US citizen questioning by customs upon return

[HomerJS]

Another US citizen harassed by Trump's border patrol. I looked up legitimate question. What you do for a living is legitimate. Asking if you ever talk about Trump is not.

https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1klbkav/twitch_streamer_hasan_piker_was_detained_by

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

But with these power hungry mall cops, they’ll take this as a sign of guilt not as a precaution. Like many stories now of Canadians being refused entry because they carried a burner phone. Why is your phone empty!!!! You have something to hide!!!!!!

I'm legitimately concerned about the fact I don't have a social media presence, other than this place. Will I end up in a room for 'lying' about the fact I have nothing to show them?

 

[fskimospy]

I'm legitimately concerned about the fact I don't have a social media presence, other than this place. Will I end up in a room for 'lying' about the fact I have nothing to show them?

What he should have said and you should say is it’s none of their business how you exercise your first amendment rights.

 

[nakedfrog]

What he should have said and you should say is it’s none of their business how you exercise your first amendment rights.

Uh, yeah, don't sass cops if you want things to go well.

 

[fskimospy]

Uh, yeah, don't sass cops if you want things to go well.

You can certainly say it more politely but regardless the smart move is to tell them nothing.

The cop in this situation is not your friend.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

What he should have said and you should say is it’s none of their business how you exercise your first amendment rights.

I'm to brown to say that if it's spring or summer, I better wait until the fall to travel.

 

[fskimospy]

I'm too brown to say that if it's spring or summer, I better wait until the fall to travel.

I am extremely white and I recognize that colors (har) things somewhat but in this case the agent was asking him about some very specific things and it was clear he was flagged.

If you ask any defense attorney as soon as that happens the answer is to shut up, shut up, shut up. They are not looking for reasons to send you through, they are looking for reasons to detain or imprison you.

 

[nakedfrog]

You can certainly say it more politely but regardless the smart move is to tell them nothing.

The cop in this situation is not your friend.

Preaching to the choir here

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Imagine if MAGA people gets the same treatment outside US and even outside MAGA states

Go look into the uproar every time someone gets arrested trying to bring a gun into Canada..... they REALLY respect the border then.....

 

[Brovane]

Uh, yeah, don't sass cops if you want things to go well.

From reading this and watching the video, I don't really see sass in his interaction with the border agent.

 

[fskimospy]

From reading this and watching the video, I don't really see sass in his interaction with the border agent.

I think he was referring to my recommendation to tell the agent to fuck off.

 

[nakedfrog]

I think he was referring to my recommendation to tell the agent to fuck off.

That's correct, she was.

 

[pmv]

LOL I once flew back with just a backpack and no luggage..

The customs gave me a long stare like.. seriously you travelled internationally with just a backpack??

They really want to find something and fine you for not declaring something.

I once went on a short trip to Prague, with a backpack containing nothing but a couple of pairs of underpants and The Brothers Karamazov. Didn't have any issues with customs, but, God, it turns out that's a boring book.

I'm legitimately concerned about the fact I don't have a social media presence, other than this place. Will I end up in a room for 'lying' about the fact I have nothing to show them?

Just point them to this place.

Spoiler

[you're doomed]

 

[fskimospy]

That's correct, she was.

I’m so sorry! I assumed you were a man because this board is mostly male dorks like me. My apologies.

 

[gothuevos]

What he should have said and you should say is it’s none of their business how you exercise your first amendment rights.

See you in El Salvador, my friend.

 

[fskimospy]

See you in El Salvador, my friend.

Remember when you said things were so bad republicans would win senate seats in Hawaii?

Given that why would anyone listen to you?

 

[Lanyap]

We’re hearing more and more stories about intelligent profiling. Its been reported that musk and his DOUCHE boys put together an huge immigration database to work with.

ICE Agents Condemned for 'Profiling' After Mistaking Paralegal for Undocumented Immigrant: 'They Were Just Looking for Any Hispanic Female'

A TikTok video showing ICE agents mistakenly targeting a Latina paralegal during a supposed welfare check has gone viral.

www.latintimes.com

Anti-Trump TikToker Says She Was Detained By ICE At Airport | Detroit's BIN 1130

A Florida woman who makes anti-Trump TikTok videos and apparel said she was detained by ICE at a Miami airport.

detroit.binnews.com

 

[cytg111]

Another US citizen harassed by Trump's border patrol. I looked up legitimate question. What you do for a living is legitimate. Asking if you ever talk about Trump is not.

https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1klbkav/twitch_streamer_hasan_piker_was_detained_by

What you really need to do, like yesterday, is start a database on these Gestapo wannabe's. If shit continues on this trajectory you gonna need it.

 

[K1052]

If you are a US citizen re-entering the country power off your devices and don't say a god damned thing if they start asking anything beyond the formal questions. They are not there to help you.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

If you are a US citizen re-entering the country power off your devices and don't say a god damned thing if they start asking anything beyond the formal questions. They are not there to help you.

Yup. Questions should be limited to your citizenship, nothing else. Now they can hold you up and take forever if you don't so..... depends on how much time you got.

 

[Brainonska511]

If you are a US citizen re-entering the country power off your devices and don't say a god damned thing if they start asking anything beyond the formal questions. They are not there to help you.

Yep. You have no idea what can be buried in various federal statutes. Why give them more information to potentially use stuff against you later?

 

[Brovane]

Yup. Questions should be limited to your citizenship, nothing else. Now they can hold you up and take forever if you don't so..... depends on how much time you got.

From reading this, SCOTUS has given US customs the authority to search a person regardless of citizenship including electronic devices. A US citizen cannot be denied entry but their electronic devices can be detained until they can be examined. So basically travel with a burner phone when you go overseas and then wipe it back to factory settings before going through US customs. It says they cannot access cloud information but I wouldn't trust them not to do this.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-search-authority/border-search-electronic-devices

CBP conducts border searches of electronic devices in accordance with statutory and regulatory authorities, as well as applicable judicial precedent, including United States Supreme Court precedent recognizing the authority of the government to conduct border searches. All persons regardless of citizenship, baggage, and merchandise arriving in, or departing from, the United States are subject to inspection by CBP. CBP’s border authorities permit the inspection, examination, and search of vehicles, persons, baggage, and merchandise to ensure compliance with the laws enforced or administered by CBP. This search authority extends to electronic devices crossing our nation’s borders.

Pursuant to CBP’s border search authority explained above, when presenting their effects for inspection, all travelers are obligated to present their electronic devices and the information resident on the device in a condition that allows for the examination of the device and its contents. If the electronic device cannot be inspected because it is protected by a passcode or encryption or other security mechanism, that device may be subject to exclusion, detention, or other appropriate action or disposition. Additionally, the traveler may face longer processing times to allow for CBP to access the contents of the device.

Foreign nationals who are applicants for admission to the United States must establish to the satisfaction of the inspecting CBP officer that they are entitled to enter the United States. Admissibility determinations are made based on the totality of the circumstances. If a foreign national refuses to present their electronic devices and the information resident on the device in a condition that allows for the examination of the device and its contents, CBP may consider the foreign national’s noncompliance and the inability to inspect the device when making admissibility decisions and may take appropriate law enforcement actions. However, CBP’s ability to inspect an electronic device alone does not determine admissibility.

If a traveler being admitted as a U.S. citizen does not present their device in a condition that allows for examination, the U.S. citizen traveler will not be denied entry into the United States based on CBP’s inability to complete an inspection of their device. However, as noted above, their device may be subject to exclusion, detention, or other appropriate action or disposition.

Any passcodes or other means of access provided by the traveler will be used as needed to facilitate the examination; however, they will be deleted or destroyed when no longer needed to facilitate the search of a given device and may not be used to access information that is only stored remotely.

The border search will only include an examination of information that is resident upon the device at the time it is presented for inspection. CBP officers may not use the device to access information that is solely stored remotely.

Prior to beginning a basic or advanced search, CBP Officers will ensure all data and network connections are disabled. To avoid retrieving or accessing information stored remotely and not otherwise present on the device, CBP Officers will either request that the traveler disable connectivity to any network (e.g., by placing the device in airplane mode, disabling Bluetooth and disabling Wi-Fi), or the CBP Officer will themselves disable network connectivity.

 

[Brainonska511]

Bluesky

bsky.app

Here's a new one: green card holder ripped off his Europe-bound flight out of DFW by an out of control federal agency for unknown reasons, forcing band to cancel their European tour.

 

[cytg111]

Remember who they are... lists

 

[NWRMidnight]

From reading this, SCOTUS has given US customs the authority to search a person regardless of citizenship including electronic devices. A US citizen cannot be denied entry but their electronic devices can be detained until they can be examined. So basically travel with a burner phone when you go overseas and then wipe it back to factory settings before going through US customs. It says they cannot access cloud information but I wouldn't trust them not to do this.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-search-authority/border-search-electronic-devices

CBP conducts border searches of electronic devices in accordance with statutory and regulatory authorities, as well as applicable judicial precedent, including United States Supreme Court precedent recognizing the authority of the government to conduct border searches. All persons regardless of citizenship, baggage, and merchandise arriving in, or departing from, the United States are subject to inspection by CBP. CBP’s border authorities permit the inspection, examination, and search of vehicles, persons, baggage, and merchandise to ensure compliance with the laws enforced or administered by CBP. This search authority extends to electronic devices crossing our nation’s borders.

Pursuant to CBP’s border search authority explained above, when presenting their effects for inspection, all travelers are obligated to present their electronic devices and the information resident on the device in a condition that allows for the examination of the device and its contents. If the electronic device cannot be inspected because it is protected by a passcode or encryption or other security mechanism, that device may be subject to exclusion, detention, or other appropriate action or disposition. Additionally, the traveler may face longer processing times to allow for CBP to access the contents of the device.

Foreign nationals who are applicants for admission to the United States must establish to the satisfaction of the inspecting CBP officer that they are entitled to enter the United States. Admissibility determinations are made based on the totality of the circumstances. If a foreign national refuses to present their electronic devices and the information resident on the device in a condition that allows for the examination of the device and its contents, CBP may consider the foreign national’s noncompliance and the inability to inspect the device when making admissibility decisions and may take appropriate law enforcement actions. However, CBP’s ability to inspect an electronic device alone does not determine admissibility.

If a traveler being admitted as a U.S. citizen does not present their device in a condition that allows for examination, the U.S. citizen traveler will not be denied entry into the United States based on CBP’s inability to complete an inspection of their device. However, as noted above, their device may be subject to exclusion, detention, or other appropriate action or disposition.

Any passcodes or other means of access provided by the traveler will be used as needed to facilitate the examination; however, they will be deleted or destroyed when no longer needed to facilitate the search of a given device and may not be used to access information that is only stored remotely.

The border search will only include an examination of information that is resident upon the device at the time it is presented for inspection. CBP officers may not use the device to access information that is solely stored remotely.

Prior to beginning a basic or advanced search, CBP Officers will ensure all data and network connections are disabled. To avoid retrieving or accessing information stored remotely and not otherwise present on the device, CBP Officers will either request that the traveler disable connectivity to any network (e.g., by placing the device in airplane mode, disabling Bluetooth and disabling Wi-Fi), or the CBP Officer will themselves disable network connectivity.

Just because Trump's administration has put such langauge up on the cbp web site (last edited April of 2025), doesn't make it factual. What SCOTUS court cases has set this precedents for US citizens that customes has the right to search their devices, and can be denied entry back in to the US? Without such information, such claims could be just lies pissing in the wind.