An Indian-origin Sikh man, who claimed to be a US citizen, made a video of his interaction with the border officer in Canada as the officer stopped him from entering Canada citing prior criminal record. The man insisted that he did not have any criminal record and cried foul and then accused the officer of ‘discriminating’ against him because of his religion. In the viral video, the officer explained to the man that when he would replay the video to his lawyer, the lawyer would understand that the border officers were working based on evidence and facts. “When we run your name in our Canadian databases, you have a record. And when we check the evidence from your record, you are inadmissible to Canada. You can interpret it however you want but it does not matter who you are, where you are from or your religion. We are making the decision based on the equation of your record in our systems and Canadian criminal laws,” the officer said.The Sikh man then complained that the officers at the border took all his information and even the information about his friends. The officer then explained that the process to check whether the man is admissible is Canada includes questions of what he will do in Canada, whom he will meet etc. The man promptly replied that he was coming to Canada for religious purposes, as he wanted to visit a Sikh temple. “This has nothing to do with your religion,” the officer insisted as he visibly started getting worked up, as the conversation and the to-and-fro dragged on. “You are making me a criminal,” the man said.“I didn’t make you a criminal…I don’t have the time to go back and forth. I have explained it to you. I have been respectful to you,” the officer said. “You are sending me back. This is no respect,” the man said. “I am sending you back because you are inadmissible. And I told you that many times,” the officer once again said.
