That's not true. Most laws just don't apply until you're on US soil, which has been defined as after the security checkpoint, unless you're already a US citizen (I think).

It's incredibly dumb, but what's illegal just after the security checkpoint is fair game just before it.

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Ha, never thought about that

Is that really the case?
That would mean, they have some "international waters territory" right at every airport, that gets arrivals from other countries

That would be like...wtf?!

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago

Yeah, that's pretty much how it works in every country. When you're in an airport, you're in legal limbo, where you're legally not in any country until you've passed through security after landing. That's why movie The Terminal exists (inspired by the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who was stuck in the Paris airport in similar circumstances).

If you arrive in any country and fail to get in, you have to return where you came from or anywhere else that'll take you.