Problems entering the US?

My boyfriend, a Canadian, was entering the US by car to visit me (US citizen) for a few months. He had his birth certificate and gov't ID as proof of citizenship. He was detained for 2.5 hours, finger printed, and photographed before being refused entry. He was told he had too much luggage, not enough money, no proof of employment or home to return to in Canada. He took leave of absence from his job and lived with family so doesn't have a lease. We want to know: what are the implications of being finger printed & photographed? If we get what was required by customs, can he try to enter from another border? Will he run into the same problems if he flies in? Will this create problems for him getting a Canadian passort (he's applying now)?

Has anyone heard of other Canadians who have had problems entering the US? BTW - he has no criminal record, had enough money since he would be staying with. I called the border control office but they were would not give me any information

Thanks for your replies. Canadians (for now) are only required to have passports if arriving in the US by air. No passport is needed if a Canadian is entering by sea or land - we confirmed with US State Dept. and US Border Patrol. Also, Canadian are not required to have visas to enter the US. He is in the process of getting a passport now.

Based on what they saw with "too much luggage", lack of evidence that he is employed and has a home, it looked to them like he was trying to move down to the US as an illegal immigrant instead of just visiting you. The Border Patrol isn't going to accept just his word that he will return especially when the "physical evidence" that they are seeing suggests that he may not. I would suggest that he gets some solid proof that he actually lives in Canada and will be returning their following his visit before he tries to cross the border again.

They let me in but still photo and fingerprint.
He's in their system now, maybe a visa would help

Did he have a passport / visa?

He's in the system and he should not try to play any games with them at another port of entry. My guess is that it looked to CIS as if he was moving to the United States.

Need a passport. Birth cert. and govt ID is inadequate for even a US citizen to get in from Canada. Everyone knows this. Birth Cert used to do it, but they tightened things up.

A pay stub is adequate for proof of employment.