Searches of electronic devices by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at points of entry into the United States have increased by over 32% this year, with a record-setting pace likely, as per CBC News reports on CBP data.
In the first three quarters of the 2026 fiscal year (spanning from October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026), CBP officers examined 52,080 electronic devices, a notable rise from the 39,251 devices scrutinized during the same period the previous year. Almost matching the total searches conducted in the entire 2025 fiscal year, when 55,424 devices were inspected.
Of the total searches, 47,517 were basic checks, which can be performed without any specific suspicion, while 4,564 were advanced searches, allowing for a deeper examination if there is reasonable suspicion of illegal activity or national security concerns.
CBP declined to disclose the breakdown of searches between the northern border with Canada and the southern border with Mexico, or between searches at airports and land borders. They also did not reveal the number of travelers entering the U.S. during the period or the distinction between searches on U.S. citizens and non-citizens, data typically included in annual reports.
While CBP stated that the searches were minimal compared to the total number of travelers, Esha Bhandari from the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project called for increased congressional oversight regarding the surge in device searches, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
In an effort to clarify the scope of device searches, CBP updated its guidelines in January to encompass various electronic devices and types of criminal activities, such as smuggling contraband and detecting national security threats.
Laura Dawson of the Future Borders Coalition highlighted the challenges in assessing the increased searches without comprehensive data on locations and traveler volumes, noting a broader focus on border security and enhanced cooperation between Canadian and U.S. border services.
While reports of device searches may cause concern, Dawson pointed out that such inspections are still infrequent, with one U.S. inspection per 9,000 border crossings and one Canadian search per 14,000 crossings. Canadian officials have historically conducted fewer device searches at the border compared to U.S. authorities, with decreasing numbers over recent years.