Visitors Warned: Wipe Trump Messages From Phones

April 2, 2025 Trump Administration, United States

“U.S. Customs Border Protection, CBP, has the authority to search the devices of anybody traveling across the border, including U.S. citizens – and definitely Canadians,” said Cindy Switzer, a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer practising on both sides of the border. In an interview with CTV News, Switzer said, in her experience, border guards generally used that power in the past to look for evidence of crimes such as drug trafficking and possession of child pornography.

But some recent examples show guards may be denying entry to foreign nationals based on political leanings discovered in their social media and messaging apps that do not align with the Trump administration and its policies. Mike Agerbo, a digital living expert and host of the Get Connected podcast, told CTV News people concerned about protecting their privacy while crossing the border should consider using a different phone than they normally carry.

Read the full article.

Agerbo tells the outlet that visitors shouldn’t load social media, email, or messaging apps onto their replacement phones before crossing the border.

He also advises that visitors using their regular phones should wipe any messages that might draw the attention of US border officials.

The posts below link to multiple other outlets reporting similar advice to foreign visitors today.

Yes, border control can go through your phone. Here’s what travelers should know. https://t.co/vs16171zyl pic.twitter.com/tpIuvGuDWr

— Very Law (@verylawpllc) April 1, 2025

Yes, border control can go through your phone when entering the US and possibly deny entry. Here’s what travelers should know.https://t.co/aCXjEixfiw
Immigration lawyers urge caution to foreigners traveling to the US. See 🧵
Is this the kind of country we want?#DemsAbroad pic.twitter.com/S15hNBFGjt

— Democrats Abroad (@DemsAbroad) April 2, 2025

If you think you’ll simply be able to decline when a border agent asks you to hand over your phone or computer, think again.

US CBP claims broad authority to rifle through electronic devices of traveling into & out of US, regardless of citizenship status. https://t.co/ZJ6Tp9v6CM

— Anna Núñez JOB SEEKER-COMMS (@nunez_anna) March 30, 2025

Critical of trump, I mean Felon47, and crossing the border into the US? You may not be let in if they search your phone and see that Can U.S. border guards deny entry based on cellphone contents? – CTVNews https://t.co/JgbmYJNt3p

— Lynn Williams 🇨🇦 (@AchievingLynn) April 2, 2025

U.S. customs officials can look through a mobile phone, check comments made on social media and look through a laptop, she said. They can also take devices or download all of their contents, she added.
https://t.co/GIFz5JOJ4e

— Aarti Pole आरती (@aartipole) April 2, 2025