Current Travel Considerations

Guest post by WHSLA Member, Diane Giebink-Skoglind

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Because I travel a lot, I’ve been asked what it's like to do so under the current
administration, with its focus on borders and border crossings. Here are a few of my
impressions.

Regarding international travel, I didn't have any issues while traveling internationally recently.
My advantage, for the time being at least, is that I am an American citizen, not a Visa or Green
Card Holder. Given the current chaos and corruption in Washington, DC, changes are likely.

Below is a screen shot from an April 9, 2025 article in the New York Times that illustrates what rights different groups have upon entry into the USA:

Graphic from here.

Cell Phones and Other Electronics

Border Control has the right to take your phone and download information from it. People are
electing to travel without computers, iPads, personal cell phones. Some are using burner
phones to cross borders. Clean up your phones if needed! However, this may be a situation
where you are damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don’t. Most experts recommend some
clean up but not overdoing it because a wiped phone is suspicious as seen by border officials
and can lead to undesired scrutiny.

Below is what Google turned up when I searched “wipe phone before crossing border”:

While completely wiping your phone before crossing a border might seem like a privacy protection, it can also raise suspicion. Border agents may question why a device is empty, leading to unnecessary scrutiny. Instead, selectively deleting sensitive data and turning off the internet and cellular connections is a more practical approach. [1, 2, 3]

Here is a more detailed explanation: [1, 2]

• Wiping your phone might raise suspicion: Border agents may find it unusual if a phone has no data, potentially leading to further questioning and scrutiny. [1, 2]

• Selective deletion is a better approach: Instead of wiping your entire device, selectively delete sensitive files like photos, emails, or chats that you wouldn't want viewed by border officials. [2]

• Limit cloud access: Log out of sensitive apps and disable automatic login to cloud accounts before traveling. [4]

• Disable internet and cellular connections: Turning off internet and cellular data prevents agents from accessing data stored remotely in the cloud. [3, 5]

• Consider using a VPN: A Virtual Private Network can enhance online privacy and make it harder for agents to track your activity, according to a blog post from Reddy Neumann Brown PC. [4]

• Keep your phone off: This is another layer of protection, as the keys that unlock your data are not loaded while the phone is off. [6]

• Inspect your device upon return: If your phone is seized and returned, check for any unauthorized software or changes, according to a post on Reddit. [4]

Generative AI is experimental.

[1] https://apnews.com/article/internet-privacy-smartphones-travel-e0a3146ae7966ea0e4157dbfae1f6a81

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/26/phone-search-privacy-us-border-immigration

[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/03/27/cbp-cell-phones-devices-traveling-us/

[4] https://www.rnlawgroup.com/your-phone-your-data-how-to-safeguard-your-digital-life-when-entering-the-u-s/

[5] https://www.standardspeaker.com/2025/04/13/device-privacy-borders/

[6] https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/04/11/us-border-searching-phones-canada-travel-advisory/

It seems one may be more likely to have issues when re-entering the US rather than leaving.

More information on Cell Phone Seizure and Search [Note the last two are from 2017!]

Traveling with Electronics: Border Search 

Why International Travelers Should Consider a Burner Phone Going into the US

How to Lock Down Your Phone if Traveling to the US - Washington Post (by subscription only)

How to Protect Your Phone from Border Guards, and Why it's Probably a Bad Idea  - Mashable

Digital Privacy at the US Border: Protecting the Data on Your Devices - Electronic Frontier Foundation

DOCUMENTATION

Make sure your passport is current.  It is best to renew it one year in advance, in case you
are detained for an unknown period. It would be problematic if your passport expired while detained. 

DOMESTIC TRAVEL

If you are traveling by air domestically, you must have the necessary identification.
I renewed my driver’s license before I needed to obtain a REAL ID compliant driver’s license.
This is what it looks like. Note the star in the right upper hand corner.

Image from here.

Below is information from TSA. I’ve also included the link to this and more information.

Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order
to travel.

The list of acceptable IDs is subject to change without notice. TSA strongly encourages you
check this list again before traveling, so you do not arrive at the airport without acceptable ID.

• Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of MotorVehicles (or equivalent)

• Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.

•  A temporary driver’s license is NOT an acceptable form of identification

This link from the TSA outlines several different forms of acceptable identification and a lot of other pertinent information.

Additional info:

International Travel Info Pages - Travel.state.gov

American Entry into Canada by Land - Wikipedia