How to lock down your phone if you’re traveling to the U.S.
How to lock down your phone if you’re traveling to the U.S.
40 comments
-
Locking down your phone does nothing for you... If they see that you have a phone and they can't access it they simply won't let you in the country regardless of who you are.
The only solution to this is to simply not have an electronic device when going through customs.
Overnight your cell phone to yourself if you're that worried about it. Any other solution is superfluous and outright stupid.
If you're entering the US through Mexico and they demand you unlock your phone and you refuse or it's "locked down" you don't win that conflict. You're just a permanent resident of Mexico now because you're not getting into the United States regardless of your citizenship status.
-
*regarding paragraph 1+4: this is true for travelers visiting the US (which is what the article is aimed at but, for clarity), but not returning citizens. They can hold the device, but have to fold and let citizens re-enter.
Also, an alternative to not carrying your device is to just wipe it before boarding/reaching your port of entry. Let them pretend to be Hollywood csi detectives and image a freshly-wiped phone. Then restore from a backup later.
-
Pursuant to CBP’s border search authority explained above, when presenting their effects for inspection, all travelers are obligated to present their electronic devices and the information resident on the device in a condition that allows for the examination of the device and its contents. If the electronic device cannot be inspected because it is protected by a passcode or encryption or other security mechanism, that device may be subject to exclusion, detention, or other appropriate action or disposition. Additionally, the traveler may face longer processing times to allow for CBP to access the contents of the device.
Taken directly from CBP's website; regardless of any citizenship, or nationality, they can refuse to let you reenter the country until your device is searched. Period. I don't know where this idea that "I'm an American, they can't refuse to let me back into my own country!" narrative came from, but it is entirely fictitious. There are dozens of reasons for you to be refused reentry.
-
Straight from the ACLU:
Do I have to provide my laptop passwords or unlock my mobile phone for law enforcement officers at the border?
Customs officers have sometimes asked travelers to provide their laptop passwords or unlock their mobile phones when they are entering or leaving the United States. Your legal status in the country may inform what you decide to do if you’re asked for a password to unlock your device. U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry to the United States for refusing to provide passwords or unlocking devices. Refusal to do so might lead to delay, additional questioning, and/or officers seizing your device for further inspection. The same should be true for those who have previously been admitted to the U.S. as lawful permanent residents and have maintained their status — their green cards can’t be revoked without a hearing before an immigration judge. [...]
The reason why you have 'heard this idea' is because it's true :P
-
Again, they're not denying you entry permanently, but they absolutely can slow fuck you for weeks until your device is unlocked and checked. You people live in some little utopia that doesn't exist.
We just deported a US citizen to Argentina without due process and its taking a federal court order for the US government to do anything about it. You really think they care about your "right" to reenter the country?
-
I said nothing about potentially holding your device - reread the comment you replied to - but they cannot use that as the reason to deny citizens reentry. We can have a discussion about if the administration is following the rules of law, but by law, border agents cannot deny you for this reason.
So hostile, for no reason. Channel that anger into something constructive, yeah?
Also lol if you think anyone here thinks we are in anything close to a utopia, you should switch careers to comedy :p
-
-
-
-
-
40 comments