CBP Searched a Record Number of Phones at the US Border Over the Past Year
6 months ago
- #Border Security
- #Digital Privacy
- #Surveillance
- US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted a record 55,424 electronic device searches in FY2025, up from 47,000 in FY2024.
- Phone searches increased by 17% over the past year, with a notable spike in the last six months.
- Border agents have broad authority to search devices without warrants, including those of citizens and green card holders.
- Searches are categorized as basic (manual scrolling) or advanced (using external tools to copy and analyze data).
- Advanced searches require reasonable suspicion, but refusing to provide a passcode can lead to device seizure.
- Tools like Cellebrite’s UFED, GrayKey, and Magnet AXIOM are used to bypass locks and retrieve deleted files.
- Recent surges in searches align with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and enhanced surveillance.
- International travel to the US has declined amid perceptions of hostility and increased scrutiny.
- Federal courts are divided on whether advanced searches require warrants, with rulings varying by jurisdiction.
- Controversial cases, like a Norwegian tourist denied entry over a meme mocking VP JD Vance, highlight scrutiny concerns.
- CBP claims searches are rare (affecting <0.01% of travelers) and target digital contraband or terrorism-related content.