I wouldn't give up on this. Maybe you could try crossing at a smaller, less busy crossing and try to talk your way through if there is another problem? Despite the border issues experienced by some individuals, the USA is an amazing country to travel in. "The cradle of the best and the worst" :-) as Leonard Cohen puts it.

Borders are always a tricky thing. I always go against my true nature and act very demurely with lots of deferrence to the border guard, as well as an apologetic tone. Sometimes you just have to bite your tongue and let the power hungry ones feel like you're "submitting". This makes them happy and you'll be more likely to be on your merry way, sometimes after some kind of lecture. Vent your frustrations afterwards. The goal is to get into the country, not to make a point or to prove who's right.

I'm not suggesting that this relates to the problem the original poster had. Simply stating that this has worked for me for 25 years of regularly crossing the US/Canada border on the West Coast, even with a Cuban stamp in my passport. I was even let off after being caught not declaring purchased goods coming back into Canada.

Of course, being a graying middle aged woman might be a factor these days as well. I do sometimes lie, or at least lie by omission. Volunteer as little information as possible and only directly answer those questions that are being asked. They have no way of checking wether you're truly only going to Tennesee for two weeks or going further. On the other hand, don't deny having been somewhere when there's something obvious like a stamp in your passport.

"going down the Oregon Coast" would be good answer when crossing on the West Coast. It's not a lie since I'm actually doing that. I'm just omitting the fact that I plan to continue down a whole bunch of other coasts ;-) Then only give more information if they want to hear more.

Unfortunately if a name like your's or similar to your's appears on some list then you could easily be hooped. I'm just glad that I have a very uncommon last name.

Good luck with everything.

...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com