Newly revealed documents show how the United States is stopping people at the border in order to search their electronics without a warrant or proof of wrongdoing. The documents, released as part of a settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union, relate to the case of David House, a supporter of whistleblower Chelsea Manning — formerly known as Bradley Manning — who had his electronics seized at a Chicago airport when he returned from Mexico in 2010. It turns out U.S. agents had been waiting months for House to leave the country so they could conduct the search. House described what happened on Democracy Now! in 2011.

David House: “I was leaving the border search area. I was approached by two individuals who identified themselves initially as Department of Homeland Security agents. These two individuals told me I was compelled to surrender all my belongings, including my electronic belongings, so my computer, flash drive, cellphone, video camera.”

It took 45 days for the government to return House’s computer. They later admitted he was innocent of any crime and vowed to destroy their copies of his data.