HN Explorer

Ask HN: U.S. Customs and Border Protection forced me to delete a picture

1 points by ijhuygft776 ↗ HN
I took a picture of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer searching my bag at the entry point where everyone is and they forced me to delete it... I'm a U.S. citizen... is this legal?

5 comments

[ 2.3 ms ] story [ 18.1 ms ] thread
epc
Until you enter the US you are in a weird constitutional grey area. This is why it’s legal for them to search phones in immigration in the US, even if you’re a citizen. As for photography, there’s signs all over the airport I clear immigration at (JFK) saying photography is prohibited in the immigration and customs halls.
asdefghyk
RE "....photography is prohibited in the immigration and customs halls....." Why is it prohibited?
epc
I don't know, however having traveled to Europe and Asia, it's pretty common in non–US customs & immigration zones.
ijhuygft776
does prohibited mean illegal in this case?

> Until you enter the US you are in a weird constitutional grey area.

Do you know that you arent technically in the U.S. until you are 100 miles from the border? Look at this: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/alliancesandiego/pages...

Technically, Florida is not even the U.S. (for citizens).

epc
Well, you’re in the US, except Customs & Immigration agents can stop you and demand proof of residence or citizenship.