# Border Phone Searches Legalized

> Court allows border agents to search phones without warrants.
- Title: Border Phone Searches Legalized · Newsweek | Shortify
- Summary: Court allows border agents to search phones without warrants. U.S. appeals court permits border agents to search travelers' phones without warrants, risking…
- Keywords: cbp, first amendment, border searches, phone searches, journalists, green card holders, u.s. customs and border protection, seahawks, Border, Phone, Searches, Legalized
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/court-appeals-border-patrol-phone-searches-first-amendment-12457796
- Published: 2026-09-17T21:42:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cbp, first amendment, border searches, phone searches, journalists, green card holders, u.s. customs and border protection, seahawks
## Border Phone Search Ruling
Appeals court panel ruled border agents can search travelers' phones without warrants.
## Who Was Affected
Green card holder Chinwendu Alisigwe had his phone searched at JFK airport.
## Conviction Outcome
Alisigwe was later convicted of bank fraud and money laundering.
## First Amendment Concerns
Journalists and civil liberties groups fear privacy risks for sensitive information.
## CBP Response
CBP says searches help enforce laws against terrorism and drug smuggling.
## Search Statistics
Less than 0.01% of travelers had phones searched in fiscal year 2025.
## Court Ruling Details
Phones treated as property for border searches, not requiring individualized suspicion.
## What's Next
Courts may continue debating deeper phone searches requiring reasonable suspicion.
## Key takeaway

U.S. appeals court permits border agents to search travelers' phones without warrants, risking privacy for journalists and others.