Homeland Security Can Snatch Your Laptop at the Border, No Questions Asked

[Dispatched]

Better flush your porn transfer folder before heading home from Tijuana, guys, because the DHS can and will find it, according to a report by the Washington Post. They also have permission to take your laptop or any other electronic device to an off-site location indefinitely, and share its contents with other agencies or private entities (read: anyone) for translation, decryption, or "other reasons." And it's not just your laptop you should be careful about, unfortunately.

The seizable items list is almost a formality, since it basically means "everything:"


The policies cover "any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form," including hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes. They also cover "all papers and other written documentation," including books, pamphlets and "written materials commonly referred to as 'pocket trash' or 'pocket litter.' "

 

[morningstar55ny]

get rid of all them porn site on my lap top?????????????????????????????????????????

ok i'll get right on it....

all that sex stuff may explode a building or something

 

[greg334]

Whew.... I am glad they are not looking for the six Mexicans strapped to the bottom of my truck!

 

[redytrk]

whew.... I am glad they are not looking for the six mexicans strapped to the bottom of my truck!

now thats funny!!!

 

[fastman_1]

Mexico?? don't you know What Happens in Mexico Stays In Mexico!!

 

[arrbsthw]

Whew.... I am glad they are not looking for the six Mexicans strapped to the bottom of my truck!

That's funny Greg.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Seriously though I always thought they could do this as they have almost unlimited power...Your literally at thier mercy...anything goes, all rights are suspended...all in the name of security...But as some would say if your not hiding anything why worry about it....just let them evesdrop, have you on camera everywhere you go....big brother looking down from the sky...we are under constant supervision but thats ok because it's all for the greater good....
This crime has been pre-recorded for your viewing entertainment.

 

[P51bombay]

I'm curious as to what particular CFR gives them this supposed right and if it specifically calls out electronic data or if they are simply abusing a blanket reg?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I'm curious as to what particular CFR gives them this supposed right and if it specifically calls out electronic data or if they are simply abusing a blanket reg?

Bottomline...they can do whatever they want pretty well with immunity...
I mean I can't see them pulling that crap alot....The regs just give them the leeway to do thier jobs of protecting the border without having to get search warrants. In which case you might be well be there even longer.

 

[jcars]

Thanks to The USA PATRIOT Act we have lost many of our
civil liberties.

You can be detained at anytime for any reason with or without
cause and anything in or on your person confiscated at their
whim.

The act expands the authority of US law enforcement agencies
for the stated purpose of fighting terrorism in the United States
and abroad. Among its provisions, the Act increases the ability
of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail
communications, medical, financial and other records; eases
restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United
States; expands the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to
regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving
foreign individuals and entities; and enhances the discretion of
law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and
deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The
act also expands the definition of terrorism to include domestic
terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the
USA Patriot Act’s expanded law enforcement powers can be
applied. ( this means we are all subjuct to the same miss treatment)

Since its passage, several legal challenges have been brought
against the act, and Federal courts have ruled that a number of
provisions are unconstitutional.

No matter if you are a legal US citizen or illegal immigrant they can do as they please to you at anytime for any reason.

Nice that we have such caring elected officals watching over us at all times and have yet to even come close to addressing the real issues.

Nuf of my rant...

J.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I'm curious as to what particular CFR gives them this supposed right and if it specifically calls out electronic data or if they are simply abusing a blanket reg?

Bottomline...they can do whatever they want pretty well with immunity...
I mean I can't see them pulling that crap alot....The regs just give them the leeway to do thier jobs of protecting the border without having to get search warrants. In which case you might be well be there even longer.

 

[greg334]

Thanks to The USA PATRIOT Act we have lost many of our civil liberties.

I am sorry, but you are ignorant to real issues and how they effect the country. We have not lost one civil under the Patriot Act, fallicy. We have how ever lost civil liberties under Kelo v. New London and under Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and Boumediene v. Bush in that order. These three cases have undermined your rights to such of a degree that you can't imagine. Tie this to the Wildlife Preservation Conservation act, the EPA charter and the Wetlands preservation act (oh and let's not forget the endangered species act), every one of these rips into you civil rights and freedoms to an unbelievable degree where the Patriot Act can not come close.

All the other points you made sound like talking points. The act on the treasury side is parallel with the Drug enforcement act from the mid '70's. An invader (illegal immigrant) should not have any rights, they are invading the country and in some ways that is consider an act of war.

Also I just want to tell you, go look up Echelon.

AND about the federal courts deeming things unconstitutional, there is a lot of problems with left over judges from the Carter administration who feel they can circumvent the rights of the citizens.

 

[whitewolf53]

Hello Everyone out there.Have not been on this for quite awhile,but aS i have said for many many years,and all you oldtimers remember this from me.WHY ARE YOU BOTHERING GOING OVER THE BORDER?? now as usual i am probably wrong .But the HASSLes to me are not worth it.
Mike
Whitewolf53
HERE LIZARD LIZARD LIZARD

 

[Moot]

U.S. Customs Agent's authority to do pretty much whatever they want long precedes 9-11, The Patriot Act, Home Land Security and global warming.

When you as a U.S. citizen enter this country legally through a port of entry point you essentially give up all your rights. U.S. customs can detain you, search your vehicle and give a you proctological exam all without probable cause.

 

[aristotle]

I had an unpleasant experience with U.S. Customs agents once when returning to USA at Detroit/Windsor. I was deadheading back with no load on board my truck. Agents asked me the usual questions, then instructed me to pull over for inspection of truck. They sent me inside driver's lounge to wait. It was pouring rain.
About 45 minutes later, they came inside and said I was good to go. I stepped out to find all my belongings(clothing, blankets, food, paperwork, tools, personal items,) laying strewn all over the ground. They had stripped my truck of everything but the QC. The contempt Border Agents have for truckdrivers is so unnecessary.


[/I][/I]

 

[nightcreacher]

and this is why i stay illegal for canada,have had the same issue,way back in the 80's

 

[highway star]

,have had the same issue,way back in the 80's

Exactly! There's nothing new under the sun here, other than most of us carry computers now. While I have no problem crossing, I'm now with a carrier that doesn't and that's O.K. too.

 

[Falligator]

Not only that, but there aren't any loads coming out of Canada. I dh from Montreal just yesterday. I wasn't loaded and went through the cars part and the guard told me to go through the truck part b/c I'm commercial. I crossed at the 1000 islands bridge.