Number of phones searched at U.S. border hits record high
Canadians who plan to cross the U.S. border this year may have a higher chance of getting their phones and other electronic devices searched.
The latest data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveal that 14,899 international travellers’ electronic devices were searched between April and June this year, up from 12,260 in the previous quarter. It’s also a significant spike from the previous highest number of devices (12,766) searched in 2022, between January and March.
According to the CBP, these stats are small compared to the amount of merchandise and people crossing the border.
Its data suggests that in 2024, out of the over 420 million travellers the CBP processed at ports of entry, it only searched the electronic devices of 47,047 international travellers, which is less than 0.01 per cent.
grandbrothers/Shutterstock
U.S.-based immigration lawyer Len Saunders said he’s not surprised by the increase and device checks.
“I think in some respects, this is probably what’s keeping them busy at the border,” he told Daily Hive over the phone.
There has been a significant decrease in Canadian travel down south under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. While Saunders said a part of it could be a directive from the White House, it may also be officers just trying to keep themselves busy at the border.
“When the numbers started dropping, my first reaction was, ‘I wonder if these officers are going to get laid off?’ Because if there’s less traffic, you expect fewer officers,” explained Saunders. “I think some of it is them, probably just trying to look busy to protect their jobs.”
The lawyer, who has a dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship and frequently crosses the land border in B.C., said this definitely means travellers are more likely to have their phones searched.
“If there’s something that you don’t want [authorities] to see on your phone, obviously don’t bring that phone through the border because it’s a tool that they use to search around when they’re looking for information,” he said.
oksana.perkins/Shutterstock
This uptick comes amid the ongoing trade war between Canada and the U.S. and Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
In April, the Canadian government updated the U.S. travel advisory with a serious warning, advising travellers to “expect scrutiny” of electronic devices at the border.
That same month, the White HouseĀ implemented a ruleĀ requiring Canadians and other foreign nationals to register with the American government if they plan on visiting for more than 30 days.
The CBP says electronic device searches at the border are “critical to protecting border security, and are essential to enforcing the customs, immigration, and other laws CBP is authorized to enforce and administer.”
Its agents have the authority to search a travellerās computer, phone, camera, or other electronic devices. Terrorist activity, child pornography, drug smuggling, human smuggling, and other violations have been caught through these searches.
Some experts are advising travellers to leave their electronic devices at home if they can, or to take a burner phone with them when crossing the U.S. border.
If you’re anxious about travelling down south, check out Daily Hive’s guide to visiting the U.S.