marylander1940]

7 hours ago, 56harrisond said:

Attorney advises caution for travelers with phones

We are asking a lawyer how you can protect your phone and data privacy at the U.S. border.

Author: Claudine Ewing, WGRZ-TV

Published: 6:51 PM EDT April 14, 2025 Updated: 10:02 AM EDT April 15, 2025

BUFFALO, N.Y. — There have been reports of people being turned away at airports and border crossings over messages found on their phones and laptops

"Customs and Border protection can ask you to turn over your phone and they are able to look at it and go through it. If they don't like what they see on it and there's something that might be unlawful or contrary to newer regulations, they can keep your phone," said attorney Kevin Burke Jr. at Gross Shuman P.C in Buffalo.

Burke said "the Border patrol can ask to review what's on your phone or what's on your laptop, but you can control the scope of what they're looking at, so what I'm telling folks is it's probably a better idea to log out of any email or to log out of any personal accounts. And if they do ask to review your email, or they do ask to look at your laptop, you say something like yes, officer, let me get that for you."

Some of his business clients have been asked to turn over their cell phones or have their laptops reviewed.  

The political climate and crackdown on illegal immigrants is part of the reason for the increased scrutiny. 

"Strong positions one way or another on what's happening over in Gaza, as an example, strong positions one way or another on Ukraine and Russia, even strong positions on the tariff situation," Burke said. "Those are things that they are looking for and you know if there's a way, to avoid giving them excuse to turn you away." 

We also found this general statement and information on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. :

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for protecting our nation’s borders and enforcing numerous laws at U.S. ports of entry. CBP’s ability to lawfully inspect electronic devices crossing the border is integral to keeping America safe in an increasingly digital world.

All travelers crossing the United States border are subject to CBP inspection. On rare occasions, CBP officers may search a traveler’s mobile phone, computer, camera, or other electronic devices during the inspection process. These searches have been used to identify and combat terrorist activity, child pornography, drug smuggling, human smuggling, bulk cash smuggling, human trafficking, export control violations, intellectual property rights violations and visa fraud, among other violations. Furthermore, border searches of electronic devices are often integral to determining an individual’s intentions upon entry to the United States and thus provide additional information relevant to admissibility of foreign nationals under U.S. immigration laws.

CBP has established strict guidelines, above and beyond prevailing legal requirements, to ensure that these searches are exercised judiciously and responsibly and are consistent with the public trust.

 

Attorney advises caution for travelers with phones

WWW.WGRZ.COM

---

Reports arise of devices being checked at borders amid crackdown on illegal activity, especially affecting non-US-born travelers.

 

Now they have a quota to meet! They have to refuse entry to a certain amount of people daily for any possible reason, real, legal , intuition, etc.!