Welcome Home
Tigerhawk quotes Berlinski on something INS does right:
At dinner with Zia one evening in London, I mentioned in passing that more than once, when I’ve returned to the United States, the immigration officer has inspected my American passport and said, “Welcome home.”
“If any official here,” Zia replied, “had ever, ever, even once said that to me, I would have died for England on the spot.”
Very nice. They work for us, after all. Not the other way around. I’d like to cheer and salute the guys at the gate, but they still owe me a painting.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:59 am on Saturday, March 17, 2007
3 Responses to “Welcome Home”
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March 17th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I, too, have thoroughly enjoyed the welcome home comment from the immigration officers, on many occasions. It was a marked contrast to my experience when I was an immigrant (legal, I would add) in the US. I used to get very upset at the way the INS treated me, until a friend pointed out that their role was to keep me (as an immigrant) out of the US, rather than welcome me into it. If only they were so diligent all the time.
March 18th, 2007 at 1:56 am
I can’t tell you how wonderful the words “Welcome Home” were to me when I disembarked my plane at JFK on the return flight from England. I had a great visit in the UK, but had learned why I was American and was truly glad to be back on American soil. It really felt wonderful.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I just love it when they say that–and when there is Old Glory posted nearby. I like to travel but it is good to be home.