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The Reality at the U.S.-Canada Border
This is not new policy in spirit, but the scope has widened. CBP has long held the authority to inspect travelers' electronic devices at ports of entry without a warrant. What changed is the breadth of what qualifies as a searchable device. Smartwatches, which many travelers may not even consider in the same category as a smartphone or laptop, are now explicitly included. Jensen's statement to CBC News underscores a reality many travelers either misunderstand or hope to sidestep: the assumption that you can simply decline a search and proceed into the United States is incorrect. You cannot. If an officer requests access to your device and you refuse, you will be denied entry. It is that straightforward.What This Means for Cross-Border Travelers
The practical implication is immediate. Canadians who regularly cross into the U.S. for business, leisure, or family visits need to understand that their digital privacy at the border is not protected in the way it would be inside either country. The border is a legal gray zone where constitutional protections thin out, and CBP operates with wide latitude. For travelers accustomed to making quick weekend trips into the U.S. or commuting across the border for work, this creates a friction point. Do you travel with a sanitized device? Do you leave your primary phone at home and carry a secondary device with minimal personal data? Do you back up and wipe your phone before crossing, knowing you may be asked to unlock it? These are not hypothetical considerations. They are decisions being made right now by travelers who understand the stakes.Why Smartwatches Matter
The inclusion of smartwatches is significant because it reflects how deeply integrated our digital lives have become across multiple devices. A smartwatch syncs with your phone. It holds messages, health data, location history, app notifications, and in some cases, payment information and passwords. For many users, a smartwatch is an extension of their smartphone, not a standalone accessory. CBP's expanded device list acknowledges this reality. Officers are not limiting their inquiries to laptops and phones. If you are wearing a smartwatch when you cross the border, it is subject to the same search authority as any other electronic device. Refusing to unlock it or hand it over carries the same consequence: refusal of entry.No Legal Recourse at the Border
Jensen's warning is grounded in the legal framework governing U.S. ports of entry. Travelers do not have the same rights at the border that they would enjoy once admitted into the country. CBP officers are not required to demonstrate probable cause or obtain a warrant to search your devices. The search can be conducted at the officer's discretion, and there is no appeal process available in real time. If you are a Canadian citizen denied entry for refusing a device search, you will be turned back. If you are a foreign national, the consequences can extend further, potentially affecting future visa eligibility or entry attempts.What Travelers Should Know Before Crossing
First, assume your devices may be searched. This includes phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, e-readers, portable hard drives, and any other electronic device capable of storing data. Second, understand that "search" can mean different things. In some cases, an officer may simply power on the device to confirm it functions. In others, they may scroll through messages, photos, emails, and apps. In more intensive inspections, devices can be connected to CBP systems for data extraction. The scope of the search is at the discretion of the officer. Third, know that you are not required to provide passwords to cloud accounts, but you are required to unlock the device itself. If your phone is locked and you refuse to provide the passcode or biometric unlock, that refusal will be treated as non-compliance. Fourth, consider your data hygiene before travel. If you are carrying sensitive work files, proprietary business information, confidential client data, or personal content you would not want accessed, plan accordingly. This might mean traveling with a clean device, using encrypted cloud storage that remains locked, or simply leaving certain devices at home.A Shifting Landscape for Border Crossings
This expansion of searchable devices is part of a broader trend. Border security agencies across the world are adapting to the reality that personal electronics now hold more information about an individual than any physical luggage ever could. The friction between privacy expectations and security enforcement continues to grow, and travelers are caught in the middle. For Canadians, the U.S.-Canada border has long been one of the busiest and most fluid in the world. Millions of crossings happen annually, and the vast majority occur without incident. But the legal authority underpinning those crossings has always allowed for device searches, and that authority is now being applied more broadly. Jensen's warning is a reminder that travelers need to adjust their expectations and their preparations. The border is not a place where you negotiate terms. It is a place where compliance is expected, and refusal has immediate consequences.More travel news
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About the Author
Jeff Colhoun
Jeff Colhoun is an acclaimed travel writer, photographer, and filmmaker, whose work is respected both in the United States and internationally.
