A growing number of phones, computers and other devices are being searched by American customs officials this year, in a trend that the U.S. government says only affects a small fraction of travellers.<\/p>\n
The latest data show that between April and July 2025, officers working for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted searches of 14,899 electronic devices, including 1,075 \u201cadvanced\u201d searches.<\/p>\n
That total is higher than in any single quarter in the available data since late 2018, and nearly double the 8,000 searches conducted during the same time in that fiscal year, CBP data show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The agency\u2019s website<\/a> describes device searches as \u201crare,\u201d impacting just 0.01 per cent of the more than 400 million passengers who arrived at ports of entry last fiscal year. Non-U.S. citizens made up roughly 78 per cent of those subjected to device searches<\/a> during that time. <\/p>\n \u201cDespite the fact that all merchandise and persons crossing the border, both inbound and outbound, are subject to inspection by CBP, the number of travelers crossing the border whose electronic devices are actually searched is small,\u201d it reads. <\/p>\n \u2018Judiciously and responsibly\u2019<\/p>\n Searches typically involve an officer manually perusing the contents of a device, not including any information that is stored remotely. Mobile data, WiFi and other connections are disabled before a search begins, CBP notes.<\/p>\n In cases where there is \u201creasonable suspicion of a violation of law \u2026 or a national security concern,\u201d border agents may conduct an advanced search, which uses external equipment to \u201creview, copy, and\/or analyze\u201d a device\u2019s contents. <\/p>\n In the past two fiscal years, between nine and 10 per cent of all searches have been advanced, on average.<\/p>\n CBP says that all travellers are obligated<\/a> to \u201cpresent their electronic devices and the information resident on the device in a condition that allows for the examination,\u201d if asked. Failure to comply, such as by withholding a passcode or fingerprint, does not automatically disqualify a foreign national from entry to the United States<\/a>, though the agency says the device may be taken into custody anyway, and noncompliance may factor into the final decision to allow or deny entry. <\/p>\n \u201cCBP has established strict guidelines, above and beyond prevailing legal requirements, to ensure that these searches are exercised judiciously and responsibly and are consistent with the public trust,\u201d its FAQ reads. \u201cAdmissibility determinations are made based on the totality of the circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n Traveller concerns<\/p>\n Phone searches and other additional screening at U.S. borders have sparked concerns in recent months amid the Trump administration\u2019s renewed scrutiny on immigration.<\/p>\n In April, Canada updated its travel advisory for the United States<\/a>, warning that visitors should \u201cexpect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cComply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities,\u201d the advisory reads<\/a>. \u201cIf you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation.\u201d<\/p>\n According to CBP, searching devices helps to uncover a variety of criminal activity, including terrorism, child exploitation, human and drug trafficking, smuggling and illegal immigration, as well as \u201cadditional information relevant to admissibility of foreign nationals under U.S. immigration laws.\u201d<\/p>\n But some have raised fears that criminality isn\u2019t the only factor to cause issues at the border.<\/p>\n