U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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18 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Photojournalist stopped for secondary screening at CBP preclearance in Canada

Incident Details

Date of Incident
December 28, 2017
Location
Vancouver, Canada
Targets
John Rudoff

Border Stop

Border Point →
Vancouver International Airport
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
Yes
Asked for device access? →
No
Asked to display social media? →
No
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
No
Were devices searched or seized? →
No

Public radio reporter stopped for secondary screening while crossing U.S.-Mexico border

Incident Details

Date of Incident
December 2017
Location
El Paso, Texas
Targets
Latif Nasser (WNYC)

Border Stop

Border Point →
El Paso Paso del Norte Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. permanent resident (green card)
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
No
Asked to display social media? →
No
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →
No

Reporter called “fake news,” harassed by CBP officer when entering US

Incident Details

Date of Incident
November 30, 2017
Location
Miami, Florida
Targets
Alastair Jamieson (NBC News)

Border Stop

Border Point →
Miami International Airport
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. non-resident
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
No
Asked to display social media? →
No
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →
No

Photojournalist stopped second time by CBP in less than a year

Incident Details

Date of Incident
October 25, 2017
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
Targets
David Degner

Border Stop

Border Point →
Boston Logan International Airport
Stopped at border? →
No
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
Yes
Asked for device access? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Unknown
Were devices searched or seized? →
No

Reporter flagged for additional screening when leaving the U.S., questioned about work

Incident Details

Date of Incident
September 30, 2017
Location
New York, New York
Targets
Anonymous reporter 2

Border Stop

Border Point →
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
No
Asked to display social media? →
No
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →
No

Journalist, graduate student stopped again for secondary screening

Incident Details

Updated On
June 28, 2021
Date of Incident
September 16, 2017
Location
Orlando, Florida
Case number
1:17-cv-11730
Targets
Zainab Merchant
Case Status
Dismissed
Type of case
Civil

Border Stop

Border Point →
Orlando International Airport
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
Yes
Asked for device access? →
No
Asked to display social media? →
No
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →
No

Photojournalist detained at US-Canadian border ordered to delete images on camera

Incident Details

Date of Incident
September 4, 2017
Location
Highgate, Vermont
Targets
Terry J. Allen (In These Times)

Border Stop

Border Point →
Highgate Springs Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked to display social media? →
No
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
No
Were devices searched or seized? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Equipment Damage

Customs officers search reporter's car and phone at Canadian border

Incident Details

Date of Incident
August 3, 2017
Location
Detroit, Michigan
Targets
Anne Elizabeth Moore (Freelance)

Border Stop

Border Point →
Ambassador Bridge Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement
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