The Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, has complained after having to spend two hours in an immigration check holding area. The star says that this has happened to him on every occasion he has visited the US. He added that the ‘random’ security check, which has seen him detained three times in three visits, has grown tiresome.
Omar expressed his frustration at having to spend two hours in a holding area every time he enters the US in a tweet. The actor said that he had come to the country to speak at an event organized by New York University but that he was beginning to wish he had stayed at home instead, after having another two hours wasted. This is the second time in two months that the superstar has been detained by the US Immigration, on entering the country. He underwent the same experience at Los Angeles Airport, back in August.
The US Department of State later issued an apology to Khan, following his detention, with Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal, tweeting their regret but noting that even US diplomats have been pulled in for extra screening from time to time.
However, the security measure still has the support of Nirupama Rao, the former Indian Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the US, who says that the border protection laws and customs of sovereign countries cannot be questioned.