Customs Agent Hassled Mother and Daughter for Having Different Last Names

[Cattledog]

By
Amanda Arnold


On her way home from a European vacation, a Texan woman experienced what she describes as “a Handmaid’s Tale moment,” where a U.S. customs agent subjected her and her daughter to unwarranted interrogation at the airport, all because the two had different last names.

The incident occurred on Sunday at Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, when El Pasoan Sylvia Acosta and her 15-year-old daughter, Sybonae Castillo — both of whom are U.S. citizens — were returning home from a student trip to Europe with the organization Education First Tours. It was there that a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent allegedly questioned the family members over their different surnames, and told the mother that she should’ve taken her husband’s last name to prove her maternity.

Acosta, who was “furious” after the incident, took to Facebook to share her experience. She wrote:

I was asked if Sybonae was my daughter and I said yes. Then they asked why if she was my daughter I didn’t have the same last name. I told them I had already established my career and earned my doctorate with my last name Acosta so I had decided not to change it. That is why we had different names. Then the customs office said, “Well, maybe you should have taken your husband’s last names so you could prove you were her mom.” I told him I had a lot of proof she was my daughter without having had his last name. He then took me to another room where they proceeded to interrogate me and my daughter to prove I was her parent.

https://www.thecut.com/2018/07/sylvia-acosta-customs-airport-daugther.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=nym

[lunasun]

1. They were with a fucking tour . Sick .

[bitterross]

2. That guy needs to go back to the 50s and stay there

This is so insulting and infuriating. And I'm a male.

The fact he thinks women must still take their husband's name is just such an antiquated notion of males who still think of women as their property.

“Well, maybe you should have taken your husband’s last names so you could prove you were her mom.”

[RandomAccess]

3. Absolutely infuriating

and SO sexist.

Grrrrr.

[Shanti Mama]

4. His response was unacceptable, but

Let's remember that children traveling with adults might be being trafficked. The agent needs to be educated, but trafficking is serious.

I had to prove a negative... that my children do NOT have a father. I adopted them as a single mother. I could not get or then renew their passports easily and it was crazy-making. However, I understand the reasons and tried my best to work with them. This is more related to child kidnapping by parents, but it's similar.

Now go ahead and flame me.

[lpbk2713]

5. Don't make Customs agents have to think.

It gives them a bad headache.

OMFG