Gizmodo Border Device Searches Surge Amid Political Tensions
Article Content
- •Border searches of devices have risen 32% in 2026.
- •47,517 searches were classified as basic, requiring no suspicion.
- •Refusal to provide device passcodes can result in detention of the device.
Border searches of laptops and smartphones entering the U.S. have increased by 32% in 2026, with 55,424 devices searched in the previous fiscal year. This rise is attributed to heightened scrutiny by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, particularly in the context of midterm elections. Basic searches, which require no reasonable suspicion, accounted for 47,517 of these searches, while advanced searches, requiring reasonable suspicion, totaled 4,564. Travelers must provide passcodes for their devices, and refusal can lead to detention of the device for up to five days. The increase reflects broader concerns about surveillance and civil liberties under the current administration, especially as election-related tensions rise.
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