Border Search-The inspection of persons, vehicles, vessels, ships, and cargo passing through the borders of the United States. The inspection is done to preserve the security of the country, locate contraband or stolen goods, and locate and seize items on which duty has not been paid. The searches can occur at the border or at its functional equivalent (i.e. an inland airport receiving international flights).
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Boyd v. U S, 116 U.S. 616 (1886)-"The seizure of stolen goods is authorized by the common law; and the seizure of goods forfeited for a breach of the revenue laws, or concealed to avoid the duties payable on them, has been authorized by English statutes for at least two centuries past;3 and the like seizures have been authorized by our own revenue acts from the commencement of the government. The first statute passed by congress to regulate the collection of duties, the act of July 31, 1789, (1 St. 43,) contains provisions to this effect. As this act was passed by the same congress which proposed for adoption the original amendments to the constitution, it is clear that the members of that body did not regard searches and seizures of this kind as 'unreasonable,' and they are not embraced within the prohibition of the (Fourth) amendment."
Carroll v. U.S., 267 U.S. 132 (1925)-"It would be intolerable and unreasonable if a prohibition agent were authorized to stop every automobile on the chance of finding liquor and thus subject all persons lawfully using the highways to the inconvenience and indignity of such a search. Travellers [sic] may be so stopped in crossing an international boundary because of national self protection reasonably requiring one entering the country to identify himself as entitled to come in, and his belongings as effects which may be lawfully brought in. But those lawfully within the country, entitled to use the public highways, have a right to free passage without interruption or search unless there is [413 U.S. 266, 275] known to a competent official authorized to search, probable cause for believing that their vehicles are carrying contraband or illegal merchandise."
Almeida-Sanchez v. US, 413 U.S. 266 (1973)-The search of a vehicle stopped on traffic by a border agent 25 miles from the border without probable cause or consent cannot be justified as a border search.
Mason v. US, 414 U.S. 941 (1973)-Warrantless border searches do not extend to body cavity searches. These type of searches require a search warrant.