A few things to note. U.S. citizens can not be denied entry into the United States. Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. can not be deported or have their green cards revoked without a hearing before an immigration judge. KEEP IN MIND these rules and regulations are being challenged in court by the neo-nazi fascist authoritarian oligarchy of the NOT MY pres musk, NOT MY pres drumpf / trump, NOT MY vp vance administration and the neo nazi fascist authoritarian oligarchy of the gop / greed over people-republican party controlled U.S. Congress. All lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and all lawful immigrants holding valid visas should not leave the U.S. until the courts have sorted all these issues out. It is suggested you touch base with your attorney if you have one, the ACLU if you do not and with your countries embassy. This from the Washington Post.....
Entering the U.S.? Here are your rights at airports and border crossings.
“The stories are definitely concerning,” said Noor Zafar, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “I think we’re just in a period of more aggressive policies being implemented at the border. And I think that requires people to take extra precautionary measures.”
Here’s what to know about your rights at the U.S. border.
What rights do I have?
That depends on your immigration status. U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry to the country. Lawful permanent residents cannot be deported or have their green cards revoked without a hearing before an immigration judge.
Foreign nationals and visa holders must be admitted by Customs and Border Protection officials, who determine admissibility and can deny entry on their judgment.
What precautions should I take before traveling?
Zafar recommends that travelers, especially noncitizens, keep the phone number of an immigration attorney or another emergency contact on hand if they are detained at the border and need legal advice.
Travelers should also consider the data on their personal electronic devices, which can be subject to search, said Esha Bhandari, the deputy director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project.
What can I be questioned about?
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents only have to answer questions establishing their identity and citizenship or permanent residency, according to the ACLU. Refusing to answer other routine questions, though, may delay your entry into the United States.
Noncitizens and visa holders can be denied entry if they refuse to answer officers’ questions.
Can an agent search my electronic devices?
Yes. All travelers are subject to search by Customs and Border Protection officers, according to the agency’s website. The CBP says searches of electronic devices are rare — less than 0.01 percent of arriving international travelers had their electronic devices searched in 2024.
You are not obligated to unlock your devices if an agent asks to search them, but refusing may affect your travel. Foreign nationals may be denied entry to the U.S. if they do not cooperate with a search. U.S. citizens will not be denied entry, but they could be detained and their devices might be seized by authorities.
CBP policy states officers can hold onto electronic devices for up to five days (though it may be longer if officials consider there to be “extenuating circumstances”). If your devices are seized, you should ask an officer for a custody receipt, which they are required to issue and will contain guidance for retrieving your devices.
What do electronic searches entail?
There are two types of searches that officers conduct on electronic devices: basic and advanced. Basic searches generally involve an officer manually reviewing a device without external equipment and can be performed on anyone.
In an advanced search, an officer connects external equipment to a device to review, copy or analyze its contents. Officers require reasonable suspicion of a violation of law and manager approval to conduct an advanced search, according to the CBP.
CBP policies for electronic searches state that officers should handle sensitive information, including medical records or work-related information from journalists, “in accordance with any applicable federal law,” though this can be murky in practice, according to the ACLU.
You should tell an officer conducting a search if your device contains legally protected information, Bhandari said.
What should I do if I’m detained or refused entry?
It’s best that travelers being detained by immigration authorities comply with the commands of officers, Zafar said. They should try to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Daniel Wu is a reporter on The Washington Post's General Assignment desk. He joined The Post as an intern on the Metro desk in 2022 and previously worked for the Seattle Times and the San Jose Mercury News
