LAST month, I checked-in at the ‘Special Assistance Desk’ of the American Airlines at London’s Heathrow airport, perched in a wheelchair, to take a flight to Dallas. I was asked at the desk where and why I was going. Furthermore, where I was going to stay and who will be coming to receive me at the Dallas airport. Airlines staff never asked their passengers going to the US such intrusive questions in the past.

When I arrived at Dallas international airport I went over to the immigration control on a wheelchair. I was whisked into the back-office of the immigration control and was detained. My appearance – old age and sitting in a wheelchair didn’t matter but my name did. Sitting uncomfortably for an unreasonably long time and getting impatient in the back-office I took courage and politely requested one of the immigration officers to expedite my case.

The immigration officer explained to me that my case was forwarded to the authority at Washington, D.C. for verification and clearance. I was given to understand why my case was referred to, was simply because my name was rather common. I was detained until my clearance came from Washington, D.C. After a long haul from London to Dallas in 10 hours and an annoying detention at the airport for two hours I was allowed to go without being offered an apology.

I have been visiting the US many times, on British passport, since 1979 but I have never experienced such an indignity on arriving at any of the US airports. My experience left me feeling sad more than angry that it happened in the US. What was called the ‘Land of Free’ the US now appears more like a police state. The treatment as meted out to me by the immigration authorities at Dallas airport gave me the impression that the mat of welcome in America has been rolled up for foreigners.

Mohammad Nauman Khan
London

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017