Juvenile

I. Factual Background

A. Arrest and Detention

On May 10, 2005, at approximately 4:15 p.m., fifteen-year- old Jose attempted to cross the United States—Mexico border at the San Ysidro, California, Port of Entry. Jose was driving a gray Toyota 4-Runner with a Mexican license plate. When Border Patrol Officer Mark Hill questioned him, Jose stated that the vehicle was his, then changed his answer to say that it belonged to his uncle. Officer Hill asked Jose about the pur- pose of his visit to the United States, to which Jose responded that he intended to go shopping for his mother.

Officer Hill conducted a preliminary search of the vehicle, tapping the driver’s rear quarter panel. According to Officer Hill, the panel seemed “solid,” so he tapped the vehicle’s other quarter panel and then opened the passenger door and searched the inside of the quarter panel. That search uncov- ered several packages wrapped in electrical tape.

After Officer Hill found the packages in the vehicle’s quar- ter panels, he placed Jose in handcuffs. Officer Hill then pat- ted Jose down, and escorted Jose to a security office. The 4- Runner was taken for a secondary inspection, where agents found…