Checkpoint authority. >> So, and it's a checkpoint and we're not actually crossing the border right now. >> Checkpoint authority held up by the Supreme Court. >> Which when >> these are the cases? >> What year? >> These are the cases. >> What? No, cuz this is not a recent thing. >> It doesn't have to be recent, ma'am. >> We don't. So, are we being detained? >> Yes, you are being detained >> for what? >> An immigration inspection, >> right? >> Would you like to read this? >> No, I don't want to stop. I want to Am I free to go? No, >> I'm not free to go. >> You are being detained. If I didn't speak any English and I pulled up here and couldn't answer your question and I spoke and I spoke. >> This teacher just took on an entire border patrol checkpoint and one calm and confident. She makes it clear from the start. She's on vacation and has time. Federal agents ask for her citizenship, but she knows her rights and refuses to answer. She explains that citizens inside the country aren't required to declare nationality just to drive on a public road. As the officers escalate, papers waved, dogs sniffing, supervisors called, she stays composed, pointing out discrimination and how families of color are often targeted. One by one, each agent tries a tactic, but none succeed. What starts as a routine stop turns into a masterass in standing your ground, knowing your rights, and keeping calm under pressure. We go. What? >> Citizens. >> Are we crossing a border? >> No. But are you United States citizens? >> Are we crossing a border? >> I've never been asked if I'm a citizen before when I'm traveling down the road. >> This is an immigration checkpoint, >> right? So, we're not crossing a border. >> Are you recording this? >> Yes. >> So, we're not record. And I know I don't have to answer. You can ask. >> No, you don't have to. I don't have to answer. I've seen this before. And we did this last year when we were coming back. >> Uh, immigration law. >> No, actually, I'm a teacher and on the national level, we've been talking about this. >> You can talk about it. Understand? >> You can ask me. I don't have to answer. >> Required to answer immigration question. You are not required to answer any other questions. >> And what's your name? Your co your badge is covered. Come here. >> My bad. Agent on the >> I just want to >> E L O R E. >> And what is it that what's the law that says we have to answer? >> You want to see? Hold on. You got to pay. >> Am I free to go or are you detaining me? >> You are being detained. M. >> Okay. I'm being detained on what grounds? >> It's the immigration checkpoint. M. >> Okay. And so what's the ground? What's the violation for being detained? >> You know what's just for you? Here we go. Right here. >> US US Supreme Court. US Martine. >> No, you're covering part of it. >> No, there's my point right here. >> Right there. >> Checkpoint authority. So, and it's a checkpoint and we're not actually crossing a border right now. >> Checkpoint authority held up by the Supreme Court. >> Which when >> these are the cases? >> What year? >> These are the cases. >> What? No, cuz this is not a recent thing. >> It doesn't have to be recent. Ma'am, >> we don't So, are we being detained? >> Yes, you are being detained >> for what? >> An immigration inspection, right? >> Would you like to read this? >> No, I don't want to stop. I want to Am I free to go? >> No, >> I'm not free to go. >> You are being detained >> on what grounds? >> Right here. I've already told you. >> No, no, you haven't. You've held the deta 287. I8 274. >> So I mean ground because I won't tell you whether or not I'm a citizen even though I'm in New Mexico traveling on a highway that's paid for with federal dollars. >> Okay. Here. >> So federal dollars. You already illegally searched my car. You have no grounds for searching my car with a dog. I've been detained and searched by court. Open air search. >> This is interesting. And so >> that dog did not go in your car. >> So if >> if I just come through and say yes, I'm a citizen. I can just go ahead. It's justified if it justifi the agent's justified by the answer. Yes. If you >> Okay. So, if I have an accent and I'm brown, can I just say yes and go ahead or do I have to prove it? >> Well, if we want to >> cuz I have a bunch of teacher friends who are sick of their kids being discriminated against. >> This is a No, I'll put it in part. I'll put it in part. >> I'm trying to put this in part. Here's the >> No, I'm just curious cuz my teacher friends are sick of their kids being discriminated against. >> Okay. I'm not discriminating anybody. >> I have friends in San Diego who get their children harassed because they immigrated from Mexico. They're a teacher. Their kids are born here. >> I'm asking you a question >> and they're tired of it. >> Okay. I'm asking you a question. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> What happens to me if I refuse to answer your question? >> You'll stay here until you're answered >> for I'm a teacher. I'm on vacation. I got time. >> If you want to stay here, that's fine. >> That's fine. >> I'm trying to explain everything to you. I'm showing our authorities. >> No. No. I'm very curious about what happens. I'm very curious about what happens. >> Right here. Do you want to read this? >> No. Nope. I want to see what happens when I refuse to say that I'm a citizen or not. >> That's fine. So, you're not you're unwilling to answer the question? >> I don't think I have to in this country. >> Okay. >> I'm traveling down the road. The only reason otherwise you just funneled us into a place, took everybody's picture. You can document us. >> Ma'am, look, I understand. >> No, I get it. I know. I know you do. And you're doing your job and you're going to keep doing your job. And you know what? That's what the brown shirt said in Germany. Everybody was just doing their job. So, I'm not going to make it easy for you guys to do your job. >> Well, that's fine, ma'am. And I get it. But look, if you just tell us whether you're not USA, >> I'm traveling down the road. It's the only way to get to my house. It's the only way to travel down this road. And I don't think anyone in this country not crossing a border should have to get pulled over, have their picture taken, loaded into the freaking database for this country for everybody to come through and do facial recognition software. >> Totally get your point. But the point is you're taking the fight. >> This is it. This is it. You either you refuse to get up and off the back of the bus or you you like you this is it. >> But ma'am, you're taking a fight to the wrong guy. You're at Walmart. You don't like the pricing. >> I don't go there either. Stock. I absolutely don't go either. I boycott that place as well. >> Understand? I'm trying to explain to you our authority. I did. Okay. We have authority right here. >> So, I'm not telling you whether I'm a citizen or not. >> Supreme Court justification. We'll >> just have to detain you. >> Okay. Great. Where are we going? >> So, you're detaining. I just want to be clear. You're detaining me. You are being detained cuz Okay. >> And I'm not free to go. >> Do not pull forward. No. Please do not pull. We don't want your tire. Okay. Okay. So, you're just going to wait here? >> We'll just wait. Okay. Uh, I've been ready the whole time. You guys are the ones detaining me. >> Yeah, we are detaining you because my job here >> I I know >> by the law by law and our authority as immigration officers is to to establish citizenship. >> You could be I am not crossing I'm not crossing the border. >> You're not crossing the border within >> English. If I didn't speak English, you were concerned, wouldn't you? >> If I didn't speak any English and I pulled up here and couldn't answer your question, >> do you know how many illegal perfect Swedish and no one could translate for me, would you let me through? >> Do you know how many people from another country speak perfect English and are not US citizens? >> Do you So, if I didn't speak I guess, this is my question. If I didn't speak any English or Spanish or a language, you would just sit here until you found a translator. >> Yes, ma'am. or until >> or you would assume that I wasn't from >> until you could prove to me that you were here legally if you did not speak English then I'd be satisfied but it was a simple question are you a US citizen or not or what is your citizenship on your way >> passing a federally funded highway driving minding my own business and I get pulled over and asked if I'm a citizen >> that's right >> not answering so if you're ready to let me go I'm ready to go >> are you ready to answer the question No, >> call the person back and have them spell it out for you. >> Suzanne Connelly. I know. >> It's not Suzanne. >> They all think They all think it's me because Shane is a guy. >> But guess you guys been here for a while, right? >> A little bit. A little over an hour. By the way, you guys are American citizens. All of you guys >> really >> check. You guys should be proud of that. Especially the young kids. Keep that in mind. You should be proud of who you are, by the way. >> I'll give you guys educate on that a little bit more. >> Thank you. >> It's a shame that you're not proud to be American in my opinion. So, >> no one said that. I don't think anybody should be proud based on where they're born because promotes nationalism, which is the basis for fascism, which is how people end up going to war over their national pride. >> You guys should practice your voting privileges. Have you >> Are we free to go? >> Have you done that? >> Are we free to go? >> We're free to go now. >> Thank you. >> You too. Thank you. See who they show papers. Dude, stop eating. when he was like, "This is not the fight." It's like, "We're not even fighting. Like, we're just >> not answering the question." >> Although mom does get kind of aggressive, but >> Oh, it's my nerves. I mean, it's anxious. >> I mean, who wouldn't get kind of aggressive? >> It's not aggressive. >> I'm being assertive. They cannot like my tone. But guess what? I'm not a border patrol agent. I don't have to stay calm. >> And they're not even stay >> They're not staying calm. >> She was >> literally She literally >> Did you record that? >> Um, yes, I believe I did. Yeah, I did. >> You were just like, "Do I have to answer?" And all I'm saying is like, "I am Border Patrol. You're going to answer the question. You got to read this. It says, "Dude, you got to answer my question >> right here, right now." Uh, >> Mom, do we have the megaphone? >> Yes, >> it's in the truck. Yeah. >> Damn it. >> I do. >> I can reach it. Want me to try? Right. No, I need the key to get it