Bus company apologizes over worker’s citizenship comments

BANGOR, Maine – A New England bus company says an employee made a mistake when he said passengers have to be U.S. citizens to ride following a customs citizenship check.

The Portland Press Herald reports a video recorded by a Concord Coach Lines passenger on May 28 shows a Customs and Border Protection agent at a Bangor bus station asking passengers if they are American citizens. A terminal employee said riders had to be citizens when a passenger asked.

Concord Coach Lines said in a statement Friday that they allow all people to ride “regardless of citizenship.” The company said the employee was “unprepared” and made a mistake when he falsely claimed riders must be citizens.

A Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said the department increased citizen checkpoints to bolster border security.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com