Password, Please: Border Searches of Laptops, Phones Up 32% This Year

Border searches of laptops and smartphones on U.S. travelers have increased 32% in 2026, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducting a record 55,424 device searches in the 2025 fiscal year. The majority of these searches (47,517) were "basic" searches that officers can initiate without reasonable suspicion, and travelers can be required to provide their device passcodes or face up to five days of device detention if they refuse.