Record High Device Searches at US Border - New Data

Increased Device Searches at U.S. Borders

Recent government statistics reveal a significant increase in electronic device searches conducted by U.S. border agents. A three-month period witnessed a record number of these searches.

Record Numbers Reported

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) examined 14,899 devices belonging to international travelers between April and June. This represents a 17% increase over the prior peak observed in early 2022.

Search Types Explained

The majority of these searches are classified as “basic.” This involves CBP officers requesting a traveler’s device password and manually reviewing the contents.

Rights and Refusal

U.S. citizens are not subject to denial of entry, however, their devices may be indefinitely seized if a search is refused. Non-citizens can decline a search, but doing so will likely result in being denied entry into the United States.

Ongoing Legal Debate

The legality of these border searches continues to be a subject of considerable debate. Judicial rulings have been inconsistent, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet addressed the issue definitively.

Source: Wired

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