Between April and June 2025, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) carried out an unprecedented 14,899 electronic device searches, the highest quarterly total ever recorded and a 16.7% increase on the previous record set in early 2022.
What’s Driving the Increase
The vast majority were basic searches, manual inspections by officers of phones, laptops, or cameras, amounting to 13,824 instances. Advanced searches, which involve forensic tools capable of extracting large amounts of data, accounted for 1,075 cases. While the overall number has soared, the rate of advanced searches has remained relatively steady for nearly two years.
A Decade of Growth
This surge continues a long-term upward trend. In 2015, CBP conducted just 8,503 device searches. By the 2024 financial year, the figure had risen dramatically to 46,362.
Who Is Affected?
Despite the rise, CBP stresses that fewer than 0.01% of all international travellers entering the United States are subject to such checks. In practice, the overwhelming majority of visitors and returning citizens pass through without their devices being examined.
A Legal Grey Area
CBP operates under the border search exception, a doctrine that permits warrantless inspections of travellers’ belongings, including electronics, at the border. This gives border agents wide-ranging authority, but it has sparked ongoing legal challenges:
- Fourth Amendment protections generally do not apply in border zones.
- Civil liberties groups such as the ACLU argue that these searches pose significant risks to privacy and free expression. Esha Bhandari of the ACLU warns they have a “chilling effect”, particularly for journalists, lawyers, activists, and critics of government policy.
Courts remain divided on whether warrants should be required, and the US Supreme Court has yet to issue a definitive ruling.
Practical Advice for Travellers
While the legal position is unsettled, privacy advocates recommend that travellers take sensible precautions, including:
- Minimise the amount of sensitive data stored on devices
- Use encryption and secure apps
- Disable biometric log-ins
- Where possible travel with a secondary “clean” device
Key Points at a Glance
| Key Insight | Details |
| Search Volume (Q2 2025) | 14,899 devices searched, a record high, 16.7% above Q1 2022 |
| Search Types | 13,824 basic; 1,075 advanced; advanced searches flat for nearly two years |
| Historical Trend | From 8,503 in 2015 to 46,362 in FY2024 |
| Legal Basis | Border search exception; not covered by Fourth Amendment protections |
| Traveller Tips | Limit data, use encryption, disable biometrics, consider spare devices |
Final Thoughts
The sharp rise in device checks highlights the growing tension between border security and personal privacy. As technology evolves and the legal framework struggles to keep pace, travellers should remain alert, prepared, and informed about their rights.
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