A silly thing to say indeed.
But a totally disproportionate reaction from the authorities.
A few more tales of American heavy-handedness and people will start thinking twice about ever going there. There are already enquiries being made about holding business conventions in the Canaries rather than Florida because companies are increasingly anxious about the way their guests are 'welcomed' to the USA.
I hope that this silly girl isn't treated too harshly; she should have been marched off to a search area, her luggage checked thoroughly and should then have been given a severe talking to. Six months dodging the dikes in a federal slammer whilst her parents and boy friend worry themselves to death is more like the sort of thing you'd expect from a banana republic run by a fascist dictator.
Land of the free? Hmmm