U.S. intrusive phone searches soar

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents searched 15,000
devices, largely smartphones, in the second quarter of the
year – an increase of 23% on the same period last year

U.S. BORDER DEVICE SEARCHES (quarterly)

Basic search
Advanced search

9,000 10,000 11,000 12,000 13,000 14,000 15,000

Q3, 2025
Q2, 2025
Q1, 2025
Q4, 2024
Q3, 2024
Q2, 2024
Q1, 2024

13,824
11,294
11,067
11,504
11,082
10,250
9,883

1,075
966
1,025
1,154
1,008
1,023
1,054

14,899
12,260
12,092
12,658
12,090
11,273
10,937

NOTE: CBP uses fiscal year that runs from Oct-Sep –
so Q3 of agency’s operating year is Q2 of calendar year

STEPS TO AVOID U.S. CUSTOMS SEARCHES

1 Leave your primary
smartphone at home
and take “burner” phone
that only has important
apps in it – essentially a
sanitised version of your
digital life. Or...

2 Take your primary
phone but remove
photos, messages and
non-essential apps – in
particular, dating apps
and anything related to
LGBTQ+ communities

3 Print out boarding
passes and any
documents you might
need so you never
present smartphone to
authorities – lessening
risk of search

Sources: Wired, Condé Nast Traveler
Picture: Getty Images
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