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A Canadian woman was issued a lifetime ban from entering the U.S. after officials searched her unlocked smartphone, found an email to her doctor about a fentanyl overdose she survived, and asked her questions about her past drug use:
A British Columbia woman was issued a lifetime ban at the US border after officials found an email with her doctor about a fentanyl overdose she survived a year ago.
Chelsea, 28, whose last name is being withheld due to fears that it could affect future employment, answered a series of questions about drug use while attempting to cross the Washington-British Columbia border. She said her phone, which didn't have a password, was searched for about two hours. During questioning after her phone was searched, she admitted to using illegal drugs before, including cocaine.
At the US border, the searching of electronic devices, including smartphones, is allowed as part of inspection. Warrantless searches on phones are also allowed at the Canadian border—a practice defense lawyers are trying to end.
"It was super violating—I couldn't believe they went into my sent emails folder and found something from a year ago that was addressed to my doctor," Chelsea said. "It was really humiliating, and it felt terrible having to bring that up."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently released a one-page security assessment of the U.S.-Canadian border that identified drug smuggling (including cocaine and fentanyl) as well as "unidentified [Canadian] homegrown violent extremists" as security challenges:
The drugs that are commonly transported into Canada from the United States are cocaine and methamphetamine. Ecstasy, fentanyl and marijuana are smuggled into the U.S. from Canada.
[...] "This report identifies several areas where we can improve border security — especially in combating drug trafficking and preventing potential acts of terrorism," Katko, R-Camillus, said. "Stopping the influx of drugs coming into our country through the northern border is of particular concern, given the heroin and opioid epidemic plaguing central New York."
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Thursday August 17 2017, @05:50PM (9 children)
We gotta keep out all these druggies and potential terrorists. I say we subject everyone trying to enter the US to a very long border search which includes searching through their phone, computer, and all online accounts (including bank accounts). This will make sure these undesirables won't even want to attempt to come here!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @06:19PM (7 children)
Only way to be sure.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Thursday August 17 2017, @06:30PM (5 children)
Thank you, I forgot about that one. Cavity searches for all incoming travelers, by random TSA agents! It'll be great!
(Score: 4, Funny) by bob_super on Thursday August 17 2017, @06:57PM (2 children)
And a quarantine. The real one, 40 days. You get wifi if you were traveling on business class, but other than that it's prison food and cavity searches every day.
How badly did you want to come enjoy freedom, punk?
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @11:08PM
Sounds like extreme petting.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 18 2017, @02:45AM
Naw, screw it. Let's let all the druggie scumbags and terrorists in. They can wreak havoc on our society while they collect welfare, because fuck our own citizens right? Oh by the way your taxes are going to go up to pay for it.. That's ok right?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @07:00PM
Comprehensive search for everyone: trains, planes, automobiles, bicycles, and office turnstiles.
Will create so many jobs, the unemployment rate will go negative.
Shit, then we'll have to import more immigrants.
But that's tremendous - that means more search and more jobs for everyone.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @07:05PM
As long as they also search the cavity between the ears.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Thursday August 17 2017, @08:48PM
I have the soundtrack to that right here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXPLr7l1ftY [youtube.com]
(Score: 2) by SanityCheck on Friday August 18 2017, @02:23AM
Right and I suppose the fact that you can be barred entry into Canada because of a DUI in U.S. is just dandy? This is a non-story.