Immigration advocate sues border agents over phone seizure

Argentinian-American writer and immigration advocate Thomas Kennedy sued the US government, demanding it delete data he believes was copied from his phone when he re-entered the country. He says a CBP agent at Miami International Airport took his phone for about 45 minutes and threatened a longer interrogation if he refused.

• Kennedy believes phone data was copied during the 45-minute seizure
• CBP searched devices of 55,318 of 419M travelers in FY2025 (0.0013%)
• US courts recognize a 'border exception' to the Fourth Amendment
• Kennedy links the search to his work with Florida Immigration Coalition and Amnesty International