Phone Searches at U.S. Borders Raise Questions About Legality
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (C.B.P.) agents have broad authority to search travelers' phones, laptops, and other electronic devices at ports of entry, raising questions about the legality of such searches. The searches are conducted under an exception to the Fourth Amendment's protections against warrantless searches.
The issue gained attention in March when a French scientist was turned away by U.S. border agents after his phone was searched. French authorities protested the decision, attributing it to messages on the phone that commented on President Trump's policies. U.S. officials denied that politics played a role in the decision.
According to the C.B.P., agents conducted 55,318 searches of electronic devices at ports of entry in fiscal year 2025. The number represents an increase from the previous two years.
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