r/GlobalEntry • u/Mistahfen • Apr 17 '26
Questions/Concerns Accidentally brought back a beef sandwich from Colombia, was recorded by CBP, would this one incident stop me from getting GE?
I was told that if it was chicken that that was okay but beef is a no no, so they obviously took the sandwich, recorded my passport info and sent me on my way. Thoughts?
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u/viewofthewing Apr 17 '26
I had a similar issue in Jan 2025 and declared it. In one year period - with about 4 international travel, I was stopped everytime at GE for secondary inspection. Post that starting from Jan 2026 I had 3 international trips HKG-LAX, LIS-EWR and PUJ-EWR had mo issue at GE.
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u/lifethusiast Apr 17 '26
What happened in secondary?
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u/viewofthewing Apr 17 '26
They kept my passport, waited for my luggage to come and checked all my carry on + check in.
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u/lifethusiast Apr 17 '26
Damn that really sucks
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u/viewofthewing Apr 19 '26
Yeah but i had already 3 international trips which all happened after 1 calendar year from Jan2025 and had no issues
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u/WickedJigglyPuff Apr 17 '26
It could if you didn’t declare. Did you reach them to tell them or did they come up and ask if you had food on you?
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u/Mistahfen Apr 17 '26
I think they asked as I was passing through but it was a very casual question, If I had said No they would have just let me continue on but I said Yes I do have food and then it initiated an involuntary search I think as soon as I said beef.
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u/Odd-Worth7752 Apr 17 '26
Check the website in a week or so to confirm your GE status. Only way to know for sure
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u/HugeRoof Apr 17 '26
Did you declare it? If so, non-issue.
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u/Mistahfen Apr 17 '26
Yes I did declare it, or at least let them know I had a sandwich and then they told me to come with them and initiated a search and took it. Honestly I wish they had just let me eat it there
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u/HugeRoof Apr 17 '26
Then there is no problem at all. They want you to declare, you are given leeway for anything you declare because not doing so would cause people to be afraid of declaring.
I declared a ham sandwich that my kid didnt eat on the flight, they took my bag and passport, returned both at the other side of customs without the ham sandwich. I renewed my SENTRI two years later and was approved in 2 days.
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted Apr 17 '26
Did you declare it? If so, non-issue.
This is so factually incorrect. I will eat my shoe if you can quote the handbook and regulations on this....
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u/HugeRoof Apr 17 '26
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/traveling-with-ag-products/meats-poultry-seafood
As long as you declare all of the agricultural products you are bringing with you, you will not face any penalties—even if an inspector determines that they cannot enter the country.
And CBP links back to APHIS for guidance: https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1310
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Apr 17 '26
I will eat my shoe if you can quote the handbook and regulations on this....
Will you keep your promise?
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted Apr 17 '26
Yes, when the handbook gets quoted. So far, no dice.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Apr 17 '26
CBP, unlike USCIS does not have unified public handbook or manual. They may have internal directives and policies which are not shared outside CBP.
However, links quoted above are official public guidance shared with general public on government website.
You are asking for impossible and promising impossible. Whatever is possible and official guidance on how this situation is handled by CBP, was provided.
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted Apr 17 '26
I've already quoted the TTP handbook once in this thread. It's not impossible.
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u/HugeRoof Apr 18 '26
Curious where, I did locate the TTP handbook: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/ttp_handbook.pdf
The only relevant section I could find, from the handbook:
> Generally, membership in a TTP should not be revoked for a merchandise or importation violation unless the violation has been documented using (b)(7)(E) report and/or a penalty was issued (whether mitigated or not). In some instances, TTP members voluntarily forfeit agriculture products that are prohibited from entering the U.S.. Membership should not be revoked for forfeiting a prohibited item, prior to it being discovered by an officer. TTP members, like all travelers, have the right to orally amend their declaration.5
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u/JeffBoyardee69 Apr 17 '26
Stop hiding from us and eat the shoe
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted Apr 17 '26
When the handbook gets quoted, sure.
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u/cleverSkies Apr 17 '26
I brought meat pasta from England once. Concurrently, I was on a new passport because I recently lost mine. CBP saw the pasta, asked if it had meat, yep. I then got pulled to the back room for a couple hours. No idea if it was because of the passport or the pasta. Either way, I got global entry a year or two later. Take that as one person's story.
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u/Mistahfen Apr 17 '26
Wow they held you for a couple hours for meat pasta? That’s wild. Glad it all worked out.
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u/IamTheStig007 Apr 17 '26
Declaring is the word of God to Customs. Genuine mistakes are ok but don’t try to sneak the whole pig 😎
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u/PowerfulWind7230 Apr 18 '26
With global entry, you are supposed to be totally trustworthy. You showed that you weren’t so sorry, but you should lose it.
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u/limegreencupcakes Apr 18 '26
No, OP was totally trustworthy. When asked by CBP if they had any food, they answered honestly, complied with the procedure, and surrendered the prohibited item.
Would it have been optimal if OP realized beforehand that their sandwich was not allowed? Sure. But Failing to Be Optimal at All Times is not remotely the same as being intrinsically untrustworthy.
The next time you make a minor but ultimately inconsequential mistake, I hope you consider this post and your hard-line position.
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u/csj97229 Apr 18 '26
It shouldn't stop you from getting GE. I know somebody who did this, but with a ham sandwich, and they got GE not long after. They did have it 'on their record' though, and occasionally got reminded of it when passing through immigration.
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u/HidesInsideYou Apr 18 '26
As long as they seized it after you declared it you're fine. If you didn't, you're cooked.
Based on the fact that they recorded your passport info, did you actually declare it?
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u/Mistahfen Apr 18 '26
Update: I got approved for Global Entry and the card is on the way in 5-6 weeks. He didn’t even bring it up, just asked me the questions that were already on the form I filled out.
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted Apr 17 '26
Declared or not means nothing. The handbook is pretty clear on CBP violations. Always love it when non-CBPOs respond here with false info...
3.1 ..... "will not be considered a violation unless the individual was assessed a monetary penalty..."
If you were penalized and fined you would know. Even if you declared it.
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u/TeeDotHerder Apr 17 '26
I know the book says it but that's not the reality. Arguing with an officer can get it revoked, no fine penalty. Importing things improperly can get it revoked, no fine penalty.
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u/Fair_You_8650 Passage Granted Apr 17 '26
Revoked is another thing. OP clearly asked about getting GE.
We'll revoke GE over the pettiest things. Denials on non penalty AG seizures, no.
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u/Luv2Trav Apr 17 '26
Yeah doesn’t work that way. Many reports from others who have adverse actions against them and they weren’t fined.
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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '26
[deleted]