CBS has a story out about how American border agents are carrying out searches on travelers seeking to enter the country based upon hunches. This is supposed to be some sort of new unreasonable action by the government. I don't think so. As anyone who reads this blog knows, I am truly outraged by the attacks of the government on American citizens in violation of their constitutional rights. Reporters' records are secretly searched. The IRS persecutes conservative and religious groups and individuals because of their political views. The Obama administration lies to the public and then stonewalls any attempts to find out the truth. In short, Obama and his people are shredding the Constitution. But that does not mean that border searches are somehow improper. Quite the contrary is true.
Since the beginning of the United States, border agents have had the power to search the belongings of travelers seeking to enter the country. The courts have made clear for ages that the protections of the Bill of Rights apply once someone is in the country legally. There is no need, however, to get a search warrant at the border. Someone coming into the country who looks nervous can be taken aside and thoroughly searched to look for contraband or bombs or anything else that might be illegal. In fact, it is perfectly proper for the border agents to just take anyone at random and search them and their belongings. In order to do a truly invasive search (for example, of body cavities) some suspicion by the border agent is required, but even there, a claim that the person searched did not look right would be enough.
Just imagine if our borders were to suddenly be open to all comers with no possibility of being searched. It would be a field day for terror groups. They could bring in explosives, ammo, guns and all sorts of dangerous items. Indeed, the heightened need for security at the borders is one of the reasons why border searches were allowed by the courts in the first place.
Since the beginning of the United States, border agents have had the power to search the belongings of travelers seeking to enter the country. The courts have made clear for ages that the protections of the Bill of Rights apply once someone is in the country legally. There is no need, however, to get a search warrant at the border. Someone coming into the country who looks nervous can be taken aside and thoroughly searched to look for contraband or bombs or anything else that might be illegal. In fact, it is perfectly proper for the border agents to just take anyone at random and search them and their belongings. In order to do a truly invasive search (for example, of body cavities) some suspicion by the border agent is required, but even there, a claim that the person searched did not look right would be enough.
Just imagine if our borders were to suddenly be open to all comers with no possibility of being searched. It would be a field day for terror groups. They could bring in explosives, ammo, guns and all sorts of dangerous items. Indeed, the heightened need for security at the borders is one of the reasons why border searches were allowed by the courts in the first place.
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