Aussie woman reveals the shocking tactics United States Customs agents use to try to catch visa cheats – and it’s all perfectly legal

An Australian woman has shocked Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O. Henderson by telling how she was banned from entering the United States for a decade.

Kyle, 53, and Jackie, 49, asked callers to provide details about how they were banned from different countries.

And caller Mel told of a nightmarish trip to the US, where she planned to visit her then-boyfriend.

She suspected that Mel may have had a hidden agenda for her visit and claimed that US customs had seized her phone and were searching through messages to determine if the relationship was genuine.

“What they basically did was take my phone, go around the corner and download all of our messages, pictures and everything into their database,” Mel told the radio hosts.

Kyle added that US customs officials have the right to take such action, and admitted that this had happened to “a lot” of his friends.

He added: ‘A lot of young girls get caught up in that too. If they see a young pretty girl traveling alone, US Customs will assume she is a prostitute who is there to make money and keep them.

“They really make it difficult for people.”

Mel added that the customs officers even messaged her partner from her phone, pretending to be her.

‘They pretended to be me and texted the guy who was waiting for me outside, my boyfriend, and said something like, “Hey honey, are we getting married?”

‘And on the other end of the line he’s waiting for me and thinking, ‘Oh, this poor girl just flew 13 hours to come and see me, she’s obviously left her family and friends behind and she’s a bit worried.

She believed caller Mel might have a hidden agenda with her visit and claimed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials had seized her phone and were searching through messages to determine if the relationship was genuine.

Mel continued, “He was like, ‘Well, sure, honey. If everything goes well with our relationship, then that’s the path we’re going to take.'”

“They pretended to be you?” a shocked Kyle asked.

Mel admitted that she was questioned by customs for thirteen hours.

‘Then they took me to a small cell room, where they interrogated me for another 13 hours, took my picture and fingerprinted me, but I had done nothing wrong.

“I think they thought I was planning to emigrate and run away with him, but that wasn’t the case at all.”

Mel added that customs even sent messages to her partner from her phone, pretending to be her.

Mel subsequently admitted that her request for entry into the US had been denied and she had been given a 10-year travel ban.

“I have two and a half years left,” Mel added before Jackie asked if the international incident meant the end of the relationship.

“He had to follow me to Australia and live with me for a while, but it turned into a shocking relationship,” she laughed.

Kyle added, “Isn’t it weird, Melanie, that you’re getting a ten-year suspension for something you didn’t even do wrong?”

Mel agreed, saying: ‘When they locked me in the room, the cell, I was probably sitting next to a real terrorist, you know, drug dealers and me, an Australian who loves Australia and doesn’t want to leave.’

According to US Customs and Border Protectionofficers have every right to take such measures.

“Travelers are required to present electronic devices and the information on the device in a condition that allows examination of the device and its contents,” the guidelines for electronic devices state.

“If you do not assist CBP in obtaining access to the electronic device and its contents for examination, the device may be detained in order to complete the inspection.”

It continues: ‘If CBP determines that the seized device(s) are subject to seizure pursuant to law — for example, if the device(s) are subject to seizure or contain evidence of a crime, contraband, or other prohibited or restricted items or information — you will be notified of the seizure and advised of your options for appealing the seizure through your local CBP Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Office.’

“I think they thought I was planning to emigrate and run away with him, but that wasn’t the case at all,” Mel added.