I'm not sure if this is the correct sub for this, but I'm curious.

To be clear, I'm not talking about being selected for a secondary random inspection (although I did get that in addition at the second checkpoint; white male, brown hair, nothing out of the ordinary).

I'm in Germany at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (waiting for take off) and went through a security checkpoint after checking my luggage as usual. Then I went through customs and had my passport stamped. Finally I got to the gate, a small tiny gate at the end of terminal D to catch my flight with United.

There they set up a second pop-up security station. It was the same as before, no different. Unfortunately I was randomly selected to have my luggage searched and the guard I guess wanted to sniff my dirty laundry they found nothing, but that's an aside.

Oddly enough I got to the airport super early and went to the gate. One of these "guards" left the doors separating these 3 or 4 gates open, so it looked like it was fine to go in. I sat at the gate only to be approached by a guard who told me I needed to leave and that I'm in a security zone. I'm thinking "wtf, my gate is right here and I'm exceptionally punctual today (odd for me, I'm usually late for everything, but I've missed a flight or two and learned my lesson)." After I was escorted out they locked the doors and set-up their little pop-up booth.

Only then was I finally allowed to go to the gate and board.

I had originally thought they were doing a customs check at the departure airport (I've had that done in Dublin), but I was told that wasn't the case.

So... WTF? I'm in Germany, not Iran. I love my country but I question some things it does. As Ben Franklin said "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."