Does everyone get searched when they cross into Canada?

[fassopony]

I border cross to Canada about 8 times a year, maybe maybe more. Canadian border officers are Draconian. I am a white female and live near the border so I have never been searched, I also have lots of friends in BC. However, every single one of my Latino friends gets pulled and searched every.single.time. Driving or flying in to Vancouver. I and my friends have witnessed Asian pregnant women being yelled at and accused of trying to sneak in to have a baby.

I love Canada but the majority of their people have NO idea how bad their border is. It amuses me that the US gets pinged for being awful when in actuality we are much more lenient at our borders. Canada also separates kids/families. Not a political statement, just a point that it isn't just the US doing it.

[wy307]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

Nope. Technically the border patrol has full rights within 100 miles of the border/coast to search as they wish. https://www.aclu.org/other/constitut...le-border-zone

""Similarly, Border Patrol cannot search vehicles in the 100-mile zone without a warrant or "probable cause" (a reasonable belief, based on the circumstances, that an immigration violation or crime has likely occurred)."

This is from your link.

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Yes, they can search your car and your person, they can arrest you, and THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ALLOW YOU BACK INTO THE USA.


I suggest that you have your papers in order, do not carry drugs in your car, and be polite when you are questioned.

That question was about border patrol checkpoints within the US, not the international border.

Originally Posted by wy307

Can they search your car without a warrant or probable cause? I know crossing into Canada or Mexico they can, since it's an actual border, but those border patrol checkpoints are within the borders of the US, so I would think the same laws apply as if you're pulled over by the police.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

Total time spent at the border, about 60 seconds.

For me it's 60 minutes every time I go there.

If any Canadian border/government people reading this: if you're going to give me such a hard time every time, you might as well just deny me entrance, this way I'll know not to bother going back any more.

As it stands, I'm confused: do, or do you not, want me in your country? You always let me in, but it's always with a hassle. Mixed signals.