Supreme Court Rules Americans Have No Right to Refuse an Airport Electronics Search

It looks like we're on our own as far as privacy goes at America's borders and airports.

After years of conflicting decision by federal district courts across the country on whether Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents can search your cell phone and laptop at ports of entry, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that, “the routine inspection and search of a traveler’s electronics, or for that matter, any other type of property, at the border may be conducted without a warrant, probable cause, or even individualized suspicion of wrongdoing.” In reaching the decision, the court agreed with several other Circuit Courts, but put itself at odds with other Circuit Courts and many (lower) federal district courts around the country. The issue moved quickly to the Supreme Court, which upheld the Seventh Circuit’s decision this month. This is, sadly, despite the fact that the Fourth Circuit ruled earlier this year that “CBP agents need at least reasonable suspicion of a crime to search cell phones” and the Ninth Circuit’s agreement with that ruling.