Last quarter, US Customs conducted more searches of electronic devices than ever before

Over the last three months, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has checked 14,899 electronic devices from travelers crossing the United States border, setting a new record.

The CBP is responsible for protecting the United States’ borders. All travelers crossing the border are subjected to inspection. As the world around us continues to become increasingly digital, inspecting electronic devices crossing the border has become an important part of the CBP’s job.

CBP officers may decide to search travelers’ mobile phones, laptops, cameras, or other electronic devices to identify and combat terrorism, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), drug smuggling, human trafficking, visa fraud, or other international violations.

Searches of electronic devices may also determine a traveler’s intention to enter the United States, thus providing additional information for CBP officers. Travelers are obliged to cooperate and have to hand over their devices for inspection when asked.

The CBP distinguishes between a basic search and an advanced search. A basic search means that a CBP officer reviews an electronic device manually. An advanced search encompasses reviewing, copying, and analyzing an electronic device with additional external equipment.

In 2024, the CBP processed over 420 million travelers entering the United States. CBP officers searched 47,047 international travelers, which is less than 0,01 percent of all travelers. 42,725 or 90% were basic searches.

According to the latest statistics, the number of inspections of electronic devices performed by the CBP skyrocketed in the second quarter of 2025 to a total of 14,899. CBP officers conducted 13,824 basic searches (92.8%) and 1,075 advanced searches (7.2%).

The previous record dates back to the first quarter of 2022, when CBP officers searched 12,766 electronic devices. The Customs and Border Protection has no clear explanation for the sudden rise of searches.

Civil rights groups have criticized searches of travelers’ electronic devices for years, arguing that they should only be permitted with a court warrant.