U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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42 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

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

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

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

Al Jazeera journalist stopped and questioned at JFK airport

Incident Details

Date of Incident
May 23, 2018
Location
New York, New York
Targets
Mhamed Krichen (Al Jazeera)

Border Stop

Border Point →
John F. Kennedy 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? →
Yes
Asked to display social media? →
Yes
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
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

Freelance journalist asked for social media information during secondary screening

Incident Details

Date of Incident
June 6, 2018
Location
Beirut, Lebanon
Targets
Scott Preston

Border Stop

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

Two journalists asked about political views by CBP, told to ‘fall in line’

Incident Details

Date of Incident
June 16, 2018
Location
Newark, New York
Targets
Ann Gerhart (The Washington Post), Michael Sokolove (The New York Times Magazine)

Border Stop

Border Point →
Newark Liberty International Airport
Stopped at border? →
No
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

Freelance multimedia reporter stopped at San Ysidro border crossing, questioned about reporting

Incident Details

Date of Incident
July 2018
Location
San Diego, California
Targets
Brooke Binkowski

Border Stop

Border Point →
San Ysidro 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? →
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 multiple times, told passport is flagged

Incident Details

Date of Incident
July 2018
Location
San Diego, California
Targets
Brooke Binkowski (Freelance)

Border Stop

Border Point →
San Ysidro 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? →
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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