Under the pretense of “national security,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has quietly rolled out a social media surveillance regime that should alarm every American. Social media is no longer just a space for expression — it’s now evidence used to detain, interrogate, and even outright deny entry to travelers — even those with legal status or U.S. citizenship.
These invasive policies force travelers, including visa applicants, to surrender their social media handles — turning over years of private thoughts and digital footprints with questionable and murky oversight. And this is not a hypothetical threat. It’s happening now.
Attorneys have been detained for refusing to compromise privileged client data and foreign professionals are being denied entry for posting anti-MAGA material. This is especially alarming in a reality where the Trump administration is dragging its feet on returning a US resident deported by mistake.
This isn’t about safety. This is about control. The Trump administration has already floated the terrifying idea of deporting American citizens, and these escalating abuses are paving the way for it. What starts as surveillance of immigrants doesn’t stop there. If you think a meme, political tweet, or joke can’t get you flagged — think again. This crackdown on digital expression is targeting dissent, and it’s quickly becoming a tool to silence opposition and punish critics.
We are witnessing the rise of a digital police state — one that scans your phone, profiles your politics, and erases your rights with the tap of a screen.
If you’re not afraid yet, you should be.
It’s unlikely that this police-state level surveillance will pause anytime soon. Here are steps to take to protect yourself when crossing the border:
1. Travel With a Clean Device
- Use a separate, minimal phone or laptop for international travel. Avoid bringing your primary device that contains sensitive info, your personal messages, or your social media apps.
- Factory reset your device before traveling if you must bring it. Save essential data securely in the cloud and re-download it once you’re through Customs.
2. Log Out & Delete Apps Before Trip
- Log out of your social media accounts and delete apps like Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter/X, TikTok, and Instagram before arriving at a port of entry.
- You can re-download them once you’re through Customs.
3. Disable Biometrics & Use Secure Messaging
- Turn off fingerprint/Face ID at the border (Customs can force you to give up biometrics but not your password in many cases).
- Enable strong passwords on all devices.
- Use encrypted apps like Signal or ProtonMail — and log out or uninstall them before travel if you’re concerned.
4. Do Not Voluntarily Give Up Your Phone
- If you are are a US Citizen — you are not required to unlock your phone. Border agents may detain you, but they cannot compel your password without a warrant. Be aware that you may have your device seized and “not returned for months“, according to the ACLU.
- Be polite but firm. Ask: “Am I being detained?” and “Am I free to leave?”
- The ACLU states the above “should” be true for US residents, but we at Progressive Preppers would not count on this under the Trump Administration.
- Visa holders and other non-residents may be refused entry for refusing to turn over their devices.
5. Know Your Rights
- U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry to the country, even if they refuse to unlock a device.
- Non-citizens (visa holders, green card holders) have fewer protections — but you still have rights. Ask to speak to a lawyer if detained.
6. Prepare a “Border Rights” Cheat Sheet
- Keep a printed or offline version of your legal rights from organizations like:
7. Reduce Exposure
- Don’t travel with documents or photos that could be misinterpreted.
- Delete old content and clear browsing history if you’re worried about past posts.
8. Assume They’ll Look — and Prepare Accordingly!
Customs agents can and do search devices without warrants. Don’t assume your data is safe just because it’s “harmless.” Humor, activism, or political opinions can be twisted or misunderstood in bad faith.
We are living in an increasingly dystopian country that is rapidly morphing into a police state — protect yourself, protect your data. Especially at the US border.
