# Can a US border guard ask a citizen about internal travel in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973 "2013-07-31T04:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/41 "2013-08-01T02:58:46Z")
> [@j\_sum1](#): > > And even if I am a citizen of the country, I would expect to be asked some of these questions. I should add that I expect to be asked a range of questions including questions about my intents and proposed movements – questions whose purpose may not be immediately apparent. It is necessary for the border security staff to ask these questions to adequately explore the issues that they are concerned about. And even if my citizenship and other issues are in the clear it is reasonable for border security to have a spectrum of questions that they can ask anyone. That is, everyone passing through the border gets treated the same. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/42 "2013-08-01T03:10:15Z")
**j\_sum** and **Leaffan** , keep answering all the questions you want to. This obviously has veered away from GQ territory, and I’ll admit I was partially responsible for that, so we’ll just have to agree to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/43 "2013-08-01T03:18:52Z")
Sorry I wasn’t clear. One of my points was to ask questions. There may be a legitimate reason for the BP staff to pursue a line of questioning. Getting snarky or defensive or just plain difficult will not help your cause and will get you through more slowly. I just don’t see the point. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/44 "2013-08-01T06:46:08Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Why would you even want to fuck around with a boarder guard. Answer the fucking questions. I mean really, so what if you have to disclose where you’ve been and where you’re going? > > Honest to God, some people are just dicks. +1000 Why people feel the need to push LE’s buttons escapes me. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/45 "2013-08-01T06:48:44Z")
> [@D18](#): > > I was unaware that it was the job of the border patrol to monitor the internal movements of their own country’s citizens. Ignorance fought. :rolleyes: > > Anyway, I may or may not be a dick, but I’m not the one insulting those with conflicting viewpoints on the matter. They’ve sworn a duty to protect us, and you being an a-hole isn’t making their job any easier. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/46 "2013-08-01T06:51:37Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > They’re obviously asking questions that are pertinent to their position as a boarder guard, and yes that includes where you’ve been and where you are going. > > I don’t get the mentality of some people who wish to obfuscate the process. > > There have been threads here before about people who refuse to show their receipts, when questioned, on the way out of Walmart, for example. I don’t get it. > > I don’t get the anti-authority attitude and the reason to want to second-guess constitutional and amendment rights as they apply to law-abiding citizens just going about their everyday activities. > > That’s a whole lot of tinfoil hat wearing paranoia, if you ask me. > > Answer the damned questions and move on. Show the damned receipt and move on. You’re not impressing anyone with your grandstanding. You MUST start publishing your newsletter! I’ll be your 1st subscriber. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/47 "2013-08-01T12:29:19Z")
I hate that receipt crap at WalMart! I either hand it to them and keep walking, or just keep walking. Anyone who thinks I’m stealing something is invited to attempt to detain me. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/48 "2013-08-01T13:50:30Z")
> [@lawbuff](#): > > Would you have the fire department seek a warrant before entering your home to fight a fire? > [@drachillix](#): > > I believe such things fall under implied consent. No, it is not any type of consent, but the FD is permitted to enter due to EXIGENCY, see Michigan v. Tyler. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/49 "2013-08-01T14:11:18Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. The exception to the Fourth Amendment for border searches is a tad bit older than the Patriot Act. Even the “Automobile Exception” to a vehicle search was WAY before the PA, 1925. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/50 "2013-08-01T14:11:38Z")
I know a person who was a lawyer with the border patrol in Nevada for years, and she’s proud of the fact that you basically have no rights at the border, or even those inside the border checkpoints. She says its all necessary to catch illegals, and that people should put with anything to prevent them from coming in. She worked with property claims, and liked to talk about how she and the other people in her department could do all kinds of things so they could claim people’s property for themselves (one of the ways that organization supported itself apparently). There was a whole lot of ‘if we even suspect’ and ‘by the time they realize’, etc. It didn’t do much to bolster my confidence. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/51 "2013-08-01T14:16:56Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > They’ve sworn a duty to protect us, and you being an a-hole isn’t making their job any easier. **Moderator Warning** **etv78** , insults are not permitted in General Questions. (Leaving out a couple of letters doesn’t help.) Given that **samclem** has already mod-noted someone else for oblique insults, this is an official warning. Don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/52 "2013-08-01T14:21:32Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > I know a person who was a lawyer with the border patrol in Nevada for years Last I checked, Nevada doesn’t have an international border. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sizzles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@Sizzles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sizzles)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/53 "2013-08-01T14:40:29Z")
I completely understand they’ve got a job to do, but it’s how they do it, they have a terrible attitude. I’ve been to many countries, as a tourist (I’m English), and IMHO the US BP are the rudest; Canada - “Welcome to Canada”, Australia - G’day how long you staying", US - sullen stare, “Give me your passport”. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/54 "2013-08-01T14:46:30Z")
Is this why getting through customs takes so long? Because people are fucking with the BP? Why don’t you write your Congresscritters or something, stand on your rights on your free time. I just want to get to Montreal and do some shopping! ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/55 "2013-08-01T14:59:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Last I checked, Nevada doesn’t have an international border. 😕 Oops, Arizona. She lived in Yuma. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/56 "2013-08-01T15:12:35Z")
I once had a customs agent at a Toronto airport decline to process me because he, once he heard my name, declared that he knew me personally. Drove me a little nuts that he wouldn’t say how, especially since I don’t live in Toronto. I figured vaguely he might be a memeber of this board and recognized my name, though we’d never met. Or maybe he just didn’t like whatever ethnic group he thought my name suggested. I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/57 "2013-08-01T15:31:48Z")
Just yesterday I was driving in western Penna. towards the Ohio border and saw a white-and-green Border Patrol SUV on the median strip of a major highway, a long way from either the Canadian or Mexican border. Looking for illegal migrant workers, I suppose, but who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/58 "2013-08-01T15:44:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It’s a good thing you didn’t come out with an unspeakable pun. It’s illegal to impersonate David Caruso in the customs area… Well, Jim Carrey had better watch his step, then: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSqkwyL1Zo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSqkwyL1Zo) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/59 "2013-08-01T15:48:22Z")
When I lived in L.A. I visited a friend in Bellingham, and we went to Vancouver. I’m driving my Jeep with California plates. Canadian Guard: Do you have any guns? Me: No. CG: I thought everyone in L.A. had a gun. Me: I left them at home. Border Patrol thinks it can search an aircraft that took off in the U.S. and landed in the U.S. without crossing any international border. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16384280](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16384280) (The initial contact was by Homeland Security and the DEA, but Border Patrol landed in a King Air and ‘interviewed’ the pilot again.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973/60 "2013-08-01T16:18:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Canadian Guard: Do you have any guns? The correct response is “What do you need?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-us-border-guard-ask-a-citizen-about-internal-travel-in-the-us/664973.md?page=4)