Incident Database

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Targeted any of these journalists

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Unnecessary use of force?

Yes
No

Arresting authority

Assault

Assailant

Was journalist targeted?

Unknown
Yes
No

Border Stop

Border point

Stopped previously?

Yes
No

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Denied entry?

Yes
No

Did authorities ask intrusive questions about journalist's work?

Unknown
Yes
No

Did authorities ask for device access?

Unknown
Yes
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Were devices searched or seized?

Unknown
Yes
No

Did authorities ask for social media username?

Unknown
Yes
No

Did authorities ask for social media password?

Unknown
Yes
No

Denial of Access

Government agency or public official involved

Equipment Damage

Equipment Broken

Equipment Search or Seizure

Actor

Status of seized equipment

Equipment Seized

Search warrant obtained?

Yes
No

Leak Case

Targets whose communications were obtained in leak investigation

Charged under espionage act?

Yes
No

Prior Restraint

Status of prior restraint

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Information requested in legal order

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36 incidents recorded

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Incident

Incident Details

Category Details

Photojournalist stopped, strip searched while crossing back into U.S.

Incident Details

Date of Incident: April 30, 2021
Location: Nogales, Arizona
Targets: Ash Ponders (Independent)

Border Point →: Nogales-Morley Gate Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →: Yes
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Unknown
Asked to display social media? →: No
Asked for social media passwords? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →: No

CBP officer withholds journalist’s passport until he agrees to say he writes 'propaganda'

Incident Details

Date of Incident: October 3, 2019
Location: Dulles, Virginia
Targets: Ben Watson (Defense One)

Border Point →: Dulles International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
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

Independent photographer stopped for secondary screening, devices seized

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 28, 2019
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Targets: Tim Stegmaier (Independent)

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

Equipment Seized →: Camera, 1

Computer, 1

Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Freelance reporter stopped while crossing border; passport card photographed

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 24, 2019
Location: San Diego, California
Targets: Nate Abaurrea

Border Point →: San Ysidro Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →: Yes
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

Rolling Stone journalist stopped for secondary screening, has electronics searched while asked invasive questions about reporting

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 13, 2019
Location: Austin, Texas
Targets: Seth Harp (Rolling Stone)

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

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Journalist stopped at the border for the third time, questioned about his work and FOIA request

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 16, 2019
Location: Miami, Florida
Targets: Manuel Rapalo

Border Point →: Miami International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
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 stopped at the border for the second time, camera searched

Incident Details

Date of Incident: January 26, 2019
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Targets: Manuel Rapalo

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

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Photojournalist questioned by CBP in Detroit after being denied entry to Mexico

Incident Details

Date of Incident: January 18, 2019
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Case number: 1:19-cv-06570
Targets: Kitra Cahana (Freelance)
Case Status: Ongoing
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Stopped at border? →: No
Target Nationality →: United States
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

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