Canadian authorities issue warning about entering the USA

Travellers should be prepared for thorough checks, including body searches and the possible confiscation of electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops. The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasises that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have the right to search electronic data without giving a reason. This means that decisions to search a phone or computer can be made at will, and travellers do not have many means of appeal.

The new recommendations are a response to the increasing number of cases of travellers being refused entry to the US or even deported. The media report that some of these situations involve people whose electronic devices contain content deemed offensive to Donald Trump's administration. Importantly, such cases are not limited to Canadian citizens - similar situations are also reported by travellers from Europe.