By Ron…
20 years ago I plead no contest in a case of the on line undercover police seeking predators. I never touched, met, or did anything to anyone. Back in 1998, things were different. I was never put in jail or prison, I served 2 1/2 years of probation, I was not required to attend sex offender classes, or submit and blood samples to the state of Florida, There were only a few conditions placed on me, and the judge wanted me not to be part of the registry, but he had no choice since the Cop was pretending to be 14 years old. We all make mistakes in our lives, but I never thought how much my life changed. I have traveled in the past and had no problems until I arrived back in Florida. This August, I was planning to engaged to my Fiance in Colombia. I registered as by law of my trip in advance, I did everything by the book. I was actually excited to just get away. My flight was about 4 hours long, I arrived in Cali, I approached immigration there, and at first everything went great, until the swiped my passport. and then all hell broke loose, I was detained, and told I could not enter colombia, and I would be returned on the first flight back to Miami, the next day. I was able to reach my girlfriend, and told her about me not being allowed entry, and she rushed to the airport. I was placed for a little while in a room in the lounge of the airlines, my girlfriend and I were texting, and she told me that she loved me and believed in me. It was our first true meeting as we had been communicating on line for almost a year through Skype, we fell in love and just wanted to be together. In the room I was placed in there was a large glass window looking out, Natalia texted to me look forward and I looked up and standing 15 feet from me was the most amazing person in the world to me. We could not speak, we were not allowed to meet, I was not allowed outside to hold her. Where she was standing was illegal, so they made her move, so we could not see each other. I was assigned a security guard my entire time, I could not even go to the bathroom unless he stood by, There was no bed to sleep on, no blankets, I was cold, and scared. 15 hours later, I was escorted to my flight back, I was placed last to get on board. My passport was held by a flight attendant, and was told I would get it back when I landed. Every moment was an embarrassment, I planned and saved for this trip for 6 months, and in a flash it was all gone. I was sent back with a sense of disgrace. They say this is not punishment??? This is not what I plead to 20 years ago. but Nobody cares, once you are labeled, you are no longer part of the American free society, and never will be. I wanted to share this, so other know to stay away from Colombia please, you will not get in. Im hoping for a list of places I can travel with no issues. But for now, I lost everything I had on this one trip to finally hold the one person in this world, who loved me for me.
I spent 3 months in Colombia in 2013 and 3 months in 2016. I notified 21 days in advance both times and flew in without hassle. They just stamped me in at the primary inspection window.
Last year I tried again to go for 3 months. I travelled by bus and plane all day to get to Miami where I had a 9 hour layover. I boarded the plane and fell asleep. I was awoken by a stewardess that said I needed to talk to the police in the boarding ramp. I exited the plane and was told Colombia was denying my entry and there was no use going. This cost me a lot of money and grief. I lost my roundtrip airfare and had to buy a new last-minute air ticket back home which cost over $1000.
I cried and contemplated hanging myself in the airport bathroom that night. Travel is all I have left in my lonely life. But I decided to try something else. I went to Ecuador last year. I had spent 3 months there in 2013 and enjoyed another vacation there last year.
So, I travelled again to Ecuador last month. I landed in Quito and was denied entry. I had to wait in a room all night and get on the next flight back to Miami. I was heartbroken again and now out of another $2000 in tickets that I worked so hard to save for the trip.
So Colombia and Ecuador are now denying entry. I don’t know what my options are now. I don’t have anything else in life worth living for, so I will try some place new. Best wishes to you all.
Ron, that is such a sad story. I’m so sorry about that. My fiancé was denied entry to Colombia in 2015. I’m from Colombia but I live in the US. My family has not been able to meet him and the day he was deported they were all waiting outside to meet him. It was such a frustrating, humiliating, shocking and sad experience. I suggest that, you and your fiancé meet in Europe. I hope your girlfriend has a visa so she can come and meet you here. Good luck.
Ron, I’m very sorry to hear your story. This is truly a sad situation when murderers and drug dealers would probably have no problem traveling, living and even committing crimes in Colombia. One thing that you could help clarify for others who might be in your situation – I assume you are on the sex offender registry in Florida, and have your passport stamped under International Megan’s Law? In other words, if you were not branded by IML and registered your travel with the police according to US requirements, the Colombian authorities would in all likelihood have not denied entry.
that is sad my friend ,its a burden nobody should be faced with , I hate this judicial system because it one set of rules for us and another for the powerful and connected.
****nonsense erased by moderator. This is not a place to air your conspiracy theories***
Gene,
Where do you get your information that Bill is “a serious pedophile”? Monica was 22 when she worked at the White House. I hope you’re not believing that Pizzagate crap either.
Those of us in this boat together need to stick together and not cause divisions with our fellows who are suffering because of ignorance in others.
Shame on you for such a silly partisan post. Even using the word “pedophile” when it is thrown at all sex offenders (even ones without a crime against a minor) shows how ignorant you are.
Why was this nonsense comment even allowed through by the moderators?
That was a mistake. I fixed it.