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U.S. Border Device Searches Hit Record High in Latest Quarter

CBP says the checks affect less than 0.01 percent of travelers.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers search bags with the help of a canine at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry in Buffalo, N.Y. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 04: Leonel Cordova (L) and Noris Cordova speak to a CBP officer as they try to use their new mobile app at an entry point as the program is unveiled for international travelers arriving at Miami International Airport on March 4, 2015 in Miami, Florida. Miami-Dade Aviation Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unveiled a new mobile app for expedited passport and customs screening. The app for iOS and Android devices allows U.S. citizens and some Canadian citizens to enter and submit their passport and customs declaration information using their smartphone or tablet and to help avoid the long waits in the exit lanes. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Overview

  • CBP reports 14,899 electronic devices searched from April to June 2025, a new quarterly record that is up about 21% from the prior quarter and roughly 17% above the previous peak in early 2022.
  • The quarter included 13,824 basic inspections and 1,075 advanced searches, with basic checks involving manual review and advanced exams using forensic extraction tools.
  • Device inspections have climbed over the past decade, reaching 46,362 in fiscal 2024 out of more than 420 million travelers processed, according to agency data.
  • CBP is seeking to expand digital forensics capabilities through new procurements and RFIs, supplementing existing Cellebrite contracts to analyze data seized from devices.
  • Officials cite broad border-search authority and note different consequences for refusals by non‑citizens versus citizens, while civil-liberties groups warn of chilling effects and Canada has advised travelers to expect device scrutiny; DHS rejects claims that an administration shift drove the increase.