Incident Database

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Targeted any of these journalists

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Arrest status

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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

No

Denial of Access

Government agency or public official involved

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Equipment Damage

Equipment Broken

Equipment Search or Seizure

Actor

Status of seized equipment

Equipment Seized

Search warrant obtained?

Yes

No

Leak Case

Alleged recipient of leak

Charged under espionage act?

Yes

No

Prior Restraint

Status of prior restraint

Mistakenly released materials?

Yes

No

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal order type

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Information requested in legal order

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20 incidents recorded

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Incident

Incident Details

Category Details

Journalist questioned at Dulles International Airport

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: January 3, 2017
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Isma’il Kushkush (Freelance)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Dulles International Airport
Target Nationality →: Sudan

United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Filmmaker restrained, phone seized at U.S.-Canada border crossing

Incident Details

Date of Incident: January 4, 2017
Location: Lewiston, New York
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Akram Shibly (Independent)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Unknown

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Journalist, graduate student stopped for secondary screening, electronic devices searched

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: March 5, 2017
Location: Toronto, Canada
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Zainab Merchant (Independent)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Toronto Pearson International Airport
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1

Computer, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Al Jazeera journalist stopped and questioned in Los Angeles airport

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 27, 2017
Location: Los Angeles, California
Targets: Ali Latifi (Al Jazeera)

Border Point →: Los Angeles International Airport
Target Nationality →: Afghanistan

United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Journalist stopped for secondary screening, cellphone searched

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: July 30, 2017
Location: Highgate Springs, Vermont
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Isma’il Kushkush (Freelance)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Highgate Springs Port of Entry
Target Nationality →: Sudan

United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: 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 (Independent)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Orlando International Airport
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes

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 (Freelance)

Border Point →: Boston Logan International Airport
Target Nationality →: United States
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

Photojournalist stopped for secondary screening at CBP preclearance in Canada

Incident Details

Date of Incident: December 28, 2017
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Targets: John Rudoff (Independent)

Border Point →: Vancouver International Airport
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: No

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