Teacher, Children Detained by Border Patrol for Refusing to Confirm Citizenship

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Border Patrol agents detained a California teacher and her children for refusing to answer questions about her citizenship.

Shane Parmely, who is a U.S. citizen, said she and her children were detained for more than an hour.

Parmely posted videos of the confrontation with Border Patrol agents on Facebook, leading many to question whether she was within her rights or had an obligation to comply.

Shane Parmely refused to give her citizenship status to Border Patrol agents.

When asked by agents if she’s a citizen, Parmely responded, “You can ask me. I don’t have to answer.”

But the Border Patrol agent disagreed, saying she would “be detained here until you state your citizenship.”

Parmely told ABC 10News she refused to reveal her citizenship status in protest of Border Patrol agents routinely targeting anyone who is non-white.

“When you see something that is clearly racist, you have a choice,” Parmely told 10News. “We would have no civil rights if people didn’t question authority or challenge the status quo.”