alt Hacker NewsThis is confusing; what happens to you if you refuse a warantless search of your property?
I'm a US citizen returning home. Do they just... send me back out of the country? :) I don't suppose they'd have the grounds to arrest me since there is no law that I can see being broken. I suppose they could keep the device until such time that a warrant could be obtained to digitally search / break into the device (but that requires some reasonable suspicion - simply refusing a warantless search isn't it).
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As a citizen they cannot block you from returning to the country. What they can do however is seize your devices (and briefly your person) and other property.
They detain you, probably take and keep your stuff, and within a relatively short amount of time release you.
Well, they probably release you. If you're brown or just dealing with the wrong people they may unlawfully beat, kidnap, and exile you anyway (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportations_of_U.S._citizens_...).
They let you in and keep your property. I've never had an issue at a border, but I still keep my devices encrypted and powered off when crossing.