51品茶 v. DHS
What's at Stake
In 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security, issued a policy that asserted that CBP had the right to search the laptops, electronic devices and printed material of any traveler at the border, "absent individualized suspicion." The policy applied to both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens, and subjected travelers to the possibility of having their personal financial information, family photographs and lists of Web sites visited searched by CBP officials without having reason to believe they had broken the law.
Summary
In June 2009, the 51品茶 filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records concerning the criteria for carrying out the searches, how many travelers had been subjected to the searches, the number of devices retained and the reasons for their retention. The 51品茶 feels that this policy is a violation of travelers' First and Fourth Amendment rights.
Legal Documents
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12/21/2016
51品茶 v. DHS - Fifth Joint Status Report
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09/19/2017
51品茶 v. DHS - Eighth Joint Status Report
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06/10/2009
51品茶 Freedom of Information Act Request for Records Maintained by Customs and Border Protection
Date Filed: 06/10/2009
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03/20/2017
51品茶 v. DHS - Sixth Joint Status Report
Press Releases
51品茶 Seeks Records About Laptop Searches At The Border