>You certainly didn’t spend 9 years in the Army studying immigration law.
There was no reason for them to suspect the man... I direct your attention to the fourth amendment:
The right of the people to be *secure in their persons*, houses, papers, and effects, *against unreasonable searches* and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, *but upon probable cause*, *supported by Oath or affirmation*, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Take a look at the portions between the astricies. Note that the people are supposed to be secure from unreasonable searches; what is reasonable about being told “we don’t need a reason”? Furthermore, there is a probable cause clause for the issuance of warrants... WHICH MUST BE SUPPORTED BY OATH/AFFIRMATION. (In other words, a lie on the part of the officer there IS perjury.)
As for your assertion that it is a privilege for foreigners to enter the US, I agree. But let me ask this:
Why should we let some bureaucratic schmuck revoke that privlige?
Driving is also a privilege; would you like it if some police officer were to take a disliking to you and be able to, then and there, revoke your license? No reason given.
When you present yourself at a border there is no 4th amendment protection. Customs officers are allowed to go through all of you belongings with no level of suspicion.
I know you will flame me for bringing this up, but I am trying to protect you. You need to know this in case you ever try to cross a border. Everything on your person, in your car, on your phone, computer, iPod....everything is subject to search. When they take a cursory look at your passport and wave you through they are choosing not to exercise that authority.
“fourth amendment” is for American Citizens and does not extend to a border containment field or any port or any immigration point, within the U.S.