"not arrested" ? That's a squibble of words. Innocent people were held at point of gun - apparently through lazy administrative staff - welcome to the land of freedom! Bah. The USA was once an enlightening example to the world, today that's over and done with.
On a sidenote: my own country is far from famous for simple efficient administration - yet we do have a policy to leave one registration with one aircraft, even if it rejoins the register after a stay abroad. Only after several years of disuse can a registration be re-used for another aircraft. No so daft, 't would seem.