Federal Judge Rules CBP Can’t Search Travelers’ Phones Without a Warrant

A federal judge has held that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cannot search travelers’ phones without a warrant, a decision that carries profound implications for privacy at U.S. borders. This ruling, delivered by Judge Nina R. Morrison, specifically applies to New York’s Eastern District, which includes John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), one of the busiest airports in the United States. While its direct application is geographically limited, the decision has broad implications for privacy rights and government search powers, underscoring the weight of this legal shift.

The ruling stemmed from the criminal case against Kurbonali Sultanov, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Uzbekistan. Upon his arrival at JFK, Sultanov’s name triggered an alert on the Treasury Enforcement Communications System, marking him as a potential purchaser or possessor of child sexual abuse material. CBP agents instructed Sultanov to unlock his phone, a directive he felt compelled to comply with under the impression that he had no choice. Following this, officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit interrogated Sultanov after reading him his Miranda rights.

Subsequently, government investigators obtained a warrant to conduct a forensic examination of Sultanov’s phone and another phone in his possession. During his trial, Sultanov moved to suppress the evidence obtained from his phones, arguing the initial search violated his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. Although Judge Morrison denied the motion to suppress evidence obtained through the warrant, she ruled that the initial search without a warrant was unconstitutional.

This ruling challenges the prevailing legal framework established by a 2021 U.S. appeals court decision in Alasaad v. Mayorkas, 988 F.3d 8 (1st Cir. 2021), which allowed CBP to conduct warrantless and suspicionless searches of electronic devices at borders. The Alasaad case distinguished between ‘basic border searches’ (manual searches that are deemed routine and not requiring reasonable suspicion) and ‘forensic searches’ (more in-depth searches that do require reasonable suspicion). Judge Morrison, however, highlighted the inadequacy of this distinction, arguing that the expansive scope of ‘manual’ searches renders the differentiation too tenuous to justify an exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement.

In her decision, Judge Morrison emphasized that both manual and forensic searches of electronic devices could infringe on personal privacy, given the vast amount of sensitive information stored on modern smartphones. She asserted that the evolution of technology demands a reevaluation of legal standards to protect individual privacy effectively.

The significance of this ruling extends beyond Sultanov’s case. It has profound implications for journalists and political dissidents, who may be particularly vulnerable to privacy violations during international travel. The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press filed amici briefs, underscoring the dangers of warrantless searches for press freedom. Judge Morrison echoed these concerns, noting that a single border crossing could expose journalists and political targets to extensive government scrutiny, compromising their confidential communications and sources.

The ruling has sparked considerable debate and heightened scrutiny of CBP’s practices. A CBP spokesperson refrained from commenting on the pending criminal case, but the agency’s search policies have faced increasing scrutiny. In April, a bipartisan group of senators, including Gary Peters (D-MI), Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mike Crapo (R-ID), wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking transparency about the data retained from border searches and its subsequent use. Their letter highlighted concerns that current policies might exceed the intended scope of border search authority.

While Judge Morrison’s ruling is a significant step toward safeguarding privacy rights, its practical impact is currently confined to New York’s Eastern District. However, it sets a legal precedent that could influence future court decisions and potentially lead to broader reforms. The decision challenges existing interpretations of border search authority and advocates for greater protections against unwarranted government intrusions.

United States v. Sultanov, No. 22-CR-149 (NRM), 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130742 (E.D.N.Y. July 24, 2024)

Additional source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/29/24209130/customs-border-protection-unlock-phone-warrant-new-york-jfk