America’s prestigious Yale University, which had invited Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, on Saturday, said that his detention was “unfortunate” but things were sorted out in the end.
“As SRK himself would tell you, what is most important in his movies is how they end rather than how they begin. And yesterday, things began in an unfortunate manner, but ended in a way that left everyone happy,” Yale’s Assistant Secretary of International Affairs George Joseph told PTI in an emailed statement.
Mr. Khan was detained for over two hours at the White Plains Airport in New York by immigration authorities on Friday. He was travelling in a private plane and was accompanied by Nita, wife of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani.
The episode had caused some tense moments for the university and Khan’s team as Yale officials contacted the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Department in Washington before Khan was cleared by the immigration.
Mr. Khan had come to the U.S. to visit Connecticut-based Yale University, which had named him the Chubb fellow.
Mr. Joseph said Yale has always been welcoming of visitors from every part of the world and it prides itself on its institution’s hospitality and openness. “We are grateful to Khan for the memories that he has created that will last a lifetime for so many people who were able to experience his visit yesterday,” he said.
This was the second time Mr. Khan had been detained for questioning at the airport in the U.S. in the past three years.
Meanwhile, the New York office of the U.S. Customs & Border Protection, when asked to comment on the details of a letter sent to the Consulate here expressing regret over the episode, said it is prohibited from discussing specific cases due to privacy laws.“The United States has been and continues to be a welcoming nation. Our dual mission is to facilitate travel in the United States while we secure our borders, our people and our visitors from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terrorist weapons, criminals, and contraband,” the CBP said in a statement.
It said it not only protects U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in the country but also wants to ensure the safety of its international travellers, who come to visit, study and conduct legitimate business in the country.
CBP officers are charged with enforcing not only immigration and customs laws, but they enforce over 400 laws for 40 other agencies and have stopped thousands of violators of U.S. law.
“CBP strives to treat all travellers with respect and in a professional manner, while maintaining the focus of our mission to protect all citizens and visitors in the United States,” it said.
John,
The US economy may be down at the moment, but it is NOT out! Like Mumbai, the USA has fantastic resilience!
Expressing sorry is sometimes a lame excuse. This the US doing for the 2nd time. Are they not ashamed of it? It's not fair on the part of a country that claims to be the most advanced one, in Science & Technology, to repeat the same mistake every time. US to mind it for future, at least, adhere to the International Etiquette Guidelines.
Yale has only demeaned itself by inviting Shah Rukh Khan.
Two people travelled in the private plane to US - Nita Ambani and Shahrukh Khan.
Nita Ambani was cleared swiftly and Shahrukh Khan was detained for 2 hrs. Is this not profiling on the basis of religion/name association ?
@Arun Subbu, 9/11 is a 'Black Swan' event !
He is just an actor and a rich man. why should he be treated differently. This mindset of shaarukh has to be changed (may be he is creating some publicity stunt like last time while releasing my name is khan)
To Arun Subbu - As other countries get powerful (especially economically) they will demand respect. That's natural. US has
everything to loose as its economy crumbles..and finds limits in it is
gunboat diplomacy.
Wait until they do a cavity search, and lets see how perception changes. Arm chair commentator's ignorance. One place to really learn from is Israel, where the public rarely is harassed.
They(US immigration) did what they did.Time to move on.
I was sitting next to a Pakistani Muslim while flying from New York to Chicago recently. He complained that because he was a Muslim he was usually double-checked at American airports, and cursed the security staff under his breath. I asked him whether he was subjected to such treatment prior to September 11, 2001, and his answer was "No". So I told him that he should be swearing at Osama Bin Laden who caused all this, and not the Americans.
Exactly. Let's do this when they come - no exceptions.
I applaud the U.S. Customs & Border Protection who stated "The United States has been and continues to be a welcoming nation. ".
They forgot to add the qualifier " . . . unless your last name is Khan or any other Muslim name. You see, we have been and continue to be a bigoted nation with deep and abiding hatred for all people who are not of European descent."
detaining someone in US for 2hrs. is not routine experience-it is specific and
targeted. unfortunately, many Indian are still servile in their outlook; to some
extent US is also fading glory clinging to its former image of all and almighty.
name with muslim overtures have been repeatedly targeted; unfortunately
americans names and citizens can hardly meted out same treatment because
identifying million johns, mikes and sarahs, would boggle super-computers of the
universe. so..US needs to emerge into emerging realities in this multi-polar world-
insularity will sink them faster than titanic. many Indians need to understand
british had liberated them long time back-american are not our new masters,
slavery is dead and abolished here too.
well there is nothing to regret about..as pointed out this is routine check up...srk suxx big time with his maudlin acting...to be more cynical about him-i wont be surprised if this turns out to be his publicity stunt..still I appreciate US system...if india has problem with this then they should also give some good reason to deny a visa to talented cricketer azhar mahmood..who now happens to be BRITISH CITIZEN...
He can make a movie out of it.
Yale University did not invite SRK. It was a small South Asia society, a
student association, is one which invited SRK. Yale probable has more
than 50 such student societies. Please, USA is not India.
Don't confuse Indian People.
Arun, detaining the same man every time he is visiting USA dsnt come
under "routine" check up.
Its mere arrogance.
Indian security personnel should learn from such incidents and enforce strict security checks no matter how famous or powerful the person is. Security checks benefit the general population and the country at the cost of a few individuals. Morever Shah Rukh Khan means nothing to the security personnel here for he is just another name. The previous time too SRK threw a tantrum for being stopped for security check. Indian so-called VIPs should stop expecting to get pampered in foreign lands. The fact that this is news is pathetic.
I agree, He has to understand that he is not any different from any of us.Its sad that that the government of India shares his feelings.I hope the federal authorities tell the [mindless]indian govt to mind their business.
This is the second time its become a big issue and its just annoying . Aren't there more important things happening than this to report.
Right after 9/11 I was traveling in the US. There was a Caucasian lady standing before me was subjected to complete check. Though I look like a guy from middle east, they never bothered to ask me any question. It is US law and enforcement that is designed to protect its citizens. Especially when this man coming in a private plane, they will be cautious. None of us want to see another 3000 people to become victims! When they are crazy people to hide explosives in underwear, a civilized society has every right to take all the necessary precautions!
There is nothing like embarrassment because it was a routine check that
a security agency must conduct. Indian agencies must learn the high
stranded of professionalism from the American counterpart.
I know why your paper gives this news such importance; celebrity news sells. A multi
millionnaire actor went in a private plane and he was stopped and questioned. Why
should the border authorities bother about who he is back in his country? Please stop
attaching too much importance to such celebrity news. Close to 90 million
passengers enter the US every year by air. Due to post 9/11 security measures, many
of them are singled out and questionned as a matter of routine. I suppose it is
inevitable, although the process may be unpleasant for genuine visitors.
This is nothing but a case of racial profiling. It is a normal procedure, which every Muslims face while entering US. This racial profiling will only come out if detained person is famous like SRK or APJ Abdul Kalam. SRK was detained only because of his Muslim name. Otherwise, why he was detained and others were let out. People who say "stop complaining," should in turn stop being prejudiced against anyone.
I agree 100% with Mr.Arun Subbu comments.
Mr.Sah Rukh khan is just an actor and are not more than a mere " Kooththadi" borrowing the adjective provided by the great actor
Late SriM.R.Radha.
I am surprised that The Hindu is giving so much importance to this
episode.
Arun correctly mentioned.
In India, you (Khans or Ambanis) might be kings but when you land here, you must respect LAW of the local Land. Which we do not practice it in India. Then why do such people visit USA? Stay at your homes. Indian eletronic media probably no news so they made it a big news. Indian governments must learn and follow USA in implementation of LAW and educate Indians to respect LAW, respect people etc. Thanks, Kumar
American government has gone out of way to apologize or regret whatever for
doing what it must legitimately do to protect its citizens. By bending backwards
for one of the multitude of Indian VIPs who are on global trotting personal
mission to amass wealth, USA has set a wrong example.
The issue is not that SRK, a celebrity was detained, but the
procedure adopted by the US Homeland Security. Hundreds of Indians
and other nationals are subject to such treatment. One wonders what
the US is doing with all the high technology of capturing bio
identification- photo and fingerprints. Why can't the immigration
authorities access the records from a previous visit using passport,
visa number etc and compare with those of the person suspcted because
he/she has a listed name? If this can't be done why do they subject
people to the hassle of finger printing at entry?
I think "The detention" was well planned to get media attraction.If no detention who will know about this silly function at Yale university. Please stop it make this silly news as a"disaster". Media not painting who suffer for their daily bread. Media always behind the richest people......... why?
Stop complaining Indians if SRK wants to come to usa he will be detained everytime
Shah Rukh Khan is from India , a Democatic country, where the laws are equal to all.
May be when he is in India , he can get the privilege,but how he can expect this from any other country?, After all he is just an actor.Who is paid up by the citizens of India, But Ambani Group is giving job to millions in the country.
So they should get that Privilege
The TSA, "It's our business to touch yours."
There is nothing like embarrassment because it was a routine check that
a security agency must conduct. Indian agencies must learn the high stranded of professionalism from the American counterpart.
It is very depressing to see that things like this make it to the head
lines in an established and respected paper like Hindu. What was so
great about his visit to the Yale University. He went there and danced
to a couple of songs. Is it even worth mentioning in a national daily?
@Arun Subbu
You're absolutely right. Henceforth India should treat every American entering its territory as a potential terrorist and detain,grill and humiliate them for hours before letting them through.
SRK and Media is making a mountain of mole. Could you please noising about airport security procedures. Everyone know SRK is DON but he should stop acting on this issue.
I hope next time, Indian airport security does thorough check up of all actors!
What a fuss about nothing! He is same as any other entrant to the US.
We never hear of celebs standing up for the poor Muslim laborer treated like dirt in
the Arab countries. In educated circles of the West Bollywood is mentioned with a
funny smile. In short most Bollywood films are an embarrassment. Dalai Lama gets
frisked in European airports, you never hear him complain. These status conscious
Indians need to experience such things. They live a privileged life in India.
Because he is Muslim and happens to be a film star much ado about nothing So many Indians pakistanis and othe Asians are being subjected to this sort of humiliation and the Govt. did not say a word. What sort of a nonsense is this? Is he the PM or President? how can any body in the security department know this man?
Please stop complaining - this is just a routine check conducted at US airports. One reason why there are no terrorist attacks after 9/11, something that India can learn from. Movie stars mean nothing to US Federal security - they are answerable to the people of US only.
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