I'm not sure whether there's an internal policy or not, but U.S. border agents legally don't need any reason to search someone. Whether or not they search people randomly, I'm sure your chances go way up if you have an attitude with them. I cross the border about every other month, and I've only been searched once. The one time that I was stopped, I admit that my story did sound a little questionable (entering country for indefinite amount of time to tour around on a motorcycle and camp wherever I got tired).
I've been asked some silly questions like "what room number will you be staying in at the hotel?," but I'm sure they were looking for my reaction more than my answer. Something tells me that the crossing wouldn't have gone as smoothly if I'd said "What hotel room? I have no idea" instead of "Sorry, they haven't assigned a room number yet, but I can call them if you'd like."
I didn't listen to the whole clip, so maybe the agents went over the line at some point, but this guy deserved whatever he got based on his initial answers and his demands to be told why he should sit down.
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