Much of US immigration has gone way OTT since 9/11. Still, it's their country and their rules. There's really only three options: don't go; try the ESTA route and risk being sent home or imprisoned; play by their rules.
I used to get frustrated dealing with "Homeland Security" through my...
Nope, not if he's been denied entrance in the past.
Speaking from long experience of the US Immigration office (an L1A and then green card), I wouldn't risk just turning up. Individual officers can and do just turn away people, sometimes without even an interview. Of all the main...