have you been to a border crossing lately?
fuck around with those guys, and they'll literally take your car apart....while you watch......
and then they won't pay for it:
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/i...4104022AAX8md4
and before we get all 4th ammendment rights on this one and say "no way! they can't just search me for no reason!" think again patron.If they find something, the vehicle is forfeited to ICE as a vehicle used in the commission of a crime and sold at auction.
If they don't find anything, ICE mechanics try to put the car back together.
You cannot sue the government, unless you can prove that your civil rights were violated under color of law. Courts have ruled that consideration of age, gender, race and ethnicity is not out of bounds in a Border Search, so that would be a very difficult case to make. See US v. Martinez-fuerte link.
You can file a claim under the tort-claims act for your costs of repair if agents were unnecessarily destructive and the ICE mechanics can't repair it, but many insurance companies will reimburse you and eat the expense rather than going through all that legal work, so all you are usually out is your deductible.
So all in all, when you act like a smug prick at the border, they can and probably will tell you they need to search your vehicle. and then they will. and you will wait.Searches at the border do not require cause or even a reasonable suspicion. If a government agency damages property UNLAWFULLY, then the government can be liable for the damage. If the government action is lawful, then the government does not pay for the resulting damage. As searches as the border are lawful, the government does not pay.