Border Crossing
& Device Searches.

55,318 devices searched at the border in 2025 — no warrant required. Agents can extract everything in 90 seconds. This guide tells you exactly what they can do, what you can do about it, and the specific steps to take before you reach the checkpoint.

• 01The 100-mile "constitution-free" border zone — what rights you actually have inside it
• 02Basic vs. advanced searches — the legal distinction CBP uses and what it means for your device
• 03What forensic software extracts from a phone in 90 seconds — and how to prevent it
• 04Exactly how to lock down your phone before you reach the checkpoint (iPhone and Android)
• 05What to say and what not to say if an agent asks you to unlock your device
• 06Device seizure: what CBP can keep, how long they can keep it, and how to get it back
• 07Non-citizen vs. citizen rights at the border — the differences that matter
• 08The legal status of cloud data at checkpoints — and why you should log out before crossing