Are you suggesting that the TSA agent interviewing this woman called up some TSA hotline who called up someone at Facebook who just gave it to them, sans warrant, all within the span of a couple hours? Words fail me for an adjective to describe how unlikely that sounds.

The far, far, far simpler explanation would that she had a printout of the conversations because it had an address or directions or that she voluntarily handed over a device (or, possibly, was bullied into doing so, which is in the rights of border control to do).

> Are you suggesting that the TSA agent interviewing this woman called up some TSA hotline who called up someone at Facebook who just gave it to them, sans warrant, all within the span of a couple hours?

Pretty much, only "filled in a form on a web page" not "called up someone", "made a request to the api" not "called up someone at Facebook" and "the software ran" not "just gave it to them". Get with the times.

> Words fail me for an adjective to describe how unlikely that sounds.

You have not been paying attention.

Indeed. A friend of mine was sent home after customs searched her luggage, read her diary and noticed she was planning on working in the US under the table, in a bar.

They probably had these papers already prepared. It's not like people get their visas one day before departing to the US.

I think Germany is part of the Visa Waiver Program, so she would have had to apply via ESTA before she flew out.

It wouldn't surprise me now if there was a system in place that used the ESTA information to query the NSA/CIA/etc for anything that might be an issue for immigration control.

If she's been talking about working in the USA and hasn't got a visa (ESTA is only for personal visits, not business IIRC), that's enough for the TSA to refuse her entrance for lying to them.

"(ESTA is only for personal visits, not business IIRC)"

It's for both both business and pleasure - says right there on the ESTA home page:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

"You plan to travel to the United States for business or pleasure."

NB I've travelled a few times the US over the last few years on business using ESTA so you had me slightly worried there!

As far as I'm aware, there is a big difference between travelling to the US (and many other countries) to conduct business, and seeking employment. I think it's the first one that is covered by ESTA...

Exactly. Border agents have a list of people arriving in advance of their arrival. Flight manifests, if nothing else.