Article from The Daily Caller by Jason Hopkins.
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Border Patrol agents need “reasonable suspicion” before they can search international travelers’ electronic devices at airports or other U.S. ports of entry, delivering a big win to civil rights activists.
Federal Judge Denise Casper of the District Court of Massachusetts ruled that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials must have a specific reason for searching an individual’s smartphone, laptop, or other electronic devices, according to a 48-page decision.
Casper, who former President Barack Obama appointed in 2010, said that searches without cause violated the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution in regard to unreasonable search and seizures.
“The CBP and [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] policies for ‘basic’ and ‘advanced’ searches, as presently defined, violate the Fourth Amendment to the extent that the policies do not require reasonable suspicion that the devices contain contraband for both such classes of non-cursory searches and/or seizure of electronic devices; and that the non-cursory searches and/or seizures of Plaintiffs’ electronic devices, without such reasonable suspicion, violated the Fourth Amendment,” Casper wrote in her ruling.
Read the entire article at The Daily Caller.
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Finally!! A federal judge that has stood up for our privacy rights AND has limited the searches that the federal Gestapo are allowed to do. Of course, they will “invent” a reason to search if they really want to, but this is the best that we can hope for right now.
I have no objections to them checking my phone or pc for that matter. Only someone with something to hide would object to being searched and I would feel a lot safer as well.
I think they should search the alleged judges car whenever they see fit
I agree with the ruling. However, any amendment rights should apply to US citizens. All others are guests. And guests should not have rights – except those we choose to extend.
Remove this muslim terrorist judge and place him in prison.