International Trade Club

Article Date: 01 October 2009

US Border Searches of Electronic Devices

A new policy gives US immigration officials the right to search traveller’s electronic devices at will.
This policy applies to officials in the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Customs and Border Protection Services. It gives them the right to “search, detain, seize, retain and share electronic devices, or information contained therein, with or without individualised suspicion”.
These powers apply to border searches, such as those conducted at an airport or border crossing. They do not require the traveller’s consent and apply even if the US is not your final destination and you are just making a connection in the country.