I'm wanting to cross the border over into Mexico to get some dental work done. However, I'm currently on parole. I already have a passport so that is not an issue for me. What my concern is, when you enter the US as a US citizen, do they automatically run some kind of criminal background check to see if you are an ex con or current parolee? I realize that they would have to allow me entry into the US as a citizen, but if they run a check, would they require me to show some kind of travel permit from my PO? I'm not worried about entering into a foreign country because I recall when traveling in Europe (prior to my conviction), that it most definitely did not seem as though they ran any kind of criminal check when they swiped my passport. In fact, when I was traveling, I had active warrants in the US and no one said one word. They didn't even say anything when I reentered the US even though the US Marshall had a "hold" on my passport. Well, at least that is what they said. With those guys, you really can't believe much of what they say. Any opinions?

If you are on parole, you can't enter a foreign country, which Mexico is to you, as well as Canada. You are asking for trouble. Your passport will be flagged.

Why ask here, ask your parole officer.

Tick

The Mexican authorities don't run a check on my passport when I enter Mexico. Going to Mexico is simply a matter of walking across the bridege. Period. In fact, many foreign countries don't run a criminal check when entering their country. Can you imagine how long a wait there would be at the border? As I said before, I was flying all over Europe with active US warrants and was never stopped at any European border. Having said that, I'm not sure if the US runs criminal checks on its citizens when they reenter the US. My PO says it is possible for me to travel out of the country with permission. I simply don't want to get stopped and questioned at the border because of my record because I am going to be with other people and it would be quite embarrassing. My thought is, that unless there is some kind of INTERPOL warrant or Homeland Security hold on my passport, that the US doesn't run a criminal check either. It would be very time consuming for customs agents to do that. But, I wanted a couple of other opinions in the matter.

I know for you sure you couldn't get into Canada if you were currently on parol in US. You are a foreign country. Yes, there are very long line ups.

If you can get permission, why are you asking ? If so, why would you be stopped at the border and questioned, if you have permission.

Don't think you would be on INTERPOL.

Time consuming, that's a joke, Canadians are stopped for hours without proper paperwork just to go over for five hours of shopping.

You are in the wrong forum anyway, HomeAgain. You should be in the forum for Criminal Law if you want the proper expert to inform you on your predicament.

Tick

Moved to criminal law

You are willing to risk going to prison ? You can not legally go without a permit from your PO. He should not care if you are up to date with the required elements. So why not just ask them

You are willing to risk going to prison ? You can not legally go without a permit from your PO. He should not care if you are up to date with the required elements. So why not just ask them

Fr Chuck - Perhaps you didn't read my statement correctly. I DID say explicitly that my PO said it was possible for me to travel outside the US with permission. Why do you make the assumption that I am going to travel illegally? Please don't waste my time with responses in which you have not even bothered to read the question completely.

I know for you sure you couldnt get into Canada if you were currently on parol in US. You are a foreign country. Yes, there are very long line ups.

If you can get permission, why are you asking ? If so, why would you be stopped at the border and questioned, if you have permission.

Dont think you would be on INTERPOL.

Time consuming, thats a joke, Canadians are stopped for hours without proper paperwork just to go over for five hours of shopping.

First off, Tickle, I'm not asking about Canada. I'm asking about MEXICO. A completely different animal. AND, as I said BEFORE, the reason I am asking is because if I am going to be hassled then perhaps I should avoid it because I am going to be with other people. Just because I have permission which, by the way, is merely a letter from my PO, does not mean that this information is on Customs' database (a federal not a state database). In fact, it isn't. What I am trying to avoid, is a customs agent asking me, in front of the group of people with whom I'll be traveling, to see my travel permit. If that is the case, then I don't want to go. If however, there isn't even a criminal check done when re-entering the US, which I'm thinking could very well be the case, especially at the Mexican border, then I am considering going. Travel permits are generally issued to ex felons in the event they are pulled over by the police who then will generally run a warrants check on all traffic stops. And no, my PO doesn't know the answer to this question which is why I am posting it here.

I made the comparison between Canada nad Mexico because to you in the US Canada is a foreign country for you to, as well as Mexico, so you couldn't get into Canada without a hassle.. Or don't you realize that.

Chuck is not only a christianty expert, but was formerly a law enforcement officer.

I don't like your tone. I don't know why your PO would not know the answer to your question, so just don't go to Mexico. You will have a hassle. You are worried about being embarrassed in front of your friends, big deal.

If you were waiting for an answer, why did you take so long to come back again to find one.

Tick

If you don't wish to be hasseled by the customs folks upon your return to the US may I suggest that you just skip the whole trip and have your dental work done here instead? The Customs folks can and will run your name into the computer upon your return and yes, you will be quizzed by them and yes, you will be detained by them and yes, all your "friends" you are traveling with will know you're wanted and/or are on parole/probation. Best to skip the trip or face the embarrassment.

And, just traveling all around Europe with US warrants is irrelevant. When you reenter the US is when all bets are off. Just having a passport is fine and dandy, but if you are in the computer, you're in the computer and they will detain you.

Don't believe us? It does not matter. We are not the ones who will be detained. You are the one who will be detained. Letter from the PO or no letter. They will detain you AND check with the PO while you languish in a cell.

Please go, without permission, with your attitude, perhaps jail will do you good.

YOU can not travel on probation or parole outside the country without permission, If you like jail, great