Beware. Border Patrol Searching Phones.

[+ tassojunior]

Although they are searching citizen's phones also, anyone visiting the US may want to wipe their phone of any not 100% proper social media, texts, etc.

 

U.S. border officials are increasingly denying entry to travelers over others’ social

media

 

Travelers are increasingly being denied entry to the United States as border officials hold them accountable for messages, images and video on their devices sent by other people. Even WhatsApp messages and pics are stored on your phone.

 

""It’s a bizarre set of circumstances that has seen countless number of foreign nationals rejected from the U.S. after friends, family or even strangers send messages, images or videos over social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, which are then downloaded to the traveler’s phone.""

http://flip.it/2ngaCl

Edited August 28, 2019 by tassojunior

[DMICS]

Happened to me a few years ago attempting to go to Miami. The officer I got from border patrol was a complete douche and denied me entry 2 days in a row. On the 1st day he took my phone and demanded for me to enter my password, from that point on he went through everything in my phone to find "evidence".

 

Must have had fun seeing all the nudes, videos all in my phone. After that humiliating experience, I made sure to always clear my phone of certain things before I travel.

Edited August 28, 2019 by DMICS

[Trick]

Happened to me a few years ago attempting to go to Miami. While the officer I got from border patrol was a complete douche and denied me entry 2 days in a row. On the 1st day he took my phone and demanded for me to enter my password, from that point on he went through everything in my phone to find "evidence".

 

Must have had fun seeing all the nudes, videos all in my phone. After that humiliating experience, I made sure to always clear my phone or certain things before I travel.

 

Are they allowed to do that? Wasn’t there a case before where Apple could not be forced to unlock a phone?

 

Does this mean that authorities can force you to unlock your phone? Isn’t that like self-incrimination? I’m not a lawyer so what do I know?

[+ purplekow]

I believe you can refuse but then the refusal may be used to deny you entry.

[Bargara Leatherboy]

That's one of the reasons why I no longer travel the USA. plus we are asked to list our social media accounts on our Esta applications .

[+ tassojunior]

Are they allowed to do that? Wasn’t there a case before where Apple could not be forced to unlock a phone?

 

Does this mean that authorities can force you to unlock your phone? Isn’t that like self-incrimination? I’m not a lawyer so what do I know?

 

That Apple thing was a criminal matter where the court agreed Apple could not be forced to open the phone. Border Patrol is not subject to the law. Unless you're a US citizen you have no rights against Border Patrol, and surprisingly, even citizens' rights are few and they can search citizens' phones at the border.

[+ Italiano]

And...what are the things found in a US citizen's phone that a border patrol could use against?...Nude pics? Videos? Porn Apps?..

.What is USA becoming, Saudi Arabia??

Edited August 28, 2019 by Italiano

[Bargara Leatherboy]

Yes. Emails. Texts pics

[+ Italiano]

Yes. Emails. Texts pics

Really?...And what would be the charges?

Edited August 28, 2019 by Italiano

[MscleLovr]

Really?...And what would be the charge?

 

Assuming that’s not a rhetorical question....

If you have any habits or interests that the law does not condone, the appropriate laws could be invoked....

If you’ve some sex videos on your phone, pornography laws would apply...

If you’ve been exchanging messages re a date with an escort, you could be charged with soliciting prostitution

[LookingAround]

Let them search my phone. Nothing to hide.

[cany10011]

I was in secondary inspection at Newark coming back from Europe. I was there only for a short period and only questioned about my visa status. However, there were several men ahead of me who were either Indian or middle eastern who were being grilled about their phones. Some were taken into the interrogation rooms with the officer holding the phone. So, this does happen. I always get nervous and delete or hide some pictures. Perhaps I should get an alternate phone just for border purposes and place the primary phone in my check in luggage.

[+ ArVaGuy]

This has been happening for years. The only change is the enforcement level from administration to administration.

[+ Keith30309]

Others have suggested that if you frequently cross the border that you purchase a cheap phone, load it with some bogus apps, mundane emails/texts, etc., and bury your primary phone in a checked bag.

 

 

[+ tassojunior]

Let them search my phone. Nothing to hide.

 

Omg......famous last words.

[Mocha]

And...what are the things found in a US citizen's phone that a border patrol could use against?...Nude pics? Videos? Porn Apps?..

.What is USA becoming, Saudi Arabia??

 

It’s not just the USA, ?? Canada does it too. Matter of fact, Canada is just as strict if not moreso than the US. They’ve not had “open borders” either since 9/11 (by the way, 9/11 is how the initial hostage type border patrol policies came into fashion).

 

I told a story years ago before anyone started talking about it, how Canadian immigration just ransacked all of my personal Information. Laptop, phones, held me up for 3 hours. In the end, they said, “we have to deny your entry, we believe you’re coming to commit criminal activity”. And at that time...escorting was considered legal in the province.

 

They made a big scary deal about it, and definitely had me paranoid for a few months. But in the end, they had nothing to charge me with, and there really wasn’t anything “criminal” going on. They just want to pick and choose who they want to let it.

 

And like I’ve said before, “they” always try to single out single men traveling alone. Like there’s always some kind of suspicious reason behind it. My response nowadays will always be: “I don’t consent to searches”, and “do you have a warrant for searching my belongings?” Everytime I’ve not said that, I’ve been tricked into letting them snoop around. However it may be different when crossing over into the border...but at the same time, I don’t see how. What are they going to do, arrest you for not providing the information?

 

At the same time, I’m not an immigration lawyer so don’t take my word for it. The US could have all sorts of bullshit tactics if you don’t comply. There may be some, “give us your phone or we will detain you for 72 hours”, and when you have Trump talking about holding people indefinitely...I wouldn’t even see why anyone would want to come to the US. Which I still just find fucked up considering his wife is Eastern European. When have we EVER had an Eastern European 1st lady lol.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

It’s not just the USA, ?? Canada does it too. Matter of fact, Canada is just as strict if not moreso than the US. They’ve not had “open borders” either since 9/11 (by the way, 9/11 is how the initial hostage type border patrol policies came into fashion).

 

I told a story years ago before anyone started talking about it, how Canadian immigration just ransacked all of my personal Information. Laptop, phones, held me up for 3 hours. In the end, they said, “we have to deny your entry, we believe you’re coming to commit criminal activity”. And at that time...escorting was considered legal in the province.

 

They made a big scary deal about it, and definitely had me paranoid for a few months. But in the end, they had nothing to charge me with, and there really wasn’t anything “criminal” going on. They just want to pick and choose who they want to let it.

 

And like I’ve said before, “they” always try to single out single men traveling alone. Like there’s always some kind of suspicious reason behind it. My response nowadays will always be: “I don’t consent to searches”, and “do you have a warrant for searching my belongings?” Everytime I’ve not said that, I’ve been tricked into letting them snoop around. However it may be different when crossing over into the border...but at the same time, I don’t see how. What are they going to do, arrest you for not providing the information?

 

At the same time, I’m not an immigration lawyer so don’t take my word for it. The US could have all sorts of bullshit tactics if you don’t comply. There may be some, “give us your phone or we will detain you for 72 hours”, and when you have Trump talking about holding people indefinitely...I wouldn’t even see why anyone would want to come to the US. Which I still just find fucked up considering his wife is Eastern European. When have we EVER had an Eastern European 1st lady lol.

 

I love visiting Canada, but their border and customs people can be real assholes.

 

Theirs is the only country I've had a blip getting into.

[cany10011]

I love visiting Canada, but their border and customs people can be real assholes.

 

Theirs is the only country I've had a blip getting into.

 

Really? Wow. I’m Canadian and have very limited problems with traveling except the incident i mentioned, but that was because I was transitioning from a work visa to a permanent resident green card. My brother who travels more than I do gets stopped every time he returns from Asia as he got caught 10 years ago with a camera he never declared. From that point on, i’ve overdeclared and have not had to pay taxes on the gifts/purchases acquired abroad.

[Bargara Leatherboy]

For a non US citizen it means deportation, and the unpleasantness of that.

[liubit]

I haven’t visited the US since 2010, and in the current atmosphere, I don’t think I want to.

[+ ArVaGuy]

Canada has the rudest custom agents I’ve ever experienced. Real passive aggressive assholes.

[adventurous old guy]

I love visiting Canada, but their border and customs people can be real assholes.

 

Theirs is the only country I've had a blip getting into.

I travel a fair bit internationally for work, and have the same experience with Canada being a huge pain in the ass. On my last visit as I was reentering the US, they pulled me out of line because my passport had a stamp on an inside cover page, one of the pages where there is instruction "Do not use this page." I said something to the effect of "Well, that's not my fault" which triggered abrupt action to pull me out of line and into a private room, where it was communicated with indirect words but very direct tone that they had the power to make me miss my plane. I was then told that my passport was too full and that I had to get a new one. On the visit before this one, I was grilled about why I was entering and forced to register as doing business in Canada and pay a fee because I was getting an honorarium covering expenses for presenting at a conference. Very tough place.

Edited August 28, 2019 by adventurous old guy

[cany10011]

Canada has the rudest custom agents I’ve ever experienced. Real passive aggressive assholes.

 

I thought the American agents are pretty strict too.

[+ Gar1eth]

And...what are the things found in a US citizen's phone that a border patrol could use against?...Nude pics? Videos? Porn Apps?..

.What is USA becoming, Saudi Arabia??

 

They wouldn't be able to stop a US Citizen from returning home. I wonder if they can require a US Citizen to open their phone without strong suspicion of criminal activity.

 

Gman

[DMICS]

I said something to the effect of "Well, that's not my fault" which triggered abrupt action to pull me out of line and into a private room, where it was communicated with indirect words but very direct tone that they had the power to make me miss my plane.

 

Pretty much spot on what happened to me when I was trying to fly to Miami. Agent asked way too many personal questions, the last being how much money I had on me and how much money I had in my bank accounts, credit card. I talked back and said thats none of his damn business. That triggered him and he told me I'm not making my plane. Eventually lead to them ransacking my suitcase, ripping clothes, then going through my phone.

 

Missed my flight, came back the next day and was denied again.