When we arrived at MIA from Casablanca late last night, there were a surprising number of people lined up to clear customs—after a 20+ minute walk from the gate (it’s hard to imagine a more poorly operated major airport). With nostr:npub19pj6f0nc9q6xr26qe3g8m6xe3hwe0d6p6zcvf57cm3kayghjdj0slnlenu unable to opt out as a permanent resident and our tired toddler in her arms, I was tempted to quietly submit to facial recognition, but decided against it.

I politely informed the officer that my son and I would be opting out as US citizens. He was equally polite, but dumbfounded, claiming he had no idea how to “get the system to work,” and that we’d be sent to secondary screening. I said ok. He asked me to be look at the camera, apparently thinking I was just speaking for my son. I reiterated it was for both of us. One of his colleagues pops up out of her cube to say “the images are only stored for 24 hours.” I smiled and said “I believe you’ve been told that.” Off to secondary screening we go.

It’s a sizable waiting room with a row of cubbies behind plexiglas where CBP employees are most goofing off. Our officer goes off to speak with one of them and I overhear the other inform our guy that all he had to do we “check the opt out box.”

Side note: nostr:npub19pj6f0nc9q6xr26qe3g8m6xe3hwe0d6p6zcvf57cm3kayghjdj0slnlenu was supportive and amazing, as always, even when utterly exhausted.

He then comes back to us to say we’re good to go. I ask #LittleMan if he has a fist bump for “our new friend,” which he happily offers. The officer then goes on to say that he learned something tonight that he wasn’t aware of and that he appreciates that “you want to protect your son.”

tl;dr exercise the rights you have to opt out when and while you can. Make tyranny more expensive. And maybe make an ally.