At the border, you are likely to encounter Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, and you may encounter Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. HSI is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Know your rights in these scenarios.
All Scenarios
https:////www.aclu.org//blog//free-future//can-border-agents-search-your-electronic-devices-its-complicated/n"},{"title":"What if I am selected for a strip search at the border?","slug":"what-if-i-am-selected-for-a-strip-search-at-the-border","content":"<p>A strip search at the border is not a routine search. It must be supported by \u201creasonable suspicion\u201d and must be done in a private area.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n"},{"title":"What types of law enforcement officers and other government officials could I encounter during the security screening process at the airport?","slug":"what-types-of-law-enforcement-officers-and-other-government-officials-could-i-encounter-during-the-security-screening-process-at-the-airport","content":"<p>At airports, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers conduct security screenings. Most TSA officers are not commissioned law enforcement officers, and their role is to conduct screening of passengers, baggage and cargo. TSA screeners can search you and your baggage at screening checkpoints, but they cannot arrest you. Other law enforcement officers, such as airport police, are present at airports.<\/p>\n"},{"title":"Can my bags or I be searched after going through metal detectors with no problem or after security sees that my bags do not contain a weapon?","slug":"can-my-bags-or-i-be-searched-after-going-through-metal-detectors-with-no-problem-or-after-security-sees-that-my-bags-do-not-contain-a-weapon","content":"<p>Yes. Even if the initial screening of your bags by TSA reveals nothing suspicious, the screeners have the authority to conduct a further search of you or your bags. Screeners may not select you for a personal search or secondary inspection based on your religion, race, national origin, gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs.<\/p>\n"},{"title":"What if I wear a religious head covering and I am selected by airport security officials for additional screening? ","slug":"what-if-i-wear-a-religious-head-covering-and-i-am-selected-by-airport-security-officials-for-additional-screening","content":"<p>You have the right to wear your religious head covering. You should assert your right to wear your religious head covering if asked to remove it before going through airport security screening. If an alarm goes off, however, airport security officers may request additional screening. They may then conduct a pat-down of your religious head covering or ask you to remove it. You have the right to request that the pat-down or removal be conducted by a person of your gender and that it occurs in a private area.<\/p>\n<p>If you do not want the TSA officer to touch your religious head covering, you must refuse and say that you would prefer to pat down your own religious head covering. You will then be taken aside, and a TSA officer will supervise you as you pat down your religious head covering. After the pat-down, the TSA officer may rub your hands with a small cotton cloth and place it in a machine to test for chemical residue. If you pass this chemical residue test, you should be allowed to proceed to your flight. If the TSA officer insists on the removal of your religious head covering, you have a right to ask that it be done in a private area. Officers may not conduct additional screening based solely on your race, national origin, religion, gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs.<\/p>\n"},{"title":"What if I am traveling with children?","slug":"what-if-i-am-traveling-with-children","content":"<p>You may opt your children out of an airport scan. However, there is no exemption for children from the pat-down search. Children under 13 years old may leave their shoes, light jackets, and headwear on during screening.<\/p>\n"},{"title":"What if I am traveling with breast milk or formula?","slug":"what-if-i-am-traveling-with-breast-milk-or-formula","content":"<p>Parents and caregivers flying with and without children are permitted to bring breast milk and formula (and ice packs or other accessories required to cool the breast milk or formula) in quantities greater than three ounces, as long as you notify the officers about the items at the security checkpoint. When carrying breast milk or formula through the checkpoint, they will be inspected. TSA officials may test the liquids for explosives. TSA officials may ask you to open the containers during the screening process. Breast milk and formula, along with other liquids and gels, may also be packed in your luggage and checked with your airline.<\/p>\n"},{"title":"If I am on an airplane, can an airline employee interrogate me or ask me to get off the plane?","slug":"if-i-am-on-an-airplane-can-an-airline-employee-interrogate-me-or-ask-me-to-get-off-the-plane","content":"<p>An airline pilot may refuse to fly a passenger if s\/he reasonably believes, based on observation, that the passenger is a threat to flight safety. A pilot may not, however, question you or refuse to allow you on a flight because of biased stereotypes, including any based on your religion, race, national origin, gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs.<\/p>\n"},{"title":"What do I do if I am questioned by law enforcement officers every time I travel by air and I believe I am on a \u201cno-fly\u201d or other \u201cnational security\u201d list? ","slug":"what-do-i-do-if-i-am-questioned-by-law-enforcement-officers-every-time-i-travel-by-air-and-i-believe-i-am-on-a-no-fly-or-other-national-security-list","content":"<p>If you believe you are mistakenly on a list, you should contact the TSA and file an inquiry using the\u202f<a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////trip.dhs.gov//s///">Traveler Redress Inquiry Program<\/a>. More information is available\u202f<a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//know-your-rights//what-do-if-you-think-youre-no-fly-list/">here. If you think there may be some reason for why you have been placed on a list, you should seek the advice of an attorney.<\/p>\n"},{"title":"Do you offer this information in other languages?","slug":"do-you-offer-this-information-in-other-languages","content":"<p>Yes! See below:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//enforcement_at_the_airport.pdf/">(Arabic) \u0627\u0644\u0639\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0651\u0629<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//spanish_kyr_enforcement_at_the_airport.pdf/">Espa/u00f1ol (Spanish)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//french_kyr_translation_enforcement_at_the_airport_fr.pdf/">Fran/u00e7ais (French)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//kyr_urdu_airports_and_point_of_entry.pdf/">(Urdu) \u0627\u064f\u0631\u062f\u064f\u0648<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//kyr_somali_enforcement_at_the_airport.pdf/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soomaali (Somali)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//kyr_hindi_translation_enforcement_at_the_airport.pdf/">/u0939/u093f/u0902/u0926/u0940 (Hindi)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//enforcement_at_the_airport_farsi.pdf/">/u0641/u0627/u0631/u0633/u06cc (Farsi)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//kyr_enforcement_at_the_airport-traditional_chinese_translation.pdf/">(Traditional Chinese) \u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=https://www.aclu.org/"https:////www.aclu.org//sites//default//files//field_document//kyr_enforcement_at_the_airport-simplified_chinese_translation.pdf/">(Simplified Chinese) \u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"}]" >
More Resources
News & Commentary
Apr 2025
Privacy & Technology
Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? It’s Complicated.
We’ve been getting a lot of questions about when border agents can legally conduct searches of travelers’ electronic devices at international airports and other ports of entry. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple.
Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? It’s Complicated.
We’ve been getting a lot of questions about when border agents can legally conduct searches of travelers’ electronic devices at international airports and other ports of entry. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple.
