Landing in an American airport when you’re Libyan
I never imagined that I’d be missing the airport treatment we receive in the temporary Tripoli Metega airport after visiting the U.S of all places. But that’s exactly what happened last November.
It wasn’t my first trip to the “land of dreams” as they call it. I landed on the 18th of November, a little bit after Trump had won the elections. Trump even had support from Libyans after the previous administration’s bad track record with Libya.
I remember landing and staying on the plane with no idea what was happening. After 20 mins they allowed us to leave the plane only to make us que in the corridors.
Awaiting us was an airport official shouting:
“Americans to the left, others stand by the wall”.
A man with a British accent joked “they’ve started already”. There was so much confusion, the green card holders didn’t know where to go.
Half an hour later people were getting restless, they started hounding the airport official asking her if we would be able to leave the corridor anytime soon. She refused to answer. No one knew at that point that this would be nothing compared to future treatment of travelers at American airports.
I think what really annoyed me about the airport staff was the treatment. They looked at travelers coming in as the enemy that must be stopped. It’s at these moments you wish you had some protection from your country, some hope that if you went missing at least your ambassador would make a call to ask about you.
I can just imagine if I had to make a call to the Libyan embassy in Washington what their reaction would be. Something along the lines of
“ You’ve reached the wrong number, please don’t call here again”.
The silent airport official returned, this time with some good news and we were finally being ushered into the border control area. This area was split into many colours depending on where you come from. I recall seeing the expedited section with the scanning machines then laughing after wondering if Libya was eligible for those. I was already starting to miss the flip flop employees of Metega airport at that point.
Figuring out what happens next is easy. Reaching the border control agent and answering his questions wouldn’t be the end of this airport journey. The next step was predictable, I was told I would need to escort the officer
“ further questioning is needed, It’s all routine stuff” he said.
I’ve heard it all before, I’ve actually come to expect it from the American border control agents.
I remember once they let me through without “further questioning” it kind of made me want to ask them “is everything ok, did you make a mistake?”
There was one lady with me from Lebanon that was also singled out. She told them she’d been to the U.S before, the guy replied that didn’t matter.
I would sit in a chair until an officer came and asked me to go get my luggage. She seemed nice I remember thinking at the time.
After opening my luggage for further inspection I was asked questions about where I worked and where I had lived. Even my accent was a topic of mystery.
Then she asked whether I knew which militia was ruling in my area, If I knew anything about the east. I replied no to everything. My inner thoughts were something along the lines of “ is this a joke, do I look like i hang out with the friendly neighbourhood militia?”
I didn’t know any of the things she was asking but I was very surprised with the detailed questions.
The whole experience isn’t traumatising, you actually end up with a funny story to tell to your friends about the crazy treatment in “the land of democracy & freedom”. However the realisation that where you come from makes you automatically a third class citizen is what hurts the most. You can’t help where you were born.
After this experience I told myself I’d never complain about Metega ever again. Never ever will I make fun of the limited number of gates that we have or delayed flights.
Trying to get out of an American airport is worse than checking yourself in for invasive surgery. This experience was even before Trump was president. I can’t imagine signing myself up for a trip to the U.S after the “Travel Ban”
