This month, the Department of Homeland Security responded to a first-of-its-kind, multi-plaintiff lawsuit alleging they violated the First and Fourth Amendment rights of 11 people who had their electronic devices were searched at the border.
The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure, but border patrol agents have long been given more discretion when it comes to border inspections.
DHS moved to dismiss the complaint, saying the plaintiffs were seeking to, "rewrite Fourth Amendment border-search jurisprudence," and reiterated the argument other courts have already ruled electronic devices can be searched at international borders without probable cause. The plaintiffs now have until January 26 to respond.
This segment originally aired Dec. 15, 2017, on VICE News Tonight on HBO.
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