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Random phone searches at US borders are illegal, judge rules
July 30, 2025
Travelling to and from the US anytime soon? There’s a smaller chance you’ll be subjected to random phone searches at the border. A Boston federal court has put a stop to suspicionless searches of travelers’ electronic devices in the US.
Random searches of phones and laptops have become quite rampant in the US. Last year, the US government conducted more than 33,000 searches of travelers’ devices. The number reflects a four-fold surge in the past three years. These random fishing expeditions are now deemed a violation of the Fourth Amendment.
The federal ruling came as part of theAlasaad v. McAleenan‘ lawsuit. It was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and ACLU of Massachusetts on behalf of 11 travelers whose phones and laptops were searched without reason at US ports of entry.
The court says:
US federal officials will now have to demonstrate individualized suspicion of illegal contraband to search electronic devices.
“This is a great day for travelers who now can cross the international border without fear that the government will, in the absence of any suspicion, ransack the extraordinarily sensitive information we all carry in our electronic devices,” said Sophia Cope, EFF Senior Staff Attorney.
It’s not clear for now whether this ruling applies to all travelers, or only to US citizens or residents. It’s also worth noting that the ruling does not require border officials to get a warrant for device searches. The ruling is likely to be appealed by the US government.
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