The rise in us cbp phone searches marks a turning point for travellers as device checks expand and enforcement guidance changes. Last year, U. S. Customs officers searched 55, 318 computers, cellphones and other devices, a 17. 6% increase from 47, 074 the prior year, with U. S. Customs and Border Protection expanding the list of devices eligible for inspection.
What Happens Next with Us Cbp Phone Searches?
U. S. Customs and Border Protection has updated its directive to add new categories such as smartwatches and SIM cards to the items subject to search. The agency’s 2025 device search report also shows the agency did not disclose what percentage of searches involved travellers from specific countries or where most inspections occurred, leaving location and nationality breakdowns unclear.
The searchable categories listed include:
- Mobile Devices: Smartphones, cellphones
- Computers & Laptops: Laptops, tablets
- Storage Media: Hard drives, external drives, USB flash drives, SIM cards, memory cards
- Imaging Devices: Cameras, drones (unmanned aircraft systems)
- Other Digital Devices: Smartwatches, wearable technology, vehicle infotainment systems
Advances in detection technology noted in the report mean device examinations can be completed more quickly than before, which could incentivize more frequent searches in the months ahead.
What Happens When Canada and U. S. Officials Respond?
Canadian authorities have reacted to the increase in inspections. Karine Martel, spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency, said the Canadian border was moving in the opposite direction by treating personal device examinations as non-routine and raising procedural safeguards. The CBSA instituted requirements in 2021 that chiefs and superintendents approve personal digital device examinations and that officers follow more detailed note-taking requirements when carrying out those examinations.
At the same time, U. S. ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra issued a statement suggesting that public concern about device checks had been amplified by media coverage and characterized that coverage as fear-inducing for travellers. The contrast in public messaging highlights a policy gap between the two governments on how frequently and under what circumstances electronic device inspections should occur.
What Should Travellers and Stakeholders Do Now?
Practical steps flow from the data and policy signals in the report. Travellers should inventory devices and removable media before travel and be aware that new categories such as smartwatches and SIM cards are now explicitly eligible for inspection. Legal counsel, privacy advocates and corporate travel managers should monitor procedural safeguards and local requirements for device examinations, and prepare to document any interaction with officers.
For policymakers and enforcement agencies, the central choices are whether procedural transparency and reporting will increase or whether disclosure will remain limited. The 2025 report’s lack of breakdowns by traveller origin or inspection location means independent oversight and clearer public reporting would be the primary ways to reduce uncertainty for cross-border travellers.
Travelers, lawyers and privacy advocates should track developments and prepare for a future shaped by us cbp phone searches
