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To me, the following passage from the link demonstrates the dire situation in the US: In July 2008, the United States Department of Homeland Security discl
by runjake 15y ago
To me, the following passage from the link demonstrates the dire situation in the US:
In July 2008, the United States Department of Homeland
Security disclosed that its border search policies allow
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to conduct
random searches of electronic devices for "information
concerning terrorism, narcotics smuggling, and other
national security matters; alien admissibility;
contraband including child pornography, monetary
instruments, and information in violation of copyright
or trademark laws; and evidence of embargo violations
or other import or export control laws."[61][62] US
Senator Russell Feingold called the policies "truly
alarming" and proposed to introduce legislation to
require reasonable suspicion of illegality and to
prohibit racial profiling.[61] The Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals has previously upheld the
constitutionality of laptop searches without reasonable
suspicion at border crossings.[61]
Sure, Feingold could introduce new legislation already covered by the 4th amendment. But if the government isn't going to pay attention to a founding document of the US, what makes him think they're going to pay attention to his piddly law?
- mbreese 15y agoTwo things: 1) Feingold can't introduce anything anymore, since he is no longer a Senator. (This tells you how long it has been since this section of the wikipedia article has been edited). 2) Even for US citizens, there is no right for people to bring whatever they want into the country. Once you leave the country, you lose 4th amendment protections. So, if you don't want to be searched, don't bring anything with you. It has nothing to do with the Constitution since the Constitution stops at the border.
- runjake 15y agoOn #2, no it doesn't. Not for US citizens. Well, it DOES in practice, but not in terms of our constitutional rights, imho.
- mbreese 15y agoYou're right that US citizens still have rights when dealing with the government wherever we might be. However, the 4th amendment protects US citizens against unreasonable search and seizure. But crossing the border gives the gov't a reason to search...
- runjake 15y agoWe could argue that either way, but it just illustrates my original point again: it illustrates the sad reality of our government and its interference into our lives.