I will be entering the US in October to work for about a year and half as a visiting researcher. I will be accompanied by my partner and his two children.

I am very scared on what to expect at the border because of all the stories I hear about detentions, refusals, etc.

My concerns are:

  1. Do they ask everyone to unlock their phones and download EVERYTHING in there for later analysis?
  2. Related to point 1., refusing to unlock and give access will make you suspect and they refuse entry?
  3. Do they also ask you to unlock your laptop? I have stuff encrypted there as I often have to process sensitive patient data for a project I am working.
  4. Do they do a complete biometric data collection of you and the kids?

Also, how do we conduct ourselves at the border entry to avoid getting absolutely shafted?

P.S.: I am not in a position to call off the trip. Visa is ready and tickets are brought.

  • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org
    62·
    6 days ago

    I have heard that they also ask all your social media accounts. Better if you have never ever criticised the orange king.

    Regarding devices: yes they can ask to unlock all devices.

    Better don’t carry other people’s sensitive data, because they have no data privacy anymore.

    • reksas@sopuli.xyz
      4·
      5 days ago

      what if you dont have any social media accounts? Or what if you do but say you dont?

      • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org
        2·
        5 days ago

        what if you dont have any social media accounts?

        I don’t know.

        Or what if you do but say you dont?

        That could work if things like Palantir had never been made. But nowadays, they know immediately that you are lying.

      • cecilkorik@piefed.caEnglish
        2·
        5 days ago

        They already know a lot about you that you might not imagine they do. Does that extend to whether you have social media accounts? Maybe, maybe not. If you declare your social media you’re taking your chances with what’s on there. If you lie about it, they may know you have one but not what it is, so you might get caught in that lie instead. It’s really hard to generalize what to say when you have imperfect information about what they already know, and they rely on that. What they “know” about you doesn’t have to reflect reality either, and there’s really nothing you can do if they “know” or simply believe you have a social media account and you actually legitimately don’t. Their beliefs trump reality. This is no longer a world where truth matters and you cannot rely on it to protect you.