The Canadian government has issued a warning to travelers heading to the United States, informing them that US border agents have the authority to search electronic devices – including phones, laptops, and tablets – without needing to provide a reason.
In a recently updated travel advisory, Canadians are urged to "expect scrutiny" when crossing the US border. The advisory also highlights that refusing to comply with device searches can lead to consequences, including the seizure of devices, travel delays, or even denial of entry for non-US citizens.
According to US law, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers can ask for passwords to unlock devices during inspections. Travelers who refuse may have their electronics confiscated and face lengthy delays.
The advisory suggests placing devices in airplane mode before crossing to avoid unintentional downloads of remote files, which could complicate the screening process.
This warning comes after incidents like that of Dr Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese assistant professor at Brown University, who was deported after US agents discovered deleted photos of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on her phone. Dr Alawieh explained that she deleted the photos to avoid giving authorities the impression of political or military support for Hezbollah or the Ayatollah.
While US authorities argue that these device searches are necessary for national security, civil liberties groups have criticized the practice as overly invasive. The US Supreme Court has upheld the right of border agents to conduct warrantless device searches, citing the "border search exception" to the Fourth Amendment.
