Thread: Nigerian engineer handed written test at New York airport

Tech test for Nigerian software engineer

A software engineer from Lagos, Nigeria, is claiming that he was made to sit a written test by US airport immigration officers because they weren't convinced he was telling the truth about his skills.

According to social networking site LinkedIn, Celestine Omin, 28, landed in New York's JFK airport last Sunday after a 24-hour flight from Nigeria.

Mr Omin is employed by Andela, a tech start-up with offices in New York, Lagos, Nairobi and San Francisco.

The firm says it recruits "the most talented developers on the African continent" and connects them with tech employers in the US for potential job vacancies. Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg visited Andela's office in Lagos last year.

Mr Omin had reportedly been granted a short-term visa to work with First Access, a financial technology company in New York's Manhattan district.

After being asked a series of questions by a US Customs and Border Protection officer, he was taken into a room for further checks.

"Your visa says you are a software engineer. Is that correct?" an officer is reported to have asked Mr Omin.

He says he was then given a piece of paper and a pen and told to answer these two questions to prove he is actually a software engineer:

"Write a function to check if a Binary Search Tree is balanced."

"What is an abstract class, and why do you need it?"

Mr Omin told LinkedIn it seemed to him the questions had been "Googled" by "someone with no technical background".

He said later on Twitter that he was "too tired to even think", and told the officer they could "talk about other computer science concepts".

After he handed back his answers, he was told by the officer that they were wrong. He said he presumed he was required to provide "the Wikipedia definition" for the questions.

However, he was even more surprised a little later when the officer told him he was "free to go".

"Look, I am going to let you go, but you don't look convincing to me," said the officer, according to Mr Omin.

"I didn't say anything back. I just walked out."

He later found out that border protection officers had phoned Andela to verify his story.

A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told the BBC: "US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers strive to treat all people arriving in the country with dignity and respect.

"While we are not at liberty to discuss individual cases due to the Privacy Act, our CBP officers enforce not only immigration and customs laws, but also more than 400 laws for 40 other agencies and have stopped thousands of violators of US law."

Nigeria is not one of the seven countries included in US President Donald Trump's temporary immigration pause. However, the African country has been struggling with the threat of terrorism in recent times, in particular from the militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

Nigerian engineer handed written test at New York airport, and death penalty bill criticised in Philippines - BBC News

A non-story.
It's no more racial profiling than Immigration officers looking at my wife's Facebook page to verify her claims, or Thai Immigration looking at my FB page for the same reasons..

Originally Posted by Maanaam

A non-story.

you're right: stupid should have far greater consequences to make the news...

Not at all, it provides a reasonable insight into the stupidity and poor management of American immigration officers many of whom are not very bright and have a poor grasp of their role within the context of prevailing case law and judicial practice.
British immigration officers are similarly afflicted and appear, increasingly, to have been recruited from the clerical strata of the Civil Service.

Most folk seeking entry into the US, other than citizens from the 'tourist' countries in the waiver programme, require a visa but once issued it confers a presumptive right of entry which cannot be vitiated by mere suspicion or some whim of an interviewing officer indoctrinated by fucking years of watching CSI etc. Visa holders have the right to a proper tribunal hearing before a judge and with the representation of legal counsel. ICE try to intimidate visa holding passengers into making voluntary departures by the threat of imprisonment pending the immigration hearing but usually those who hold their ground get bail and go on to win their cases.

It seems Trump's election has inspired the lumpen end of ICE management but just like their president it amounts to little more than stale fart in a hurricane. In terms of intelligence and acumen, many ICE officers are scarcely better than the US Postal Service staff who of course are recruited from the ranks of retards and aliens recently arrived from the Zog Nebulae.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

many ICE officers are scarcely better than the US Postal Service staff who of course are recruited from the ranks of retards and aliens recently arrived from the Zog Nebulae.

...I saw that movie!...

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

American immigration officers many of whom are not very bright and have a poor grasp of their role within the context of prevailing case law and judicial practice.

My last entry (LAX). US citizen, as are wife and kids.

ICE: You've been out of the country a long time. (Five years).

ME: Yep.

ICE: Where have you been?

ME: Read the passport - all will be revealed.

ICE: Why have you been in the Philippines so long?

ME: I live there.

ICE: Why do you live there?

ME: It's my home.

ICE: Why don't you live here?

ME: I'm bored with this conversation. Stamp me in or call a supervisor. Now.

ICE: (stamps me in). Well, the US is still the greatest country in the world.

ME: Obviously you've never been out of it.

END

Originally Posted by taxexile

Visa

holders have the right to a proper tribunal hearing before a judge and with the representation of legal counsel

rights rights rights, gimme gimme gimme, entitlement entitlement entitlement, lawyers lawyers lawyers.

one man ( a nigerian by the way, a people famous for their disregard of the law, for lying, and for conniving) has a slight delay at american immigration thanks to an official with a hangover, and thanks to social media the whole fukking world knows about it 5 minutes later, and surprise surprise the whole world is suddenly up in arms about it from the comfort of their own armchairs armed with an i phone and an opinion.

the world has truly gone mad thanks to the internet and that prick steve jobs.

..... and at the end of it all the nigerian still got the answers wrong.

You silly old man, you patently suffer from that dreary condition which afflicts most superannuated duffers pontificating from their pulpit of smug sanctimony. I know it's hard for you to grasp but just because they are government officials and are meant to be fair, and good, and right, and conscientious it is often the case they are fucking stupid, lazy, malicious, ignorant or just plain clueless. That is why we have courts and laws. In much the same way many dentists have been proven to be lying, dishonest and incompetent sacks of shit expelled from the NHS and prosecuted, we have piss poor government functionaries.

The internet and social media is a positive boon to those whose rights are abused by fat bellied, moronic and ill-educated uniformed twats everywhere and long may it continue.

An interesting statistic re. the British Home Office visa regime, is that before the right of appeal was withdrawn from visa applicants, the Home Office lost over 70% of the appeals mounted by applicants against the decision to refuse their applications. No wonder May withdrew it.

But of course Tax, you probably would get a hard-on suckling on her shrivelled, desiccated teats with those gums of yours.

Did any of you ever stop and think that maybe this was just a bullshit stunt by the Nigerian?

Originally Posted by Slick

According to social networking site LinkedIn,

Originally Posted by Slick

Mr Omin told LinkedIn

Originally Posted by Slick

He said later on Twitter that

Just saying, its entirely possible given the political climate and everyone wanting their 15 minutes of fame.

shes got a fairly decent pair of legs for an oldie though, but nowhere near hard on material.

a 20 minute hold up at immigration is hardly waterboarding, an abuse of ones human fukking rights or ripping the NHS of for dental payments.

the guy should accept the fact he had a slightly difficult encounter at immigration, shut the fuck up and get on with his trip.

of course american lawyers, rapacious repulsive vultures that they are, will be creaming their jeans at the thought of making a case out of something as insignificant as this.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

American immigration officers many of whom are not very bright and have a poor grasp of their role within the context of prevailing case law and judicial practice.

My last entry (LAX). US citizen, as are wife and kids.

ICE: You've been out of the country a long time. (Five years).

ME: Yep.

ICE: Where have you been?

ME: Read the passport - all will be revealed.

ICE: Why have you been in the Philippines so long?

ME: I live there.

ICE: Why do you live there?

ME: It's my home.

ICE: Why don't you live here?

ME: I'm bored with this conversation. Stamp me in or call a supervisor. Now.

ICE: (stamps me in). Well, the US is still the greatest country in the world.

ME: Obviously you've never been out of it.

END

Well done and well said! These insignificant shiny arsed clerks become power crazed once that uniform goes on and many succumb to the bizarre notion they are somehow in the frontline fighting the 'enemy' and not simply doing a rather mundane job separating those who are subject to immigration control from those who are not.

Anyway, he wasn't tasered or shot, so it was a happy ending...Without the massage...

Jaysus...Remember when a bunch of fckwits tasered a Polish (?) man to death at Vancouver International Airport?...

Poor guy panicked...And so did the asswipe security...

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Well done and well said! These insignificant shiny arsed clerks become power crazed once that uniform goes on and many succumb to the bizarre notion they are somehow in the frontline fighting the 'enemy' and not simply doing a rather mundane job separating those who are subject to immigration control from those who are not.

Might also mention he still had his Marine haircut, was fancy-dressed in combat books and black fatigues - with the required baseball cap and American flag patch. Wanker of the first order.

On the other hand, move on to collect bags (which weren't checked) and into the long customs line to clear the arrival area. Older guy there motions me up, opens a new lane, and moves us through. I thanked him and he replied, "Long flight with kids".

Seekingass is really bangin' on with this one.

The issue is clear,

yes, its very clear.

a nigerian justifiably gets profiled and delayed at immigration by an admittedly over officious immigration officer, and a retired desk bound civil servant for budleigh salterton (parks and cemeteries was it?) town council, bored shitless with his meaningless existence in pattaya joins the pitchfork wielding bounty hunters on the internet to have a go at donald trump, teresa may, the welsh, dentists trying to earn an honest wedge under difficult circumstances, blue collar workers, and any other rational minded pragmatists unlucky enough to get caught in the crossfire.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

American immigration officers many of whom are not very bright and have a poor grasp of their role within the context of prevailing case law and judicial practice.

My last entry (LAX). US citizen, as are wife and kids.

ICE: You've been out of the country a long time. (Five years).

ME: Yep.

ICE: Where have you been?

ME: Read the passport - all will be revealed.

ICE: Why have you been in the Philippines so long?

ME: I live there.

ICE: Why do you live there?

ME: It's my home.

ICE: Why don't you live here?

ME: I'm bored with this conversation. Stamp me in or call a supervisor. Now.

ICE: (stamps me in). Well, the US is still the greatest country in the world.

ME: Obviously you've never been out of it.

END

Maybe he didn't understand because there are so many Filipinos in the U.S.


Figure 1. Filipino Immigrant Population, 1980-2013




Don't get me wrong D.K. I understand your argument.
I used to always pick a White Immigration Officer with a german last name when entering the U.S.
Believe it or not ...it helped.

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

Maybe he didn't understand because there are so many Filipinos in the U.S.
Don't get me wrong D.K. I understand your argument.

Immaterial if he knew his job. He should be looking at the passport, not at ethnicity.

An friend of mine is still a Royal Mail post man locally, when young he had long blond hair and arrived in U.S.A. On holiday, they pulled him over for questioning.
A postman , eh, prove it, so they Google the job and hey presto them Yanks ask John.
" What is the maximum weight of a post mans delivery bag in England "
John new the answer ( 16 kg ) but was taken aback by the aggressive questioning.
John didn't make the headlines though, wonder why, being a blond red haired maybe a factor.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

American immigration officers many of whom are not very bright and have a poor grasp of their role within the context of prevailing case law and judicial practice.

My last entry (LAX). US citizen, as are wife and kids.

ICE: You've been out of the country a long time. (Five years).

ME: Yep.

ICE: Where have you been?

ME: Read the passport - all will be revealed.

ICE: Why have you been in the Philippines so long?

ME: I live there.

ICE: Why do you live there?

ME: It's my home.

ICE: Why don't you live here?

ME: I'm bored with this conversation. Stamp me in or call a supervisor. Now.

ICE: (stamps me in). Well, the US is still the greatest country in the world.

ME: Obviously you've never been out of it.

END

Similar play out with an idiot official in Taiwan.

Idiot: Why did you fly via HK, from the PI?

Me: Because I like to collect miles on Cathay Pacific, and do some shopping in HKIA duty free.

Idiot: What did you buy?

Me: None of your business.

Idiot: Open your bags, I want to see what's in them.

Me: You open them if you want see the contents.

Flustered Idiot: Why are you coming to Taiwan?

Me: I work here - look at my work visa and residence permit (shows Idiot passport)

Idiot: How can you prove you work at this company?

Me: I don't need to. It's right there in my passport. Cheerio (Pick up bags and leave)

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

American immigration officers many of whom are not very bright and have a poor grasp of their role within the context of prevailing case law and judicial practice.

My last entry (LAX). US citizen, as are wife and kids.

ICE: You've been out of the country a long time. (Five years).

ME: Yep.

ICE: Where have you been?

ME: Read the passport - all will be revealed.

ICE: Why have you been in the Philippines so long?

ME: I live there.

ICE: Why do you live there?

ME: It's my home.

ICE: Why don't you live here?

ME: I'm bored with this conversation. Stamp me in or call a supervisor. Now.

ICE: (stamps me in). Well, the US is still the greatest country in the world.

ME: Obviously you've never been out of it.

END

I have a feeling that a non-American would get taken into a back room and pistol whipped for that... you as a born and bred citizen have the confidence to give them short shrift - and the ability to play the "veteran" card (I guess?), which I imagine would shut down any immigration bod quite quickly.

I've never been to America, my only interaction with one of these people is at a consulate getting a special visa... their way of just staring at you without talking for several seconds, never mind the banal things they say.
One of my longest-serving friends is a "Cascadian" American, and very worldly, but it is fascinating how they struggle with concepts that are taken for granted in the UK, like the NHS and the welfare state, they clearly find our system / social contract both curious and strange.

It's a bit mad a us immigration person asking a programmer university-level exam, and then marking it for them there and then

I've got to clear Immigration in Miami in June.

Should I look for someone dressed in a pointy white hood then?

Originally Posted by CaptainNemo

they struggle

Originally Posted by CaptainNemo

they clearly find our system / social contract

...you must be exhausted after interviewing 300 million+ folks...

Originally Posted by Geezy

Similar play out with an idiot official in Taiwan.

...smart-mouthing Immi officials with a tone of haughty superiority doesn't seem like a good idea somehow...

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Should I look for someone dressed in a pointy white hood then?

...nuns don't normally have an immigration sideline...

Originally Posted by taxexile

The issue is clear,

yes, its very clear.

a nigerian justifiably gets profiled and delayed at immigration by an admittedly over officious immigration officer, and a retired desk bound civil servant for budleigh salterton (parks and cemeteries was it?) town council, bored shitless with his meaningless existence in pattaya joins the pitchfork wielding bounty hunters on the internet to have a go at donald trump, teresa may, the welsh, dentists trying to earn an honest wedge under difficult circumstances, blue collar workers, and any other rational minded pragmatists unlucky enough to get caught in the crossfire.

Bit of an oxymoron that one given what we now know about the hundreds of thousands of pounds fiddled by you tooth pullers over the decades. Mind you, it wasn't until quite recently you lot ceased cutting hair and eviscerating chickens, so I suppose the profession is still in its infancy.

Har, har.

Originally Posted by CaptainNemo

I have a feeling that a non-American would get taken into a back room and pistol whipped for that... you as a born and bred citizen have the confidence to give them short shrift - and the ability to play the "veteran" card (I guess?), which I imagine would shut down any immigration bod quite quickly.

Quite right. I tread lightly around Immigration when dealing with a country not my own.

Your second point is also valid. I had any number of cards I could have played, but didn't need to play any of them. He was out of line, and knew he was, and knew that I knew.

My wife was laughing as we moved on and I asked why. She said, "Didn't you notice how much he looked like Leonard, the slack-jawed semi-retarded Marine recruit who kills himself in 'Full Metal Jacket"?

I hadn't, but she was right on the money; could have been his twin.