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ZEALOUS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENTS AT PORTLAND AIRPORT THREATENS INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Officials at the Port of Portland, Oregon, are worried that immigration inspectors are turning away so many Asian business entrants that the city’s international flights are at risk.  Statistics show that officials in Portland turn away nine times as many entrants as those in Seattle.  According to port officials, this is because INS inspectors in Portland have less traffic, and therefore less to do, than those in Seattle. 
When someone is denied entry at an airport, they are placed on the next plane to the country from which the flight originated.  If there is no flight until the next day, the person can face a night in the local jail.  While a night in jail is rare, the possibility of it has led many Asian companies to avoid sending representatives to the US through the Portland airport.  Stories of being turned away at Portland have been carried in the Japanese media, and the government relations manager at the airport fears the negative publicity may result in the cancellation of the airports two remaining direct flights to Japan. 
According to INS officials in Portland, the high number of people turned away is a result of the recent Asian financial crisis.  Responding to the fact that Portland inspectors turn away a much larger percentage of passengers than other West Coast ports, the INS port director does admit that inspectors in Portland have a lighter workload than those in other places, but attributes most of the high rate to more experienced inspectors.  Last year 447 international passengers were turned away.