# Cat-Sitter refused US entry; Also asked if she had an Abortion **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2022, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001 "2022-07-15T11:43:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![deported-cat-sitter](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deported-cat-sitter/32/12164_2.png) [@deported-cat-sitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deported-cat-sitter)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/141 "2022-09-23T18:57:07Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > “We refuse to dig ourselves any deeper.” I think they already said too much and only realised when I pointed out, with a CC to the department’s two media directors, that: ‘Termination of pregnancy’ & ‘pregnancy loss’ are not listed as health questions on the [ALIEN INITIAL HEALTH INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE](https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2022-Aug/cbp_2500.pdf) they have sent to media. Also that I have an autoimmunue disorder and no-one noted that down because no-one asked the first question on that form… ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/142 "2022-09-25T15:12:29Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > His crime? He was planning to backpack through Mexico and South America, but failed to meet the condition that he have an outbound flight from the US to another country not bordering the US (or a return flight). To be fair I was almost denied entry to France (Paris) as I planned to walk to Spain, so I showed no way of leaving France, and my ticket from Spain was not yet bought as I was not sure how long it would take. This also is not uncommon as it is part of the Camino de Santiago hiking route, though not many do start that far back. I did have enough to justify my walk however showing Spain locations, but they said they wanted to really see anything to show that I was going to be out of France by a certain date and really didn’t like open intinaries. However I have been to France many times before and since then and it was only this time that they objected. Now it does appear that the boarder crossings not only wanted to see that she was leaving the US, but also leaving Canada and Mexico, very very few people walk that way since the original people did it millenniums ago so it would raise questions at least. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/143 "2022-09-25T18:53:26Z")
Did you walk from La Puy? I usually book a couple of accommodations in Spain up front; I don’t know if that would help. I use [Booking.com](http://Booking.com) so I can shift the reservation when I get closer. ---
**Author:** ![deported-cat-sitter](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deported-cat-sitter/32/12164_2.png) [@deported-cat-sitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deported-cat-sitter)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/144 "2022-09-26T00:32:48Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Exposing the misguided information is good This is a start! Didn’t know I was being featured in this until last night: [https://www.traveller.com.au/beware-simple-mistakes-that-can-get-you-deported-or-refused-entry-to-other-countries-h26o3e](https://www.traveller.com.au/beware-simple-mistakes-that-can-get-you-deported-or-refused-entry-to-other-countries-h26o3e) ---
**Author:** ![deported-cat-sitter](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deported-cat-sitter/32/12164_2.png) [@deported-cat-sitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deported-cat-sitter)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/145 "2022-10-02T02:25:24Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > It seems like you are focused on the wording used both by the agent and in the policy CBP have changed their story AGAIN (everyone read the **entire story** instead of just the headline): > **[It’s OK to Ask Detained Tourists About Abortions, US Border Agency Says](https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k8e7z/madolline-gourley-abortion-customs-and-border-protection-lax)** > > Madolline Gourley said she was asked whether she’d had an abortion after being detained at LAX in June. Customs and Border Protection officials have now told her asking travellers about "termination of pregnancy" is in line with their policies. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/146 "2022-10-20T22:03:24Z")
Interesting take on the situation from ProPublica: > **[Do U.S. Border Officials Ask Travelers if They’ve Had Abortions?](https://www.propublica.org/article/can-border-officials-ask-travelers-about-abortions)** > > An Australian tourist alleged that a border official asked about her abortion history. The ACLU and other advocates are more concerned agents aren’t meeting the health needs of pregnant immigrants and infants in border facilities. ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/147 "2022-10-27T21:48:23Z")
As I understand it, illegals must be returned to within the borders of their own country…most likely by airplane. Is there a medical danger to someone who recently had an abortion going on an airplane? I ask because someone who just went scuba-diving could get The Bends when flying at altitude, so low-pressure environments could possibly do a number on someone with a recent medical/surgical procedure. ---
**Author:** ![deported-cat-sitter2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deported-cat-sitter2/32/12531_2.png) [@deported-cat-sitter2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deported-cat-sitter2)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/148 "2022-11-08T04:39:42Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > Interesting take on the situation from ProPublica: I’m glad ProPublica was able to highlight some of the other, more serious problems female detainees have experienced. **On another note:** The US Government’s FOIA team have finally responded to my FOIA request. They said there are no records. Cool, so this never happened?! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/149 "2022-11-08T12:26:16Z")
**Moderator Note** Please do not create multiple accounts. If you are having difficulty accessing your original account, please contact me at [EngineerCompGeek@gmail.com](mailto:EngineerCompGeek@gmail.com) and we’ll get you sorted out. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/150 "2022-11-08T17:16:28Z")
> [@EnolaStraight](#): > > I ask because someone who just went scuba-diving could get The Bends when flying at altitude, so low-pressure environments could possibly do a number on someone with a recent medical/surgical procedure. If this was the case, then they should have asked her if she had had any recent surgical procedures. There would be no reason to specifically ask about abortions. ---
**Author:** ![deported-cat-sitter2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deported-cat-sitter2/32/12531_2.png) [@deported-cat-sitter2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deported-cat-sitter2)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/151 "2022-11-17T19:47:55Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Exposing the misguided information is good, You might want to have a read of my most recent blog post. The company, TrustedHousesitters, want nothing to do with it after I started tagging them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (and I’m now blocked on all of these platforms): > **[Immigration vs TrustedHousesitters: Unpaid house sitting on your travels -...](https://onecatatatime.co/immigration-vs-trustedhousesitters-unpaid-house-sitting-on-your-travels/)** > > It’s been a long, very frustrating few months following my deportation from the United States. United States Customs and Border Protection says unpaid house sitting is work, and tourists need a work visa to do it on their travels. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001/152 "2022-11-17T20:52:34Z")
I read your blog post. It’s unfortunate that they chose to respond the way they did, but it’s fairly understandable. From their point of view, nothing good can come from you bringing them into your story. It’s good to publicize your experience but you now know that you can’t expect them to assist you. Regardless, the onus remains on you to understand US immigration law and all its implications. The fine folks at TrustedHousesitters aren’t the ones in the passport line at LAX, you are. As with all advice you get on the internet, _caveat emptor_. Keep fighting the good fight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-sitter-refused-us-entry-also-asked-if-she-had-an-abortion/968001.md?page=7)