A recent court case has highlighted a 1988 Supreme Court descision that lets Border Patrol perform any kind of searches and seizures to people crossing the border. Probable cause is not a requirement. You might be thinking, “Sure look anywhere someone could hide and illegal substance or immigrant.” However, this decision covers data in laptops, digital cameras, etc. too. In a funny little twist you don’t even have to cross the border of a country. A 2004 case had a man attempt to enter Canada who was denied access and when he “returned” home his possessions were searched by Border Patrol. There is no authority for the proposition that a person who fails to obtain legal entry at his destination may freely re-enter the United States; to the contrary, he or she may be searched just like any other person crossing the border. Apperently, the line on the map which seperates countries does have a thinkness. It’s not like hopping over a fence. It’s several or several hundred feet wide.
So be sure to delete anything incriminating when you cross the border for any erase. This includes pictures of your trip, blog posts on your laptop, etc.