MAYOR REGAINS ACCESS TO THE UNITED STATES

Grand Forks Mayor Brian Taylor has won an important battle with United
States customs and Immigration. Twelve years ago Taylor was barred
from entering the United States when a border guard asked him a simple
question.

"I lost it (the ability to cross the border) because of things that I
said, not because of any charges, I have a completely clean criminal
record. So I lost it in the first place because they set me up at the
border with this question, 'Do you or don't you smoke pot?'"

The main reason Taylor wants to travel to the United States is his
family.

"I have a daughter down there in Seattle, and she has a little girl
and she's had some difficulties because she hasn't been a able to
travel. So it is going to be an opportunity for me to see their house
and get a chance to visit with my granddaughter."

Taylor said that he started the procedure of challenging his exclusion
from the United States two and a half years ago when he learned that
his daughter was pregnant. The challenge turned out to be difficult.
"You wouldn't believe what happened just because I fought it locally
and moved it up to Seattle Immigration Court," Taylor said, "and then
I went into the federal jurisdiction which put me on the watch list
for Homeland Security."

In the end, Taylor was successful and is happy to be able to visit his
family, though the American officials have kept some restrictions on
his travel. "I'm only going to be allowed in on a temporary basis, and
I have to file papers now and again and pay them a whole bunch more
money." He concluded, "It's a bit of a money grab."