This pisses me off. It also makes me want to get a burner phone for that very purpose.

But I am worried that if I go over the border with a burner phone I might get suspected of something and arrested. How likely is that?

  • abff08f4813c ( abff08f4813c@j4vcdedmiokf56h3ho4t62mlku.srv.us ) 
    6·
    1 year ago

    As per https://dailyhive.com/canada/us-canada-travel-phone even lawyers are recommending this now.

    Ackah Business Immigration Law founder and managing lawyer Evelyn Ackah told Daily Hive that Canadians should leave their electronic devices behind if possible. She also suggests travellers use a burner phone (pre-paid phone) to protect their personal data from border agents.

    As to what to say when asked about the obvious burner phone, I wonder if the following would help:

    “Yes officer, I got a brand new phone with nothing on it to take with me. I did this because I want to comply with the laws of the USA and am afraid that if my phone got hacked I may accidentally carry something illegal across the border. I left my phone with all my lifetime photos and other history behind and I look forward to being reunited with it when my trip is over and I return home.”

    • CosmicTurtle0 [he/him] ( CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com ) English
      7·
      1 year ago

      You don’t owe CBP any explanation. You are under no obligation to enter your credentials or unlock your phone.

      They do have the authority to seize your phone.

      If you must take a phone with you:

      • buy a burner
      • set it up with a burner account (or no account if possible)
      • memorize the number of your emergency contact in the states
      • prior to landing on US soil, reset the phone (make sure you write down your flight confirmation or other important travel information)
      • as you go through security, text your emergency contact on your status. If at any point you are approached by CBP, let your contact know that if they don’t hear from you in an hour, call an attorney.

      We are now in fascism times. The rule of law has no bearing on you. If you are apprehended, yell that you are being detained illegally.

      If you see someone being detained, record the event, intervene non violently if you are able to. If enough of your fellow passengers are resisting, consider additional actions.

      Under no circumstances should you comply in advance.

      Edit: CBP not ICE. But same thing applies.

      • Album ( Album@lemmy.ca ) 
        4·
        1 year ago

        You don’t quite know what you’re talking about.

        ICE doesn’t control the border, CBP does. ICE comes in after you’ve crossed the border if you’ve overstayed or entered illegally.

        CBP DOES have authority to take your phone without a warrant. We’ve seen this repeatedly over the last 10 years, even hitting the courts which have ruled in CBP favour.

        CBP WILL use it to deny your entry if they find something they don’t like. Just like anything else you have on you.

        • Pup Biru ( pupbiru@aussie.zone ) English
          3·
          1 year ago

          which is to say nothing about the fact that they’re under no obligation to actually let you in if you’re not a US citizen… comply or leave; it’s unfair, but that’s what it is to enter a foreign country

          • Album ( Album@lemmy.ca ) 
            2·
            1 year ago

            100%. Not sure where people got the idea they are entitled to enter a foreign country but most foreign countries are exactly the same, if not significantly worse.