Vacation or interrogation? Canada warns travellers their phones may be searched at US border

Canada issued a new warning for travelers entering the US, saying they should “expect scrutiny” at the border and that their phones and other electronic devices may be searched.

The updated travel advisory follows US President Donald Trump’s move to tighten border and immigration policy, which had already prompted similar travel advisories from countries including the UK, Germany and France.

Trump’s economic and annexation threats against Canada have led to a marked drop in trips and bookings to the US by Canadians, who are the top source of international visitors, generating $20.5 billion in spending last year, according to the US Travel Association. The number of Canadian-resident return trips by car from the US plunged 23% in February from a year earlier, Statistics Canada said.

“Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation,” the Canadian government’s new travel advice states.

In March, a Canadian actress who attempted to renew her work visa was taken into US custody at the US-Mexico border and detained for 11 days, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. That same month, a French scientist was refused entry to the US in a case the French government said was related to messages on his phone that were critical of Trump. The administration denied that, saying the scientist was carrying an electronic device that contained confidential information from a US laboratory.