Episode Details

U.S. border agents significantly increased electronic device searches in 2025, checking over 55,000 devices, a 17% rise from the previous year. The new directive expanded searchable items to include smartwatches, SIM cards, and GPS units. While officials claim these searches aid in combating terrorism, drug smuggling, and child exploitation, privacy advocates and immigration lawyers express concerns about potential entry denials and deeper probes for non-citizens. Searches are targeted based on tips about crimes or unauthorized jobs, and refusing to unlock a device often results in being turned away. Travel experts advise caution in todays political climate, warning against risky social media posts and suggesting against using burner phones.

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