More "Boogieman" tactics

[86NYGN]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Federal officials have disclosed that agents at the U.S. border can seize electronic devices like laptops and cell phones and keep them as long as needed.

The Department of Homeland Security (OTCBB:HSCC) recently released an update on policies for travelers entering and leaving the United States, the Washington Post (NYSE:WPO) reported. The policies, dated July 16, said DHS agents could share data from electronic devices with other government agencies and private institutions if needed for decryption or translation.

Agents can keep laptops and other devices for "a reasonable period of time."

Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., called the procedure "truly alarming."

"They're saying they can rifle through all the information in a traveler's laptop without having a smidgen of evidence that the traveler is breaking the law," said Greg Nojeim of the Center for Democracy and Technology.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, writing in USA Today last month, said that given the number of travelers, laptops would only be seized when agents have cause. But he said trying to determine what reasons would justify detaining a device would hamper law enforcement.

Another gem from the same fools who gave us the "Patriot Act". Careful the "boogieman" don't get you.

[IEATV8S]

Easy answer, don't take your laptop, and buy a PAY cell phone at Wall Mart!

[salvageV6]

Damm I thought this was gonna be a thread about the Obamination.

As the weepie heebie would say:

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[henschman]

does this apply to citizens too? if so, it is a pretty clear violation of the 4th Amendment.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Oh, but that's just an outdated old "******* piece of paper" (name that quote) -- the founders never would have anticipated the kind of border threats we have nowadays, right?

[Gothmog]

Naomi Klein is right on the money with her Book the shock doctrine. While people are scared about terrorist, use and exploit their fears to pass all the sht you couldnt get done in a time of peace- like creating a police state

[henschman]

that's the oldest trick in the book -- and it still works every bit as well as it ever did. a government that is strongly limited by its founding document and has checks and balances/separation of power is somewhat more resistant to such tactics than other systems, but those institutional checks and balances are being weakened every day by the people who want to pass all this stuff.

[BlownZ]

I have to agree.

I think they should clearly Limit this seizure rule to those who are or look like Middle Easterners.

You guys are right...it's not fair.

[Mac in SD]

Boys...the law is that the government has ALWAYS had complete authority and discretion to search ANY person or their belongings within Ports of Entry. You can be detained, your belongings searched, your body x-rayed and you held until you sh!t.

There is no requirement for reasonable suspicion or probable cause. That has always been the law.

This is absolutely nothing new. The fact that you don't know about it doesn't make it wrong.

[The Blob]

But Russ Feingold said it was truly alarming.

[salvageV6]

I had a microbus disassembled on my way to Tijuana in 1970.

Good thing I didn't own it.

Border people, border.

I'm all for confiscating cell phones from people in public, they should have a special dumpster at the local landfill for people to find them in.

Lefties up in arms again over false pretenses.

OH THE SHAME!!!

[V8Assassin]

Originally Posted by henschman

does this apply to citizens too? if so, it is a pretty clear violation of the 4th Amendment.

Oh, but that's just an outdated old "******* piece of paper" (name that quote) -- the founders never would have anticipated the kind of border threats we have nowadays, right?

I gotta agree on this one. American citizens are explicitlly protected against these types of seizures.


Notice I said "American Citizens".