Category Archives: Border search

KS: Looking in purse of unconscious driver was reasonable

The emergency aid exception applied: “Officer Brown searched Smith’s purse seeking Smith’s identity and any information that would explain the nature of Smith’s condition and the best means of treating it. When the officer made this decision, the paramedics were … Continue reading

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WaPo: Senators seek IG probe of border agency’s warrantless use of phone location data

WaPo: Senators seek IG probe of border agency’s warrantless use of phone location data by Drew Harswell (“In August, Customs and Border Protection subscribed to a service that reports the location of cellphones to businesses.”)

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CA5: RS required for border search of digital devices

Based on some other circuits, digital forensic searches require at least reasonable suspicion and no warrant. Defendant’s digital search complied with the rules of other circuits, so it was at least in good faith. United States v. Aguilar, 2020 U.S. … Continue reading

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NY2: CBP had RS for computer search for CP on def’s return through customs

Defendant was an airline pilot. HSI conducted a child pornography search at a residence in Texas that had an IP address associated with defendant, but none was found. Reasonably believing he had child pornography on his devices, they found he … Continue reading

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CA3: Border search exception applies to VI traveler, headed no matter which way

The border search exception applies to travel to and from the Virgin Islands, no matter which way the traveler is going. United States v. Baxter, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 5341 (3d Cir. Feb. 21, 2020). Detention center officer’s two-handed shove … Continue reading

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WaPo: Mexican national arrested in Florida on accusation of spying for Russia

WaPo: Mexican national arrested in Florida on accusation of spying for Russia by Brittany Shammas. The story describes a border exit search:

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The Daily Report/Law.com: Commentary: What If a Border Agent Seeks Your Smartphone That Includes Client Secrets?

The Daily Report/Law.com: Commentary: What If a Border Agent Seeks Your Smartphone That Includes Client Secrets? (“Consider these issues to maintain privilege and confidentiality during international travel.”)

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D.N.M.: Govt fails in burden of showing consent. Was “yes” acknowledgement of statement to def or assent to search?

The government fails in its burden to show consent to a patdown of defendant’s person. There was a language barrier, and previous questions and statements were translated, but this one wasn’t. “Even though that defendant said ‘yes’ in response to … Continue reading

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CA11: Border search of disabled vessel towed to port obviated need to decide warrantless planting of GPS on it

Defendant’s vessel broke down off West Palm Beach, and CBP boarded it when it was towed in for a border search. Nothing was found, but various things about the boat, like it’s prior owner was a drug trafficker and defendant’s … Continue reading

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D.V.I.: GFE applies to searches before the court held U.S. to V.I. packages weren’t border searches

Applying its prior Baxter case, the District of the Virgin Islands holds that the border search exception doesn’t apply to mail and packages shipped from the Continental U.S. The searches here, however, predated Baxter, so the good faith exception applies. … Continue reading

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CA9: Three-month-old information about where probationer lived wasn’t stale for probation search

Probation officers could rely on a three-month-old list that showed defendant’s brother lived there and he was on probation. The list was not stale because there was no suggestion the brother’s tenancy was transitory. Defendant’s claim the probation search as … Continue reading

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D.Mass.: Border searches of electronic devices are non-routine, and they require reasonable suspicion

Border searches of electronic devices are non-routine, and they require reasonable suspicion. Alasaad v. NielsenAlasaad v. Nielsen, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195556 (D. Mass. Nov. 12, 2019):

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D.Del.: Coast Guard port inspection of an incoming vessel led to RS for a full search

A Coast Guard port inspection of an incoming vessel led to reasonable suspicion for its more detailed search. United States v. Vastardis, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195486 (D. Del. Nov. 12, 2019):

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S.D.Fla.: Cruise ship cabins are subject to border search

Defendants were passengers on the cruise ship MSC Seaside which arrived at Miami from Carribean ports. The passenger cabins were subject to search under the border search exception. When they knocked at the cabin door and it opened, they could … Continue reading

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CNS: Nonprofit Sues for Info on Warrantless GPS Tracking of Vehicles

Courthouse News Service: Nonprofit Sues for Info on Warrantless GPS Tracking of Vehicles by Jack Rodgers:

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S.D.Ind.: Border search of ESI led to def being released then SW for house month later

After a border search of electronic media finding some probable child pornography, officers let defendant go, then showed up at his house a month later with a search warrant and found more. United States v. Skaggs, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS … Continue reading

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CA9: A manual border search of a cell phone doesn’t require RS, but a forensic search does

A manual border search of a cell phone doesn’t require reasonable suspicion. A forensic search, however, requires reasonable suspicion. United States v. Cano, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 24457 (9th Cir. Aug. 22, 2019). Summary by the court:

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W.D.Tex.: Cell phone search at border crossing was by consent

Defendant was a regular at the Americas bridge port of entry at El Paso being a community college student and an El Paso Walmart employee. One time, he rejected sending his car through the x-ray machine, and his cell phone … Continue reading

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WaPo: Hacked documents reveal sensitive details of expanding border surveillance

WaPo: Hacked documents reveal sensitive details of expanding border surveillance by Drew Harwell: Far more information was taken in the hack of a Customs and Border Protection contractor than U.S. officials have acknowledged.

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ME: No standing in co-conspirator’s CSLI even when they were tracked together

Defendant lacked standing to contest the CSLI acquisition of his co-conspirator’s cell phone when the police were looking for both. The same rule applies to his Fourth Amendment claim and his claim under Maine’s Electronic Device Location Information Act. State … Continue reading

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