[z02d]

My girlfriend wanted to visit the US once in her life, but we decided to cancel the plans due to the current uncertainty. A German tattoo artist was detained because she had her work equipment with her. What will happen when I bring my phone and laptop as an IT guy?

[rspoerri]

IIrc the discussion about this (tattoo) topic made it apparent that, that artist was likely working in the USA before (without permit) and planned to do so again, and had posted so in the web.

But myself I wouldn't go to the USA right now as well. In the case that anything goes wrong, there is likely so much chaos in all the agencies right now, the danger of error is just very high and impact could be catastrophic.

[gerdesj]

Just got back from two weeks in FL to the UK. Both me and the wiff had mobiles and we took a laptop too.

Nothing weirder than normal noted in FL except a Cyber truck with "Thank you Elon" taped out on the back panel!

[mingus88]

You should always bring a burner device when traveling to a foreign country, US or otherwise

The border patrol can effectively do anything they want, for any reason. If they ask you to unlock your devices, do it. Let them take it away to be imaged. There will be nothing of value on a burner device.

1password has a travel mode which will remove vaults from your devices. Take this one step further and remove everything unnecessary for travel from your devices

[tim333]

I've travelled to 50+ countries and never considered bringing a burner device. This recent US thing of of checking your devices or social media posts and turning back people with wrongthink is kind of novel.

[mingus88]

I worked for a government contractor and this was common guidance over a decade ago if you are in any sensitive role

It is not hard to imagine a scenario where a foreign government might surreptitiously plant a rootkit on a lowly IT workers device as they transit customs, as a means to pivot for corporate or other espionage

It is much more common to phish the administrative staff for a firm to get network access but you would have to be a fool to ignore the vector of customs simply using direct physical access for a much more effective hack

[mingus88]

Was Israel ever on your list of 50+ countries?

I just realized that the most restrictive border I ever crossed was a trip to Tel Aviv and it was well known even back then that they would inspect everything about you before you even landed

[lazyeye]

You think they wont let people in who have a laptop and a phone?

[mingus88]

They can force you to unlock your devices and then take your device away to be imaged. They’ll look at your socials and more.

If you refuse then they won’t let you in, and you will be banned from ever returning

https://www.eff.org/issues/travel-screening

[palata]

Given that there are precedents of people being detained (for weeks!) for no apparent reason, I assume that the parent is scared that it could happen to them.

A French citizen was denied entry because they found messages criticising Trump on his phone/computer. Not detained for weeks, but could well have been for all we know.