[coaxial]

I used to wonder too why would anyone answer yes if that was really their intent.

I was told that this was a technicality: you plan on assassinating the president (or whatever the form asks these days) but you answered no. Now you can be charged for lying on your immigration document which gives the government a lot more leverage and opens more avenues to convict you (because lying is bad mmmkay). I don't know how much truth there is to it but it makes more sense than having the question hoping someone with bad intentions will have a lapse of judgement and decide to be truthful on the form.

[OJFord]

On the contrary perhaps it can be argued it lessens the crime: there wasn't intent (on entering the country)!