Trump's Police State: Canada Warns Travellers (AGAIN) as U.S. Cranks Up Phone Invasive Phone Searches For Anti-Trump Content 14,899 device searches in one quarter. Read this before you go. Dean Blundell Aug 23 The Digital Strip Search at America’s Front Door (Read This Before You Go) Let’s be blunt. The U.S. border is now a digital checkpoint. *We chase the stories that Main Stream Media won’t, add receipts, and arm you with context you can trust. To celebrate this community’s humbling and incredible growth, we’re giving 50% off annual subscriptions - for life - when you upgrade by August 31, 2025. Lock it in once, keep it forever, and stay affirmed and informed… Between April and June 2025, U.S. border officers searched 14,899 phones and other devices—the highest quarterly total on record, a 21% jump from the previous quarter, and roughly 17% higher than the previous peak set in early 2022. Officials argue this still touches less than 0.01% of all entrants, but the raw numbers keep climbing—and the tools keep getting sharper. This year also brought expanded social-media screening for international student visas and a renewed push to modernize digital forensics—including analytics to process seized device data like texts, contacts, images, and videos. Translation: fewer excuses, more extraction. Canada took notice. Ottawa now warns travellers to expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including electronic devices. British and New Zealand guidance carries similar caution. That’s not alarmism—it’s realism. And Canadians are reacting. In June 2025, Canadian return trips from the U.S. fell nearly 30% year-over-year, with auto crossings plunging. For the first time since 2006 (pandemic anomalies aside), more Americans came to Canada than Canadians went south. That’s a market signal you can measure. What They Can Do To Your Phone (and What “Refusal” Really Means) “Basic” search: An officer manually looks through your device without suspicion. “Advanced” search: Forensic copying/analysis typically requires reasonable suspicion or a national-security concern with supervisor sign-off. No cloud (on paper): They’re supposed to disable connectivity and avoid accessing data stored only online—but anything on the device (email, texts, WhatsApp, photos) is fair game. Passcodes & denial: You can be asked to unlock. U.S. citizens/permanent residents can’t be denied entry for refusing (but devices can be detained). Non-citizens (including Canadians) who refuse can be denied entry or expedited for removal—and potentially lose visa-exempt status. If they seize your device: You should receive a custody receipt and a point of contact; expect days (sometimes longer) before return. None of this requires proof that you did anything wrong. That’s the border search doctrine in action. Human Fallout: “It’s Not Just a Phone” This isn’t theoretical. Canadians have reported prolonged detentions, degrading conditions, and life-altering consequences after routine travel went sideways. One Canadian spent nearly two weeks in ICE custody over a document issue. Another died in custody in Miami this summer as investigations continue. No, this isn’t every case. But yes, it’s happening—and when it does, it’s catastrophic for the person living it. Why Canadians Are Rethinking U.S. Trips (And Why You Might, Too) Device search surge: Record highs and bigger forensics ambitions. Policy creep: Social-media reviews, broadened screening, and aggressive vetting norms. Real-world harm: Detentions, device seizures, and permanent flags that can haunt future entries. Travel math: Canadians are already scaling back trips. That’s not “politics”—that’s risk management. Bottom line: If your travel isn’t essential, waiting is the safest choice. If you must go, go prepared. Delete your social media, take biometrics off of your phone, and do NOT give them your passcode. Pack & Protect: A Practical Playbook (Save This) Before you leave Minimal-data device: Back up, encrypt, and strip your phone down to travel-essential apps/data. Consider a travel phone. Disable biometrics: Switch off Face/Touch ID and use a strong passcode. Tighten accounts: Log out, clear caches and downloads, and limit saved sessions. 2FA that travels: Use an authenticator app, not SMS; make sure you can access codes offline. Sensitive work: Clearly label legal, medical, or journalistic materials. It doesn’t make you immune, but it triggers special handling. Canadian (Female) Travelers: "If you can avoid going to the United States, DO IT" Dean Blundell · May 2 Canadian travelers are being targeted while crossing the U.S. border, and it’s getting worse. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Read full story At the border Power down / airplane mode before you approach inspection. Answer briefly and politely. Don’t volunteer extra data. If asked to unlock: You can state you do not consent to the search—know the consequences for your status. If seized: Ask for a receipt and a contact for the investigating unit. If something goes wrong Document everything: Names, badge numbers, timestamps. Call your consulate and counsel. File a complaint once you’re safe and debrief with your employer/school if relevant. FAQ (Share This With Family & Friends) “If I wipe my phone before the border, isn’t that suspicious?” Not inherently. Travelling with minimal data is a common best practice. Be consistent and calm. “Can they make me open my cloud accounts?” Policies say they should avoid data stored solely in the cloud. Reality varies. Arrive with local data minimized and accounts logged out. “What about kids’ devices?” Consider consolidating to a parent device or temporarily removing social media from minors’ phones. Keep it simple. “Is this political?” It’s personal. It’s your photos, chats, health info, work files, and kids’ data. Manage your risk accordingly. Canada First, Privacy First Being pro-Canada means protecting Canadians’ privacy, dignity, and freedom of movement. If a destination’s entry process treats your phone like evidence and your life like a search term, that destination has earned your caution. If your trip isn’t essential, delay it. If it is, travel smart—and travel with a plan. This isn’t fearmongering. It’s a warning. The border you remember is gone. The one you’re walking into reads your digital life first and asks questions later. Choose accordingly. And don’t go to America for the next 3.5 years. At least. 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