Loved your story Jeremy, but I just want to push back a little bit on your characterization of TSA.

I think outside the US, TSA is pretty hated and they most definitely target people by race. Muslim friends hardly want to talk about about the experience.

I had a friend who was brown, but not even muslim. He had been looking forward to the big road trip in America for years. He had been saving and saving for this trip.

He got to US immigration and got immediately abused. The officer started screaming at him that he was a terrorist and was planning terrorism in the US. I guess he had the "terrorist skin color."

Didn't matter that he didn't have as much as a traffic ticket home in Norway. A peaceful guy who likes skiing, BBQ and amusement parks.

Yet he had to stand there and take verbal abuse for God knows how long, before he simply got kicked out of the country. No reason. No evidence. No law broken. Just kicked out. All the money saved, just flushed down.

I cannot say I am all surprised. I am white, and should be among the privileged. Yet I have always found USA immigration as the worst experience of any country I visit. A bit odd since Americans in general tend to be very hospitable.

Although to their credit, last time I visisted, comming into Baltimore I actually had a very good experience. It was somewhat ironic, given that all the Trump years and made me dread going to an African-American majority city. I was thinking I was going to be hated there being white. Tensions seemed to be running so high in the US. Thankfully all the African-Americans including the ones working for TSA were remarkably friendly.

It really ran counter to all the shit I hear about Baltimore in American media. Yes, I know it is a dangerous city, but at least in the downtown areas I must say I had a very good experience.