I watch that show too much and it seems there is nothing they can't search or if they can't get access to they'll confiscate and send the device to some lab in Ottawa. If the intent of the show is to portray them as *ssholes then mission accomplished.

US Customs has the same power, within 100 miles of all borders. It's rarely used, but this means they have nearly unlimited search abilities over about 65% of the population.

https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/05/who-lives-in-border-p...

I mean, to be honest, that's probably illegal, but I have never liked trading freedom for security.

People love trading other people's freedom for security. Especially if it has to do with immigration.

Yep - that is why many love profiling - security theater that doesn't even inconvenience them because they are the "right people". Plus it focuses on "the bad people".

Even though it has a trivial workaround of not looking the part. The Lod Airport Massacre "terrorism swap" with Japanese Red Army Terrorists and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-External Operations in 1972 shows just how useless it is as a measure.

I'm not sure why you're being downvoted, it seems entirely correct, given the prevailing political climate.

And unfortunately this is often how they get away with doing stuff like this. People scream "my privacy!", government replies "but illegal immigrants?!?!", and people are like "ah all good then, I've got nothing to hide!".

It's just so dumb, and I've heard a lot of older people especially who will say the common "Why is it a problem if you've got nothing to hide?". I think some people fail to understand the kind of data people can have stored, and how much of some people's lives are part of their digital devices. I'm sure they wouldn't want police coming into their house and searching it.

Immigration : the government's favorite scape goat.

Let's be clear, it's not just the government but a large chunk of media and voters using immigrants as a scapegoat.

As much as they may like to, I've yet to have armed agents of CNN et al demand to search my electronics.

I watch that show as well. But I don't remember if they simply asked the person if they could search or demanded that they be able to search. Anyone who watches reality tv (for example 'Live PD') knows there are many cases where the police officer simply gains consent from the suspect for a search without any particular legal reason or right to do so. Now if they suspect they can (from watching) bring in a canine and if the canine smells something they then have probable cause (I believe) w/o getting a warrant (this is from memory and not a legal opinion that I have researched).

>Now if they suspect they can (from watching) bring in a canine and if the canine smells something they then have probable cause (I believe) w/o getting a warrant

They can't extend the traffic stop to bring in the dogs unless they have reasonable suspicion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodriguez_v._United_States