Peter Rowe wrote an article in Sunday's Union Tribune about what has been happening at immigration checkpoints.
At Border Patrol checkpoints, these critics have nothing to declare | UTSanDiego.com
There are a lot of articles and videos on the web describing the encounters. The article points out that the Supreme Court approved immigration checkpoints. They may have, but as is typical, the police forces will take maximum advantage of every "tool" that they are given. The Border Patrol checkpoints have now become checkpoints not just for immigration, but are also used as part of the "war on drugs." So, instead of just verifying citizenship, they are searching vehicles for drugs. They could search for any so-called contraband under the same guidelines -- which could be harassing political rivals, for example. I'm not sure that the Supreme Court intended that to happen. Apparently the Border patrol sometimes does allow "silence" as an answer: http://www.texasobserver.org/border-patrol-takes-no-for-an-answer-at-internal-checkpoints/. But apparently not always.
I'm critical of the value of the checkpoints -- Since they aren't open all of the time, pilot cars can warn drug or human smugglers. Meanwhile it violates the rights of all Americans, the Border Patrol causes all citizens who have to pass through the checkpoints long time delays each day.
At Border Patrol checkpoints, these critics have nothing to declare | UTSanDiego.com
There are a lot of articles and videos on the web describing the encounters. The article points out that the Supreme Court approved immigration checkpoints. They may have, but as is typical, the police forces will take maximum advantage of every "tool" that they are given. The Border Patrol checkpoints have now become checkpoints not just for immigration, but are also used as part of the "war on drugs." So, instead of just verifying citizenship, they are searching vehicles for drugs. They could search for any so-called contraband under the same guidelines -- which could be harassing political rivals, for example. I'm not sure that the Supreme Court intended that to happen. Apparently the Border patrol sometimes does allow "silence" as an answer: http://www.texasobserver.org/border-patrol-takes-no-for-an-answer-at-internal-checkpoints/. But apparently not always.
I'm critical of the value of the checkpoints -- Since they aren't open all of the time, pilot cars can warn drug or human smugglers. Meanwhile it violates the rights of all Americans, the Border Patrol causes all citizens who have to pass through the checkpoints long time delays each day.
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