Wired reports Customs and Border Protection searched a record number of phones and electronic devices at U.S. border ports of entry over the past fiscal year. Through the end of September, border agents conducted over 55,000 searches of electronic devices without a warrant, a spike of 17%. Since Trump’s return to office, people crossing through U.S. ports of entry have also reported long detention periods and being denied entry into the United States over messages on their phone. Border agents have broad powers to search and detain people, including U.S. citizens and green card holders, within 100 miles of the international border, dubbed the “Constitution-free zone.”
This comes amid reports CBP is expanding its collection of biometric data of noncitizens, photographing and fingerprinting all people who enter and leave the United States through ports of entry.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is replacing ICE’s leadership at half of the country’s field offices with Border Patrol officials in regions where President Trump is demanding more immigration raids and arrests.











