He wasn't a very good immigration agent then, was he?
I know my fans will crucify me, but when Mexicans turn in permits at the U.S. border, some agents throw them in the trash, some don't care, others make a big stink because you didn't turn it in on time and some people who don't know better give them to the guy at the toll booth who never says a word, takes them and they then disappear.
I think all borders are alike. We were practically stripped searched going into Canada, waved through going back into the U.S. at Estevan and we reentered at Windsor/Detroit the agent didn't even ask us for passports, just waved us through.
No rhyme or reason at any of the three borders.