US citizen pulled into secondary inspection at EWR
I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience.
I’m a U.S. citizen and a Global Entry member. I recently returned to the U.S. after a trip to Kyrgyzstan. My itinerary was Kyrgyzstan → Germany → Newark.
When I arrived at Newark, I expected to use the Global Entry kiosk and leave as usual, but instead I was escorted to secondary inspection.
The CBP interview lasted quite a while. The officer asked a surprisingly wide range of questions, including:
Why I traveled to Kyrgyzstan.
Whether I still have another citizenship.
Which passports I used during the trip.
My job and employer.
My family.
Whether anyone had threatened, pressured, or tried to recruit me while I was abroad.
General questions about my trip and background.
At the end, the officer told me it was a “random security check,” and I was admitted without any issues.
No paperwork was given, nothing was seized, and my Global Entry still appears to be active.
This was the first time I’ve ever been referred to secondary inspection despite traveling internationally many times.