U.S. border agents searched more travelers’ electronic devices between April and June 2025 than ever before, according to newly released government data.
Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show 14,899 device searches were conducted during the three-month period, marking a 17% jump over the previous record set in early 2022. Most inspections were “basic” searches, where agents request a traveler’s password and manually examine the device’s contents.
American citizens cannot be barred entry for refusing a search, but their devices can be seized indefinitely. Foreign visitors who refuse risk being denied entry altogether.
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The legality of such searches remains unsettled, with courts issuing conflicting rulings and the U.S. Supreme Court yet to weigh in on the constitutional debate.
