Canada warns residents their phones may be searched at US border

Randy Thanthong-Knight, Bloomberg News on Apr 5, 2025

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The Canadian government issued a new warning for travelers entering the U.S., saying they should “expect scrutiny” at the border and that their phones and other electronic devices may be searched.

The updated travel advisory follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to tighten border and immigration policy, which had already prompted similar travel advisories from countries including the U.K., Germany and France.

Trump’s economic and annexation threats against Canada have led to a marked drop in trips and bookings to the U.S. by Canadians, who are the top source of international visitors, generating $20.5 billion in spending last year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. The number of Canadian-resident return trips by car from the U.S. plunged 23% in February from a year earlier, Statistics Canada said.

“Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation,” the Canadian government’s new travel advice states.

In March, a Canadian actress who attempted to renew her work visa was taken into U.S. custody at the U.S.-Mexico border and detained for 11 days, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. That same month, a French scientist was refused entry to the U.S. in a case the French government said was related to messages on his phone that were critical of Trump.

The administration denied that, saying the scientist was carrying an electronic device that contained confidential information from a U.S. laboratory.