I have noticed an increase in the last 2 years in long aggressive questioning by Immigration border people as I enter the USA. I am US citizen and in my option if I am holding a valid passport then after scanning it they should just let me into the country. I am also UK citizen and that is what happened the last time I entered UK this summer. No aggressive questioning, just a 30 second scan of my passport and "Welcome back to Britain, sir"
It does seem to depend on which border guard you get and also which countries you have been in and if the guard can fit your travel into a nice easy slot like "a week's vacation". When I returned to USA after a week in UK it was pretty easy, when I returned from Bolivia, Peru and Mexico after 5 months it was 20 minutes of aggressive questioning about where I had been, why, how I was able to do this if I was employed (he didn't seem to understand the concept of working remotely). He was also upset that I was returning via LAX instead of DC (where I live). I explain I was going to a yoga conference in NM. I had to show him my Maryland driver license and UK passport as back up ID in the end. I thought a US passport was enough to re-enter the country but no! I have heard this story of long, aggressive questioning from other US citizens in South America too.
I think it is as bad or worse for non-US citizens entering the USA. In addition everyone else (except Canadians) have to fill out an application form 2 weeks ahead of time to even get on a plane to US plus they get fingerprinted and photographed on entry. All part of the US-VISIT program. I imagine that this will be extended to US citizens too in the coming year for "our security" - really to expand Big Brother's power and to intimidate people into obeying orders like sheep.
