Phone searches at the US border are more common than ever. Here’s how to protect your privacy before you travel and what to do if CBP asks for your device.
If you’re headed to the airport, you’re probably carrying your phone, loaded with personal information. Your boarding pass, flight information, hotel reservations—all of it is there right alongside other details like your social media, emails, photos, and more. That’s why handing it over to a stranger—especially while traveling internationally—can be scary. These days, phone searches at the US border are more common than ever, and not for security-related reasons.
Remember that the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution prevents “unreasonable searches and seizures” of personal property. That said, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has special authority to search devices entering or leaving the US by air, land, or sea. According to the CBP, in 2024, electronic device searches affected .01% of travelers at US ports of entry. Of those subjected to searches, more than 36,000 were not US citizens. Combined with ICE presence at airports and understaffed TSA checkpoints, you can see the problem.
With that in mind, I’ll address some frequently asked questions about device searches and provide…
I did not realize, though not surprised, about such searches. This is getting ridiculous. And it is happening across the globe. I went to Japan years ago and you have to let them scan two of your fingers for prints. I was shocked. I did not know. This is all so crazy. All about control. Only going to get worse.
Thanks @Roger for posting this. Very informative article. Burner phones aren’t cheap but they are better than the alternative of losing your primary phone.
I hope lawmakers phones are searched too.
Crazy and frightening.
In September 2025 I found myself in this very situation, even though I technically had not left the US. I visited the International Peace Garden, the entrance to which is in between the US and Canadian Customs buildings near Dunseith, ND. So I never entered Canada going there, BUT on the way back I had to pass through the US Customs building. Silly me !! I was so naive it never occurred to me that I would be viewed as a suspicious person, especially in the current political environment.
Yes they searched my car, myself and my phone. It’s a good thing I am so squeaky clean these days and the wifi on my phone is permanently turned off. The guy scrolled through my travel photos for about 15 minutes before giving up.
No matter how clean I am it was still a paranoic experience that I’ll never let happen again. My advice is never bring your personal electronic devices anywhere that might bring you into contact with US Customs. Bring a burner phone and a digital camera.