[bitdeveloper]

> They can search you because you're entering an airport, but you're free to leave at any time (though they can detain you until police arrive, as any citizen can).

If they can detain you then how are you free to leave?

[maximilianroos]

> they can detain you until police arrive, as any citizen can

They have the same rights an any other citizen to detain you and call a police officer.

Citizen detention laws vary by state, but generally there's a fairly high standard of probability that you committed a crime.

https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2016/07/03/tsa-myth-busters-do-tsa-...

[Retra]

You are free to leave until they detain you.