Protecting the U. S. Perimeter

Book excerpt: The 4th Amend. requires that a search or seizure conducted by a governmental agent be reasonable and supported by probable cause. Few exceptions to the presumptive warrant and probable cause requirements are more firmly rooted than the ¿border search¿ exception. This allows officials to inspect incoming individuals and their belongings and to interdict incoming contraband without having to inform a magistrate before the search. This report first outlines the statutes authorizing certain fed. officers to conduct warrantless searches. It then addresses the scope of the gov¿t. constitutional authority to search and seize persons and property at the border. It also describes the levels of suspicion generally required for each type of border search.