The Border Patrol under Trump reminds me of the NYPD under Giuliani

[RandySF]

Sidd Bikkannavar is a natural-born US citizen who works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. He’s also a prolific traveler who found himself reentering the United States right as the controversial immigration ban took effect. For unexplained reasons, he was detained and border agents demanded access to his NASA-issued phone which could contain highly sensitive information.

After he was released, Bikkannavar shut down his Facebook until security issues could be worked out. When he was sure it was safe, he posted this explanation of the events that led to his social media blackout:

Sorry for the absence. On my way home to the US last weekend, I was detained by Homeland Security and held with others who were stranded under the Muslim ban. CBP officers seized my phone and wouldn’t release me until I gave my access PIN for them to copy the data. I initially refused, since it’s a JPL-issued phone (Jet Propulsion Lab property) and I must protect access. Just to be clear - I’m a US-born citizen and NASA engineer, traveling with a valid US passport. Once they took both my phone and the access PIN, they returned me to the holding area with the cots and other sleeping detainees until they finished copying my data.

I’m back home, and JPL has been running forensics on the phone to determine what CBP/Homeland Security might have taken, or whether they installed anything on the device. I’ve also been working with JPL legal counsel. I removed my Facebook page until I was sure this account wasn’t also compromised by the intrusion into my phone and connected apps. I hope no one was worried. JPL issued me a new phone and new phone number, which I’ll give out soon.

The Verge spoke with Bikkannavar and he explained that he was just returning to the U.S. after spending weeks in Patagonia racing solar-powered cars. It’s a hobby that landed him on a Chilean racing team.


http://gizmodo.com/border-agent-demands-nasa-scientist-unlock-phone-before-1792275942

[KT2000]

1. Exactly!

They have been waiting to do their "policing" and now they have been let loose. Since there is no guidance or even understanding of limits, they are going to take it to the extreme. The BP agents in my area have been bored to death and look like they are on steroids by their physiques. They have the green light now and I have fear for anyone they "suspect." They are already known for carting off an American citizen to the ICE jail in Seattle.

[PoliticAverse]

2. This type of activity by Customs has been going on for quite some time. In 2009 the ACLU sued over

the searching of electronic devices...

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1531712/aclu-sues-us-customs-laptop-searches