UK & World News
- 30 December 2012, 17:10
Olympic Hero Mo Held In US Terror Blunder
Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has said he has been questioned by US border officials on suspicion of being a terrorist.
The team GB star even got out his two gold medals to show the customs officers who he was, but to no avail.
Farah, who was born in Somalia and moved to Britain with his father when he was eight, was detained as he was heading to Portland, Oregon, to spend Christmas with his family.
He moved to America last year to work with his coach, marathon champion Alberto Salazar, at the Nike headquarters.
Despite his international fame, the long distance runner revealed he often gets stopped at customs because of his Somali origin.
Farah, aged 29, told The Sun: "I couldn't believe it. Because of my Somali origin I get detained every time I come through US Customs.
"This time I even got my medals out to show who I am, but they wouldn't have it."
The 10,000m and 5,000m Olympic champion also told the newspaper how he had trouble applying for a residency permit to live in Portland.
"We were in Portland on a tourist visa so had to leave and re-enter the country as a resident.
"So we flew to Toronto to stay for a few days, then come back in.
"But when we were there we got a letter telling us we're under investigation as a terrorist threat and we would have to stay away for 90 days.
"We had only packed four days' worth of clothes. We didn't know what to do."
Luckily, Farah's coach had a friend in the FBI, who happened to be a fan of long distance running and knew of Mo, who sorted it out for him.
what do you think?
snape
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Steven Tracey
So as long as your famous and have a friend in the FBI you'll be able to bypass the 90 day period. I wander if everyone else can use this method?
James R McCulloch
Two things, first the security guys are only doing their jobs. Second, Mo took it well. Finally make sure you have friends in high places.
Mark Pattison
That's 3 things?
Dr_MonicaKh
Is it fair to assume unjustly and unreasonably?
Vladtheinhaler .
Just one thing to say. It happens to us all. Secondly , If he's Somalian why are we claiming his British gold.
john
RememberZola Budd, Vlad?
James R McCulloch
Three things.... Sure! He wasn't betting on the FBI to come to his rescue. But thanks all the same
El Bubsio
He's British, not Somalian, vlad
Louisa Gieldon
A job can be done efficiently but intelligently and politely. I don't know how he was treated but in my experieence they are very very rude indeed.
shirley sutton
But he still goes back there doesn't live here
pjbeckett
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
matthew james
Pity our border control procedures aren't as efficient
blue side
mathew how do you measure efficiency ?
john
With the number of gun murders carried out by Americans, I think terrorists are the last thing that they should soil their breeches over.
Windows Live User
I suspect it is the same for a lot of people disregarding nationality. After the attacks, successful and stopped, they have been through I expect the people would be very unhappy if security now wasnt the tightest. Shame it involves famous people but I am sure normal people go through the same thing. I am reminded of Diana Ross being upset by security methods at London airport so time back.
Louisa Gieldon
I understand the tight security wlu. It's the rudeness and bullying attitude i cannot stomach. And the queues! I nearly passed out in Logan airport in October because there was nowhere to sit and i had been too proud to ask for a wheelchair thingy. All the time being barked at by airport staff!
Mick Daniel
Never had a problem with the US, the most polite and courteous immigration staff in the World.
blue side
sure you landed in the USA? :-)
SagePhotoWorld
Nor me. TSA has always been very nice to me. Very helpful and even suggested I took up US citizenship which I since have.
Chris Carr
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Louisa Gieldon
I have rarely had a good experience Mick. Which airports have you travelled through? Or are you kidding on?
blue side
Come on these are Americans they do not believe in life outside the US - wonder he did not get arrested for stealing the medals. Ever wondered why they have some strange family names well it comes from the Immigration Officers of 19 / 20th century who could not read many of the European names so gave immigrants a new family name. Now in the 21st century they still have problems.
Louisa Gieldon
That's true. At Ellis Island processing they called them new names rather than trying to pronounce their own names. Or they were called by the towns and villages they came from eg Corleone in" the Godfather" if that was on their papers.
ali baba
i knew their was something more sinister :)
Dan Jones
I have the same problem,I'm white and English but keep getting mistaken for Saddam Hussain every time I cross over the welsh border,u get used to it
Gordon Wright
I don't understand this. If he is British, he will be travelling on a British passport, so how do the immigration authorities even know he is of Somali origin??. Unless it actually states that on any of his documents, they should regard him as a British national. It makes one wonder if they are being deliberately awkward for some unknown reason............
Chris Carr
Interesting that Orange decided that my post detailing the experiences of a young GB athlete of Pakistani origin at the hands of US border control has been withdrawn for violation of their terms.... Suffice to say that despite having a Visa he was held for questioning for over an hour, having had to travel on his own, at the age of 16, as his father was allowed in, simply becasue he had the same name as someone on their watch list.
Chris King
Much better with the TSA in the U.S then the people at Heathrow as I personally found out are rude, unhelpful and totally unfriendly. I would lose my job if I was as bad at customer service as they are.
Louisa Gieldon
Having recently gone through Heathrow I would tend to agree, but noticed that they were also unkind and rude to eash other as well as passengers. Not all were like that though. However, since 9/11 every USA airport i have passed through has been a complete nightmare - rude and very aggressive employees who obviously get a kick out of their jobs. Even as a disabled person travelling to Boston in Oct, i was harassed, pushed around, barked at and expected to linp around without my crutches as i was pushed through customs. What a way to welcome visitors!
Chris King
Think orange like to stop people from freedom of speech especially since the remarks that people put about this story had no swear words and were only making the point that although what u.s customs did to mo wasn't fair its still gives a better service than a lot of our airports do and they remove the comments. This comment will be next to go, think ill use sky news instead.
bjnk
Hero?
Andy Smithies
Stupid Yanks!
jane cumming
9:20am on 30/12/2012
"What a run around "hes been given.