Three of Finland 's most popular musicians, including one described as the Finnish Bruce Springsteen, who arrived in Minnesota for a tour in September, were subjected to over two hours of interrogation by immigration officials.

The group said it appeared as if U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seemed to think they were smuggling drugs or intending to work without a permit. The group was eventually released with no explanation and no apology. 

Two of the musicians are scheduled to return in the coming months and are worried they may again face problems entering the country, since their passports now have a big red flag: immigration agents initially stamped "Refused Entry" on the passports and then later simply crossed out the stamp with a pen.

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President of the Real Madrid soccer team, Ramón Calderón, was accidentally detained for several hours in a New York airport after an immigration officer saw that one of Calderón's surnames was blacklisted.  The soccer club contacted the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Interior.  Once the matter was cleared up, Calderón received an apology.

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In July, Russia ’s Federation Cup tennis team captain Shamil Tarpishchev was granted his visa only several days prior to the semi-final match against the United States in Vermont .  Tarpishchev believes he may have been on a watch list based on accusations in the past of ties to the Russian mafia.