A lifetime ban may seem excessive, but is actually the only appropriate response.

First of all, remember that only US citizens have a constitutionally garanteed right to enter US territory. For everyone else, it is a privilege which can be denied at any time. There are hundreds of millions of persons around the world who will never, ever be let in to the USA because of where they were born.

Now lets look at it from the US government's point of view. We don't know what the email said but we can assume it was serious enough to pique the interest of the Secret Service. The White House receives thousands of emails every day criticizing President Obama's policies. The WH staff can tell the difference between venting and potential threat.

From the Secret Service's point of view, you have to wonder about the mental stability of a foreigner who sends a threatening email to the President. His age means nothing. Omar Khadr is presently on trial in Guantanamo for a murder he is alleged to have committed when he was 15. Many suicide bombers are teenagers. From the Secret service's point of view, the solution is simple. He may or may not be a threat, but why take a chance. They are overworked and understaffed as is. It is easier to just ban him for life.

Now, let's assume a lifetime ban is excessive and that a stern warning, a 1 year or 5 year ban may be more appropriate, the question becomes who makes the decision? The US is governed by the rule of law and there would have to be a tribunal set up with an arbitrator or administrative judge to make the decision. Investigators would have to be pulled from the Secret Service or INS to investigate the facts. A prosecutor would have to present the evidence, all funded by the US taxpayer.

If you go that route, it would also mean that a foreigner who sends a threatening email to the President would have more rights than the hundreds of millions of persons who happen to be living in the wrong country. That is not exactly the kind of message you want to send to all the crazies out there.

So we are back to square one. You are foreigner who wants to threaten the President of the USA? fine, but don't expect to ever be allowed on US soil. If you think that is harsh, try threatening the President of Russia or China and see how they react.

Yep, I have seen people banned from entering the US for all sorts of little insignificant reasons, making threats isn't a little reason so the idiot should be grateful he wasn't prosecuted as well as being banned.

Tribesman, we are in total agreement for once. :o


...maybe I should buy a lottery ticket...:arrgh!:

Assuming thats all he said, why the over top reaction? :doh:

I only worked with the USSS for a very short time (TDY). I don't think they would react that way if this is the only thing the E-mail contained.