Thought you might like to know
In a not-so-unexpected move, the Department of Homeland Security has concluded that travelers along the nation’s borders may have their electronics seized and the contents of those devices examined for any reason whatsoever — all in the name of national security. According to legal precedent, the Fourth Amendment — the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures — does not apply along the border.
Oh sure, you knew that bit. This is the new style:
By the way, the government contends the Fourth-Amendment-Free Zone stretches 100 miles inland from the nation’s actual border.
134 miles south of the northern Border. How far are you?
Not far enough, apparently.
Just did a quick check; FAS.org lists the US-Canada border as 3987 miles, excluding Alaska. That’s a region of 398,700 square miles, including almost a third of our state, in which one of the least constitutional agencies in the entire misbegotten Executive Branch declares that the 4th Amendment doesn’t apply? Not to mention that portion of Alaska, plus the Mexican border…
Had to do more math. Again from FAS.org: US-Mexico border is 1933 miles, and the Alaska-Canada border is 1538 miles. All told, that indicates a region of 745,800 square miles WITHIN our borders in which US Citizens are ostensibly denied one of the original freedoms recognized by the Bill of Rights. Given a total land area of 3.794 million square miles, 19.7% of the United States falls within this region.
That… I don’t even have a superlative for how idiotic that is.
What the shit. This is NOT going to end well.
Given that most metropolitan areas tend to be around ports, I wonder what the percentage of the US population is that lives within this 4A-Free zone? I bet it’s a sizable chunk!
I suppose it’s unnecessary to point out the irony that the .gov is beginning to create zones within our borders where certain rights no longer apply, while at the same time prosecuting people for crimes that occur completely outside our jurisdiction.
Right near 100 miles due East of the Pacific Ocean here. We have TSA sturmtruppen on our transit now, so does thus mean that if I get on the light rail and pass the time playing with my smartass’ phone, an agent can ask for it and download the whole memory with NFC?
Hmm, I’ve resisted the idea that the tyranny is here, have been positing only that it’s near. I might be behind the times.
I didn’t count the coastlines as international borders in my mathematics. If you do that, well over a quarter of the nation, and (at a guess) well over half the population, would fall into the zone.
Consider ports like Seattle, Tacoma, Portland (duh!) San Fran, LA, Huston, New Orleans, Mobile, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, Boston… Yeah, WAY more than half the nation is within a hundred miles of a “border.”
In Kalifornia… I’m screwed.
Two words – True Crypt.
I’m within 15 miles of the right-border (the Atlantic Ocean). I’m sure the federal government will wait a few months, until the policy is accepted precedent, before applying it to airports in Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Miami, LA, etc.