4 ms·
A far better approach is for the US citizen to simply say "I chose not to provide my PIN". The officer will say something like "That's your choice, but I will
by refurb 2mo ago
A far better approach is for the US citizen to simply say "I chose not to provide my PIN".
The officer will say something like "That's your choice, but I will need to seize the device to conduct an analysis. It will be returned once the analysis is complete".
Then you shrug, and they will let you enter the US. The cops will try to get into the phone, fail, and return it to you.
Just bring a phone you don't mind losing for a few months.
- jeroenhd 2mo agoThis person was under "investigation" for protesting against cop city. The authorities were waiting for him to turn up at a place where the law would give them more power. They were never going to let him just walk in. Eventually, they'd have to, possibly after lawyers and news would get involved, but it's not like saying "no" was going to end the ordeal right away.
- refurb 2mo agoMaybe, but being detained for a couple hours is better than committing a felony, no?
- LtWorf 2mo agoA couple of hours sounds like you don't have any knowledge of how these things go.
- refurb 2mo agoAs someone who immigrated to the US and has been detained in secondary inspection I can assure you I do have knowledge in this area.
- jeroenhd 2mo agoIt depends on how "native" you look perhaps, but you can be detained for more than a week and a half if the border authorities don't like you: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/20/us-citizen-jose-hermosillo-border-patrol https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/20/us-citizen-j... Of course they shouldn't do that to US citizens, but they also shouldn't be targetting protestors they have a personal gripe with.
- refurb 2mo agoI mean the guy didn’t have proper documentation and admitted to illegally entering the US (not at a crossing I assume). It’s a completely different situation.
- NoGravitas 2mo agoYou shouldn't count on the phone ever being returned to you, at least not in working order. Otherwise, yeah.