[Periodic]

If you do that, then you may be judged solely on your passport. That's fine if you come from a stable and prosperous country. Traveling abroad on a German or US Passport? You're probably fine. Try the same thing on a Syrian passport and you're probably going to run into problems.

I agree that we should protest, but it won't help that middle eastern student who wants to go to a conference or the business person who wants to meet a potential trade partner. Both need to travel for their livelihood, and depending on their circumstances it could significantly affect their life at home based on the opportunities they can find abroad.

They might not have the luxury or the courage to simply walk away.

In the US we have a way to stop this: we have to be loud enough to be heard. That doesn't involve civil disobedience (no one would listen to spoiled US citizens) but we can complain to our politicians, we can protest, we can get into the media with it. Unfortunately, it's not a majority opinion and will likely be drowned out in favor of the current wave of xenophobia sweeping US politics. If you did this coming into the US, half the country would just say they were glad you didn't come.

At this point, civil disobedience on the issue is likely irresponsible.

[tristor]

> At this point, civil disobedience on the issue is likely irresponsible.

That might be true if it were only the US doing this, as the US provides other measures to fight this type of ridiculousness. It's not /only/ the US that's doing this sort of thing, it's just that the US is now doing it too. Other countries have been doing the same thing for years, and it is something we should fight against worldwide. I see nothing irresponsible about civil disobedience given that this is a global issue of border agents requiring travelers to unlock phones, turn over passwords and social media accounts, etc.

I am fortunate to be traveling on a US passport, so as you point out the consequences for my refusal to cooperate are probably not as dire for me as it would be for someone from some other countries. Nonetheless, standing up for your basic principles and human rights is not a fight that is comfortable. I freely acknowledge that many people who disobey at the border could have life altering consequences for doing so, but it's also not acceptable for these sorts of questions to be asked. It's none of the government's business, frankly. Every individual has to make that choice for themselves.

[rurban]

> It's not /only/ the US that's doing this sort of thing, it's just that the US is now doing it too.

No. Not even China or North Korea is doing this.

Most countries do hold high some principles like constitutional values or civilian rights. Only the US does not.

> I am fortunate to be traveling on a US passport...

Why is this fortunate? You are labelled part of a dark society with no constitutional protections for civilians, military order and generally an outlaw who likes to bully all others. This is not fortunate, esp. if you want to establish trade relationships with people from civilized countries.