The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for violating the constitutional rights of Americans who try to use cameras near ports of entry.

In different instances, CBP officers prevented two Americans from taking photos at border crossings in California, thus denying their free-speech rights, according to the ACLU.

“The border is not a Constitution-free zone,” David Loy, legal director of the San Diego ACLU, said in a press release. “Border agents are not above the law, and the law guarantees our right to hold them accountable by documenting their conduct.”

One plaintiff was attempting to document environmental pollution at border stations, while the other was photographing CBP officers patting down women traveling across the border. Both plaintiffs were stopped, detained and had their photos deleted.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Border Agents Harass Americans Taking Pictures, Threaten to Smash Cameras (American Civil Liberties Union)

ACLU Sues Over Abuse of Photographers by Border Patrol Agents (by Jay Stanley, American Civil Liberties Union)

Lawsuit: Border Checkpoint Photo Limits Unconstitutional (by Josh Gerstein, Politico)