In the very unlikely instance that happens, fly to the nearest country, make a backup of your phone, factory reset it, then fly back to a different poet of entry
Sure, but that doesn’t mean the person is going to be an asshole at the other point of entry.
I flew into NYC one time with a joint. They always target me because of how I look, so I got all my shit searched. Dude found half a joint (yeah I fucked up). He looked at me and then put it back and continued the search, pretending be didn’t find it.
People in NYC are nice people. Their city doesn’t care about weed. His employer (CBP) did, but he made a decision not to fuck up my life over a stupid small thing.
I’ve also crossed borders in Israel when doing human rights work. Its easier to go by land than by air. The environment at different ports of entry is just different than others.
The issue is that customs agents have the authority to refuse you entry into the country for no reason if they so choose. Refuse to consent to a search and you could be refused entry. This includes simply transiting through the airport, as the US requires foreigners to go through customs even for connecting flights (I’m not sure if that’s always the case, but it has always been the case for me.) So they can’t force you to let them search your phone, but the end result is the essentially the same.
They can still ask you to trun on and have it unlocked. Refuse and you being an international traveller? They probably will deny your entry.
In the very unlikely instance that happens, fly to the nearest country, make a backup of your phone, factory reset it, then fly back to a different poet of entry
Or just bring a burner phone with fresh international Sim card
This is the real answer.
Flying to China for work/play?
Leave your real phone at home. Take a cheap burner.
No, don’t use SIM cards.
The port of entry that originally denied you entrance immediately notes that in the system and you are “Flagged” at all other ports of entry.
Sure, but that doesn’t mean the person is going to be an asshole at the other point of entry.
I flew into NYC one time with a joint. They always target me because of how I look, so I got all my shit searched. Dude found half a joint (yeah I fucked up). He looked at me and then put it back and continued the search, pretending be didn’t find it.
People in NYC are nice people. Their city doesn’t care about weed. His employer (CBP) did, but he made a decision not to fuck up my life over a stupid small thing.
I’ve also crossed borders in Israel when doing human rights work. Its easier to go by land than by air. The environment at different ports of entry is just different than others.
Don’t refuse… Just casually forget
The issue is that customs agents have the authority to refuse you entry into the country for no reason if they so choose. Refuse to consent to a search and you could be refused entry. This includes simply transiting through the airport, as the US requires foreigners to go through customs even for connecting flights (I’m not sure if that’s always the case, but it has always been the case for me.) So they can’t force you to let them search your phone, but the end result is the essentially the same.
Well, you know when you get around my age, technology gets confusing