United States customs officials saw a surge in the number of electronic device searches conducted on travelers entering the country last year. An updated policy now includes additional items like smart watches, SIM cards, and flash drives in the list of items subject to inspection.
In 2025, officers examined 55,318 devices, indicating a 17.6% increase from the 2024 figure of 47,047 and a 32.4% increase from 2023’s 41,767, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The CBP has not disclosed the distribution of searches across different borders or the breakdown between airports and land borders.
Routine device checks, which can be carried out without suspicion, rose from 42,725 in 2024 to 50,922 in 2025. The count of advanced searches, where officers scrutinize or copy device data, slightly increased to 4,396 in 2025 from 4,322 in 2024 and 3,989 in 2023. Advanced searches are permitted only when there are legal violations or national security concerns.
Searches on non-U.S. citizens have been increasing steadily, but the number of searches on American citizens has notably risen from 8,657 in 2023 to 13,590 in 2025. The Canadian government updated its travel advisory to caution travelers about potential phone and laptop inspections by U.S. border officials, while U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra downplayed the frequency of such searches.
On the Canadian side, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) conducted only 1,108 device searches in 2024, with 498 instances of violations. The CBSA checked devices of 0.0012% of 93.7 million travelers, significantly lower than the U.S. CBP’s examination rate.
The ACLU has highlighted a steady rise in U.S. CBP device searches over the years, with concerns about privacy invasion. Legal challenges have been raised against these searches, with varying rulings across different U.S. regions. The Supreme Court’s stance on the constitutionality of these searches remains pending.
A revised directive by the CBP now encompasses a broader range of devices eligible for searches. The updated guidelines specify the offenses the searches aim to uncover and provide clearer protocols for officers during inspections. Winnipeg immigration lawyer Jessica Jensen notes an increase in advanced searches, emphasizing the importance of travelers understanding their rights during such encounters.
