Cautionary Tale of Crossing Canadian Border

Posted on September 19, 2013 • Filed under: Border Crossings, North America

Jeffrey Tucker
informationliberation.com reported…..I was at the Canadian border, headed toward the freedom that exists a few feet beyond the last security check. I was gently waved down a side corridor. Ninety minutes later, I was let go, but not before something truly alarming happened. I’m pretty sure that the Canadian government captured a mirrored version of my smartphone — which pretty much holds the whole of my life. At border crossings, governments have discovered that they can get away with seizing and searching electronic devices from smartphones to laptops to tablets. The reason is that it is standard practice that border officials can ask you anything. Anything at all. You have to answer. They can make you empty the full contents of your brain and check for even the smallest misstatement. You can refuse to answer, but then you can expect detention for untold amounts of time. So of course, you comply.
What did I learn?

Never approach the passport window without being extremely clearheaded about what you are going to say.
Don’t ever reverse your story in light of questioning. Tell necessary truths, but never volunteer unnecessary information.
Put all your digital devices away deep in your bags. Do not pull them out at any point in approaching any border. And if you ever get a secondary screening, prepare to have all necessary information stored in some place other than your live cellphone. Read Article

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