About a decade ago, I took my grandmother (about 80 years old) to the US with me. She does not speak english at all. We tought her to say tourist if asked.

Customs at that time, or still is, you had to visit alone with your passport to be stamped. The person at the kiosk asks the reason for visit and I guess she mis pronounced tourist because next thing I see is a bunch of security guards surrounding her.

Security escorted her to be investigated alone, and didnt allow any of us to talk or escort her as well, they brought in a translator but it was the scariest few hours Ive spent, she has alzheimer's and I was so worried she would say the wrong thing and get arrested or worse.