U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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16 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

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
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
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 Stop

Border Point →
Highgate Springs Port of Entry
Target Nationality →
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 →
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 Stop

Border Point →
Los Angeles International Airport
Target Nationality →
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 →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

BBC journalist questioned by US border agents, devices searched

Incident Details

Date of Incident
May 18, 2017
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Targets
Ali Hamedani (BBC News)

Border Stop

Border Point →
O'Hare International Airport
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. non-resident
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Unknown
Equipment Seized →
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 Stop

Border Point →
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Target Nationality →
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 →
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 Stop

Border Point →
Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
Target Nationality →
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

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

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 Stop

Border Point →
Dulles International Airport
Target Nationality →
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 →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Filmmaker forced to unlock phone at U.S.-Canada border crossing

Incident Details

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

Border Stop

Border Point →
Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Unknown
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
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