Flying Into The USA – “Welcome! We’re taking your laptop!”

As if it wasn’t already stressful and complicado flying into the US, it was confirmed last week that U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers’ laptops, hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, video and audio tapes, as well as books, pamphlets and other written materials at the border and hold them for unspecified periods.

These policies apply to anyone entering the USA, including U.S. citizens.

“… such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing” and “agents are empowered to share the contents of seized computers with other agencies and private entities for data decryption and other reasons.”

The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is supposed to protect US citizens against unreasonable government intrusions. It should ensure a citizens’ right to “be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures…”

Here’s where people wonder if George W. Bush actually did say: “Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

The amendment specifies that judicially sanctioned search and arrest warrants must be supported by probable cause and be limited in scope according to specific information supplied by a person (usually a law enforcement officer) who has sworn by it and is therefore accountable to the issuing court.

Big Brother must be immensely proud of this latest development.

I can’t tell you how many honest, law abiding people we know who are doing everything they can to avoid flying through or to the USA, simply to avoid the increasing BS and plain bloody rudeness. This will not change their minds…

Written by Scott Oliver, author of How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.