What is on Your Computer Can Stop You From Entering the U.S.

[fountainhall]

I blame the current state of affairs in Europe squarely on the shoulders of Angela Merkel of Germany. Europe is largely a Judaeo/Christian culture and flooding Europe with people from an alien culture is a recipe for disaster.

Racism aside, your statement is plain not true.

Large-scale islamic immigration into Germany started back in 1961 with the signing of a labour agreement between West Germany and Turkey. West Germany did not have enough people to fulfil the cheap, labour intensive jobs that even jobless Germans did not want. Konrad Adenauer was then the Chancellor. The Turkish community in Germany is the largest outside Turkey and the Turkish language is the second most spoken language after German. Estimates are at least 4 million Turks in the country. In 2000 under Chancellor Kohl, immigrants born outside Germany could apply for German citizenship if they had lived in the country for 8 years. Before Syrian refugees were permitted entrance to the country, Germany had 3,000 mosques.

Odd how 5,720,000 Muslims live and work in France. 2,660,000 foreign born Muslims live in Britain. In total an estimated 19 Muslims live in the EU. I fail to understand how Mrs. Merkel bears responsibility for what you call a disaster!

[werner99]

I quite like Swiss policy on minarets.

I disagree. As a Swiss citizen, I do NOT like this Swiss policy.

I think people should have freedom of religion, including the right to build places of worship as they deem appropriate.

[werner99]

What I am saying is that "let him who is without sin cast the first stone". And talking about Switzerland I recall French documentary about absolutely racist deportation camp in "respectable" Switzerland. And by the way, do you know how many people are denied entry to Switzerland?

I have always been critical of many Swiss policies. Switzerland has many problems indeed.

I think that I have the right to criticize the policies of the country of my passport, Switzerland, AND the policies of other countries, including the U.S.

Having said all this, I doubt that I would want to retire in either country.

Getting back to the original topic of this discussion: I wonder whether my cell phone and computer might be searched for whatever reason the next time I visit the U.S.

[Gaybutton]

I wonder whether my cell phone and computer might be searched for whatever reason the next time I visit the U.S.

USA customs and immigration can search and inspect any person and any item in their possession when they are trying to enter the USA. That includes American citizens. If they want to search your phone and computer, they will - and there will be nothing you can do about it. So, if you are going to try to enter the USA with anything customs might deem questionable on a phone or computer, you would be risking being denied entry and sent back.

[Undaunted]

So, if you are going to try to enter the USA with anything customs might deem questionable on a phone or computer, you would be risking being denied entry and sent back.

If you are a U.S. citizen your fate will be much worse!

[fountainhall]

I wonder if there is any reason why pornographic images have not been mentioned so far in this discussion. During the late 1990s and the first decade of this century, I visited the USA at least once a year. Mainly I entered through JFK, BOS, ORD, SFO and LAX. On at least five occasions, after getting through Immigration and my customs card and passport was being examined by an officer. I would be directed to a different area. My bags would then be inspected in some detail. On all occasions I was asked to start up my laptop and open the iPhoto main file. On the first occasion I did have some porn photos but they were buried in a work file. Thankfully they were not discovered. Thereafter I deleted all sensitive material from the laptop before departure. I understand checking for porn was not unusual, at least for a few years.

I soon realised that the trigger for the search was almost certainly Bangkok being my original departure point. I was also searched occasionally on entry at Narita. So, even if I had indeed departed first from Bangkok, I then started writing Hong Kong on the card and using my Hong Kong address as my residence.

[Gaybutton]

I wonder if there is any reason why pornographic images have not been mentioned so far in this discussion.

I didn't mention it because I figured that is an obvious "it goes without saying." A person would have to be an utter moron to carry porn images in a manner by which customs officers from any country could find them.

If one just has to have those images, then simply Email them to yourself or upload them to some web site where they can be stored, and then wipe the images off the device storing them along with clearing where they were uploaded from the device so even that won't be found. That way there will be nothing questionable on the device and the images can be retrieved later.

Provided the porn is not of anyone under age, I don't see what business it is of customs agents in the first place, but they do make it their business.

[werner99]

Here is another detailed article about American immigration/customs officials searching the computers and cell phones of visitors as they try to enter the U.S.
https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/02/denie ... yptr=yahoo

[Gaybutton]

Here is another detailed article about American immigration/customs officials searching the computers and cell phones of visitors as they try to enter the U.S.

We have only his side of the story. Assuming he is telling the truth, it does seem that those officers were unnecessarily overzealous. It would be interesting to know their side of the story too.

In any case, I have no objection to anyone trying to enter the USA being subjected to a search, even a comprehensive search. However, I don't understand why it took 15 hours to complete everything and I don't think it is reasonable to confine people who have to wait for hours in uncomfortable rooms.

[werner99]

We have only his side of the story. Assuming he is telling the truth, it does seem that those officers were unnecessarily overzealous. It would be interesting to know their side of the story too.

I disagree. I think that the officers were overzealous, and probably using racial profiling against Muslims and people from Muslim-majority countries.

We will never know the officers' side of the story. It seems that the American customs and immigration authorities do NOT comment on individual cases, although they might provide boilerplate explanations.

Even when the visitor sought more details about the case through the "Freedom of Information Act", he was unable to get much information.

During my life, I have crossed national borders thousands of times. Fortunately, immigration/customs officials have pulled me over only once. Perhaps I have been lucky because of my Swiss passport. Moreover, my parents taught me young how to deal with immigration/customs officials: (1) Be very, very polite. (2) Act a bit deferential. (3) Speak slowly and clearly in the language that the officers use. If the officers ask questions in English or German, do NOT answer in French. (3) Always dress neatly and formally when crossing borders.