U.S. border agents searched 52,080 devices in nine months

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers searched 52,080 electronic devices during the first three quarters of fiscal 2026. This figure marks a 32 percent increase from the same period last year, when 39,251 devices were examined. The data covers October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and indicates a pace that could set a new annual record.

The agency classified 47,517 of these inspections as basic searches. Officers can conduct these without reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. An additional 4,564 were advanced searches, which allow agents to analyze or copy device contents if they have reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity or national security concerns. CBP did not release data on where these searches occurred, such as whether they took place at the Canadian or Mexican border, or at airports versus land crossings.

Jessica Turner, a CBP public affairs officer, stated that device searches affected a small portion of the 419 million travelers who entered the country in 2025. She noted that year-over-year, only 0.01 percent of travelers have their devices searched. Turner explained that the inspections aim to detect digital contraband, terrorism-related content, and information relevant to admissibility.

Esha Bhandari, director of the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, argued that the rise in searches requires greater congressional oversight. She said it is difficult to speculate on the reasons for the increase because the government does not explain it. Bhandari expressed concern that the government tends to use its powers to the detriment of travelers’ privacy. She described anecdotes from her group, such as travelers being asked about political opinions or religious practice, as troubling.

In January, CBP updated its guidelines to include items like flash drives, SIM cards, GPS systems, drones, vehicle infotainment systems, and smartwatches under the definition of searchable devices. The update also added smuggling of narcotics and firearms, transnational theft of proprietary information, and digital contraband to the list of crimes targeted by these searches. Bhandari said these changes altered only a few procedures at the margins.

Laura Dawson, executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the increase is hard to judge without knowing where the searches occurred or how many people crossed the border. She pointed to the World Cup this summer as a potential factor in a more diverse mix of visitors. Dawson also cited greater focus on border security and closer cooperation between Canadian and U.S. border services, including on human smuggling and the Ryan Wedding case.

Despite alarming stories on social media, Dawson noted that device searches remain rare. By her figures, one in 9,000 crossings leads to a U.S. inspection, and one in 14,000 crossings leads to a search on the Canadian side. Canadian officials have searched a much smaller share of devices than their U.S. counterparts in recent years, and those numbers have been falling. The Canada Border Services Agency said its 2026 statistics are not yet available.