According to Vox and other recent media reports, as many as 200 Iranian-Americans have been detained at the U.S. Canada border. Reports indicate that U.S. Customs and Border Protection may have detained Iranian permanent residents as well as U.S. citizens of Iranian descent. Individuals who have been detained at the border have noted that they were questioned about their work history, their political views, asked where they went to school, and were asked questions about their families. Vox reports that some individuals were detained for as long as 10 hours. While U.S. Customs and Border Protection alleges that they are not detaining individuals on the basis of their national origin or descent, reports seem to suggest otherwise. Despite this, CBP has wide-ranging authority when it comes to agents’ ability to question individuals at the border. Agents can detain who they want and generally have a wide range of options when it comes to questioning individuals.

Do you know what you should do if you are detained at the border? Do you know what your rights are when encountering border patrol? J. Joseph Cohen is a deportation lawyer in San Antonio, Texas that may be able to assist you if you have been deported at the border or are facing deportation.

Your Rights at the Border

If you are at a border crossing, agents have the right to ask you questions about your country of citizenship and ask you what you plan to bring into the country. While individuals always have the right to remain silent at the border, if you refuse to answer questions, you could be detained at the border or could be denied entry into the U.S. When you are at the border, your rights regarding searches of your person and personal property change. At the border, agents have the right to search your car, your person, and your bags. However, at the border, agents are not permitted to use excessive force and are not permitted to damage your property.

Finally, if you are detained or brought into detention at the border, you have the right to remain silent and have the right to ask to speak to an attorney. You also have the right to speak with the consulate of your home country. If you are being detained, you may be asked how long you have been in the U.S., how you entered the U.S., and where you were born. It is important to understand that anything you say can be used against you to deport you. You have the right to remain silent and to ask to speak to a deportation lawyer. J. Joseph Cohen is a deportation lawyer in San Antonio, Texas that may be able to assist you if you or someone you love has been detained. Our attorney can review your situation, review questions being asked, and help you fight your case.

If you are asked to sign anything during detention, ask to speak to your lawyer. Signing certain documents could result in you losing the ability to remain in the U.S. You can always call J. Joseph Cohen, a deportation lawyer in San Antonio, Texas if you are being detained or are being asked to sign documentation at the border.

What Are Your Rights at Checkpoints?

At checkpoints inside the U.S. border patrol agents have the right to ask about the citizenship of vehicle occupants and can inspect the outside of a vehicle. Agents do not have the right to ask questions outside of verifying the citizenship of vehicle occupants and they do not have the right to detain you unless they have due cause. If you are detained at a checkpoint, you have the right to remain silent. Before signing any documents or answering any questions about where you were born, how you entered the country, and how long you have been in the U.S., you may want to speak to a deportation lawyer, like J. Joseph Cohen. Our San Antonio, deportation lawyer may be able to assist you if you or someone you love is facing detention or deportation.

Contact a Deportation Lawyer Today

While border guards and agents have immense power and discretion in who they detain and who they choose to question, they cannot detain a person without due cause. If you are being detained or if you are facing deportation, you may have certain rights under the law. For one, you have the right to speak to a lawyer. Contact J. Joseph Cohen, a deportation lawyer in San Antonio, Texas today if you or someone you love has been detained at the border, or has been put into detention after being detained at the border. USAttorneys.com can connect you with J. Joseph Cohen today.