"I Knew This Would Happen" Phone and SNS Checks at Immigration... What About US Travelers?

Concerns Raised Over Infringement of Travelers' Rights
U.S. Administration: "Actions Performed Under Lawful Authority"

As U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants intensifies, entry screenings into the United States have been significantly tightened, raising anxiety among travelers planning to visit the country.

Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney was suddenly detained while trying to enter the United States and stayed in an immigrant detention center for over ten days. A French scientist was denied entry to the U.S. because his cellphone contained content critical of President Trump. Photo by Getty Images

On the 20th (local time), foreign media outlets such as the U.S. daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and The New York Times (NYT) reported that "immigrants and tourists attempting to enter the United States are undergoing much stricter screenings at entry points."

Immigration officers are asking aggressive questions and scrutinizing visas more rigorously. It is also reported that cases of detention during the screening process have increased significantly.

Amid this atmosphere, testimonies from foreigners claiming unfair treatment have emerged. Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney was suddenly detained and held in an immigrant detention center for over ten days while trying to enter the United States. She attempted to apply for a new work visa at the entry point following the usual procedures allowed for Canadians, but her entry was denied during the process.

Mooney stated that even after being transferred to two different detention centers, she received no explanation for her detention. After her case was reported in the media and she was allowed to hire a lawyer, she was released after 12 days. Mooney expressed anger, saying, "I had a Canadian passport, a lawyer, media attention, friends, family, and even politicians advocating for me. Imagine how this (U.S. entry) system works for those in less favorable conditions than me."

Photo to aid understanding of the above article. Pixabay

Recently, a French scientist was denied entry to the United States because his cellphone contained content critical of President Trump. There was also an incident where a Lebanese-born professor at Brown University, who had a photo of the late Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, on his phone, was deported at the airport.

Some have raised concerns that such electronic device searches may violate travelers' rights. On the other hand, the U.S. administration maintains that these actions are lawful duties performed under proper authority.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the Department of Homeland Security, emphasized that electronic device searches are necessary to identify and respond to terrorist and criminal activities, stating, "The authority to lawfully inspect electronic devices crossing the border is essential to protecting the safety of the United States in a world where digitalization is accelerating."

In response to the tightened U.S. entry screenings, governments around the world have urged their citizens to exercise special caution. The British Foreign Office posted a notice on its website stating, "U.S. authorities strictly set and enforce rules regarding entry. If you violate these rules, you may be arrested or detained." Previously, a notice posted in early February only mentioned that "U.S. authorities set and enforce entry regulations."

Germany also updated its travel advisory to emphasize that having a visa or entry exemption does not guarantee entry into the United States.