Canadians heading past the border are facing increasing security scrutiny– particularly on their phones.
ELECTRONIC DEVICE SEARCHES
The number of electronic device searches by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have ballooned more than 21% when compared to the previous quarter. 14,899 searches were conducted, with a 36% increase from 2024’s third quarter.
Reportedly, these searches were “basic”, although over 1,000 of them were “advanced.” This means border offices were able to take information from the searched electronic devices by copying them. Notably, there was a dramatic increase of nearly 22% of U.S. citizens’ devices being searched.
Travellers and experts claim that this jump comes from heightened security from the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Search numbers have been steadily climbing over the past decade, with 2025 seeing a 12.6% increase this past year.
TRAVEL DECREASING
The U.S. has seen a steep decline of Canadians travelling southward. A report from Statistics Canada shows that border traffic is down 36.9% in July when compared to last year’s numbers. As tensions continue to boil between Canadians and Americans, many Canadians have opted to avoid their southern neighbours altogether. And that’s without mentioning tightened security checkpoints, potentially new biometric identification requirements, and those terrible wait times.
Canadians have also been warned by the Government of Canada when travelling to the U.S. They advise citizens to “expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including electronic devices.”
If you are heading to the U.S. and want to protect your privacy, there are a few ways you can prevent your information from being taken. One option is to use a burner phone, although it will be quite obvious that it is a burner, considering its lack of information.
It is also important to know your rights, especially if you are from a community that may face additional scrutiny. Travelling by air is another option to avoid the land border checks.
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