Incident Database

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General

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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

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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45 incidents recorded

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Incident

Incident Details

Category Details

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

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1

Computer, 1

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

Freelance reporter stopped while crossing border; passport card photographed

Incident Details

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

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

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
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 part
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 (Freelance)

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

Equipment Seized →: Work product, 2
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

BuzzFeed News reporter aggressively questioned about reporting at passport checkpoint

Incident Details

Date of Incident: February 3, 2019
Location: New York, New York
Targets: David Mack (BuzzFeed News)

Border Point →: John F. Kennedy International Airport
Target Nationality →: Australian
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. permanent resident (green card)
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: No
Asked for device access? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes

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 (Freelance)

Border Point →: Washington, D.C.
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 →: Camera, 1

Equipment bag, 1

Work product, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
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
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

Journalist denied entry into Mexico found on government’s secret database

Incident Details

Updated On: November 20, 2019
Date of Incident: January 17, 2019
Location: Montreal, Canada
Case number: 1:19-cv-06570
Targets: Kitra Cahana (Freelance)
Case Status: Ongoing
Type of case: Civil

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

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