Inspection of cell phones in US Customs

We’ve traveled overseas 2x since the election and neither time did we have our phone inspected. no one even asked if we had a phone.
Don’t believe everything you read on social media.

Where are reading and hearing this? There are new and frequent travelers and travel experts on this popular leisure travel forum. Many go on the Rick Steves organization group tours and many have submitted independent trip reports this year; none have reported a phone being searched.

I traveled to England in April and Japan in May. No one at immigration did much but wave me through -- no questions about cellphones.

Flew back into the US from Paris in April. The only question I was asked was if I had anything to declare.

Your location says Scotland, but you mention returning to the US. If you were born in the USA, and aren't likely to be subject to profiling, then your phone likely won't be searched. However, contrary to the posts above, I've seen multiple reports of non Americans, Green Card holders, visa holders, and even naturalized US citizens who have had their phones searched, and worse. If you fall into any of those categories, you may want to look at the contents on your phone and delete items that may cause unwanted scrutiny.

The OP and above poster don't cite any sources of these reports. The US Custom and Border Patrol has published information on what would cause a search on their website:

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

Guys, try to be a little gentle on your replies.
Thank you.

Finally! Someone is interested in seeing all my vacation photos!

If you are an American citizen and coming back from a vacation or work travel, you will be fine. I have had family and co-workers traveing overseas this year and no one has been asked for their phone.

Posted by Connie

Finally! Someone is interested in seeing all my vacation photos!

Exactly!
And don't forget the pictures of the kids, grandkids, pets, grandpets . . . And make sure to describe each one and where it was taken and what the occasion was and how brilliant and accomplished and beautiful/handsome they are, what they are studying in school . . .
And when they try to move you along, say "Just a minute. You have to see this one. Let me find it." Then start scrolling and scrolling and scrolling.

@Connie, luv it!
We returned from Italy this May, 2025, and just breezed through without any issues.
Safe travels!

I appreciate Forum Member CJean's thoughtful response, and second Forum Member jkgaliger's request regarding the OP's, (apparently) a NON-US citizen considering a visit to the US, post:

Guys, try to be a little gentle on your replies. Thank you.

Some of the articles reporting inspection of electronic devices of foreign visitors and US green card holders date from Mar, but many are recent; links to a sample are below. Even if one doubts the veracity of some of the sources, I can understand why the many articles would cause pause in investing in a (likely expensive) international trip to the US.

TravelPulse Canada: Canada Updates U.S. Travel Advisory: Here’s What It Means for Anyone Crossing the Border

Newsweek: Border Patrol Checking US Visitors' Phones, Social Media: Is It Legal?

CNET: Do You Need a Burner Phone for Travel? How to Keep Data Private and Avoid Snooping Border Agents

I (American citizen) have entered the United States from Europe four times since the first of the year. No one has asked me a single thing,

I have gone through Global Entry as usual without any delay.

Cell phone inspection threads are gaining ground on the Cotswolds and Neuschwanstein frontrunners.

Thank you for the respectful replies. I realize this may seem uninformed or naïve, but I am not at liberty to share experiences friends of mine have had. I appreciate the reassurance and the information!

Bottom line is this possible but rare.

These kinds of inspections are usually meant to uncover intent to work, overstay, or otherwise violate the rules for visiting as a tourist. I suspect but can't prove that ideology comes into it almost exclusively for public figures and activists.

Don't go with the intent to work (not even a little bit), do have a return or onward ticket, if self-employed don't carry the tools of your trade, if unemployed be prepared to prove you have the means to support yourself (I'd expect significant scrutiny).

I do have Global Entry and came in thru Seattle yesterday on a flight from Amsterdam. I got to the kiosk. Stood for less than 30 seconds while it took my picture and the officer who was standing there said, welcome home Ms Wilder, you are good to go. I did not even have to show my passport or put it in the machine. The line attendant at security looked briefly at my passport to channel me to a certain line but that was it.

So, did not need to show my passport, did not have an interview with an officer, was not asked if I had a cell phone or vacation pictures (oh, you should see the video of the diving gannets off Shetland and here. look, we had a picnic... hahahaha!!). The hardest thing about the whole experience was taking the dang escalators up from the South arrival gates.

uninformed or naïve

No, you are just a victim of the latest internet fable. Less than 0.01% of those crossing the border, all borders airports and by car have had their phones looked at. This is about the same as under the previous administration. Wouldn't you suppose there might be a real cause 0.01% of the time? The one claim of it being political that I am aware of was made by a gentleman who was found to have illegally smuggled classified documents out of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Not a credible reference.

The .01% stat appears to be for 2024 unless Mr E you have a specific source for 2025 data.

As well, non US citizens are 3x as likely to have their devices searched in data up to 2024 so the experiences mentioned here by US citizens may not be as relevant. It is too soon to know if for 2025 there is an increase in searches. And the OP mentions having friends with personal experiences so not sourcing this concern from social media.

I agree with you Mr E with a slight modification. You wrote: "The one claim of it being political that I am aware of was made by a gentleman who was found to have illegally smuggled classified documents out of Los Alamos National Laboratory. "

I'd note the French disputed this (see Reuters et al) and suggested it was for political social media posts. Further the person stating this fact for the Administration, Hilton Beckham, has-- how shall I put this-- maybe some issues with fidelity to facts.

With that said, I agree with your basic sentiment about this not being something to worry a US citizen traveler returning home. It would have been unthinkable a year ago. (It's now thinkable but less concerning than say a lightening strike.)

Happy travels!

Claire, interesting, you ask. The governments position on the subject and the numbers have been posted several times. So yes, for the first two quarters of 2025, the numbers are in the government link posted above and here: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-search-authority/border-search-electronic-devices.

David you could be correct. But then I would have to believe a immigration agent unilaterally, etc, etc .... if true I suspect he's looking for a new job. But all guesses and it's ONE if at all .....

Thanks Mr. E for the link. It will be interesting to see if these numbers change for the second half of 2025 and onwards and in particular, for non US citizens.

It will be. And if they go up substantially, that's a conversation. Until then, "What If !!!" Reminds me of a SNL skit "What if in WWII if Elranor Roosevelt could fly?" https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.onesnladay.com/2018/10/10/november-4-1978-steve-martin-van-morrison-s4-e4/%3famp

I appreciate the openness, Mr E, but we're getting a bit far from the OP's topic.

For everyone, please keep replies narrowed to the OP's topic, or the thread will be locked.

Mr E, I will keep it brief as per the Webmaster’s request to stay on topic. I live in a country made up of immigrants (so not unique to the US). Toronto is THE most diverse city in the world (yup even more so than London and NYC). I am the child of immigrants. I am well versed on many aspects of immigration.

As a travel forum, safety issue questions related to various countries and cities are asked here. The US is not exempt from those types of questions/concerns.

Hopefully the OP has received sufficient information here to help guide her travel plans.

The OP has asked to have the thread closed. Thanks everyone.