We have? My international relatives have never been searched to that degree, if at all.

That said, the whole thing is overreach in any democratic society.

I've binge watched enough Australian Border Patrol videos to know that:

1. You don't fuck around with Australian customs agents. Ever.

2. They make every other country look like complete lightweights, Americans and EU included. These guys will fine you AU $500 for half an eaten apple in your bag.

Read the stories about people who actually have this happen. You can usually figure out why they are targeted. That may not be just. But it is.

Customs agents are always given broad discretion and generally care about something.

Most normal folks will never intact with these issues. The last time I travelled internationally, they weren’t even doing secondary customs screening upon return to the US.