U.S. Border Device Searches Jump 32 Percent

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents searched tens of thousands of electronic devices belonging to travelers entering the United States during the first three quarters of the 2026 fiscal year, according to data obtained by CBC News. The figures show that device inspections climbed more than 32 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.

Between Oct. 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, officers searched 52,080 devices, CBC News reported. That total covers just nine months and nearly matches the record 55,424 devices searched over the entirety of the 2025 fiscal year. During the corresponding three-quarter window a year prior, officers inspected 39,251 devices.

Basic and Advanced Device Inspections at U.S. Borders

The updated data breaks the inspections down into two distinct tiers of scrutiny. Out of this year’s total, 47,517 checks were classified as basic searches, which border agents can initiate without reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. Under current agency rules, travelers selected for a basic search are legally required to provide device passcodes so officers can review stored information. Refusing a basic search permits officers to detain the device for up to five days.

A smaller subset of 4,564 inspections involved advanced searches, which require an officer to claim reasonable suspicion that a law has been violated or that a national security concern is present. During advanced searches, agents use forensic software to unlock devices and copy encrypted data for scanning and review. In January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection updated its guidelines to specify that searchable electronics include smart watches, drones, flash drives, SIM cards, GPS systems, and vehicle infotainment systems.

Civil Liberties Concerns and Official Explanations

Esha Bhandari, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, told CBC News that the sharp increase calls for more congressional oversight. Bhandari noted that travelers during border inspections are sometimes questioned about their political opinions or religious practices. Laura Dawson, executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, added that assessing the figures proves difficult because the agency does not disclose the specific geographic breakdown of where the searches occurred.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection public affairs officer Jessica Turner stated that searches remain “exceedingly rare,” affecting 0.01 percent of travelers annually. Turner maintained that border personnel utilize device checks to detect digital contraband, terrorism-related content, and information relevant to traveler admissibility. The agency has not released figures detailing how many searches occurred at land borders versus airports, nor how many targeted U.S. citizens.