France’s research minister said a French scientist was denied entry to the US this month after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration.
France’s research minister said a French scientist was denied entry to the US this month after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration.
Since the PATRIOT Act at least, but possibly since Reagan’s Executive Order 12333.
Looks like there is also a court case from 1977 that is related.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_search_exception
Every border patrol agent within 100 miles of any US border has this authority and has for a looooong fucking time.
It’s honestly a little shocking this isn’t more well known.
A 2-1 circuit split means that the 2 currently prevails, thus making border searching of electronics illegal unless you’re within the 11th’s jurisdiction (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, while the guy was arrested traveling to a Texas conference), no?
My understanding is that any protections like that only apply to citizens while at the border and not foreigners looking to travel.
It’s not like the Bill of Rights doesn’t apply to people with just visas either.
I’m just gonna go out on a limb here and say they’re ignoring whatever court precedent actually exists at this point anyway.
Also, a phrase I’ve heard a lot “you can beat the charge but you can’t beat the ride.” Meaning, like Luigi Mangione, you can argue in court about illegal seizures after it has already happened. I’m guessing most border patrol agents just plan on losing court cases like this, because they know, in the moment, they can get away with it.
I mean they fucking tortured a white European green card holder recently.
What is this news? I haven’t heard of that yet.
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-03-14/green-card-holder-from-new-hampshire-interrogated-at-logan-airport-detained
This is fucking outrageous, what the fuck…