Constitutionality of digital device and phone searches questioned.
The First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals heard a case this week regarding the searching of digital devices and phones by border agents without a warrant. The Department of Homeland Security is appealing a previous ruling that said the agency’s search policy is not constitutional and that border officials should not search devices without having reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.
Plaintiffs have maintained such searches violate the First and Fourth Amendments. DHS claims that these searches are necessary for border agents to verify the massive amounts of cargo coming into the country daily as well as to fight crime.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the First Circuit Court judges as they deliberate the case on device searches.
- For the Department of Homeland Security to abide by policies that uphold the Constitution while still protecting the nation.
- For U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents as they seek to prevent criminal activity and thwart smugglers.
Sources: Courthouse News, Bloomberg Law
