Searches of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may prevent the entry of people or property at the US border and at ports of entry. Increasingly, CBP officers also perform warrantless searches of personal electronic devices such as cell phones and computers. CBP officers sometimes even retain data from devices. The stated purpose for these activities is to stop harmful content, terrorists, and illegal immigrants from entering the United States, but legal experts argue that these practices violate the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures.