Border Stop

Since tracking began in 2017, 8 journalists have been stopped for secondary screening while covering the migrant caravan.

Total cases	26

Photojournalist questioned at San Ysidro border, separated from camera

February 21, 2019

On Jan. 4, freelance photojournalist Ariana Drehsler was stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border and subjected to secondary screening measures for …

Photojournalist questioned at U.S.-Mexico border for second time

February 21, 2019

Freelance photojournalist Ariana Drehsler was stopped for a secondary screening and questioned while entering the United States from Mexico on …

Photojournalist stopped and questioned at US-Mexico border

February 15, 2019

Spanish freelance photojournalist Emilio Fraile was questioned in secondary screening by U.S. authorities while traveling from Tijuana, Mexico, to San …

Photojournalist questioned at San Ysidro border

February 21, 2019

While covering the migrant caravan in Mexico, freelance photojournalist Ariana Drehsler has been stopped for secondary screenings each time she …

Two photojournalists stopped at US-Mexico border for secondary screening

February 15, 2019

Bing Guan and Go Nakamura, American photojournalists, were pulled into secondary screening on Dec. 29, 2018, while driving through the …

Filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky has device taken and searched upon arrival in U.S.

January 30, 2019

While flying from the United Kingdom into the United States on Dec. 23, 2018, filmmaker and director Saeed Taji Farouky …

Journalist stopped at border for the fourth time, questioned about immigration reporting

August 2, 2019

Freelance multimedia reporter Brooke Binkowski was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers while she was re-entering the United …

Journalist questioned at San Ysidro border crossing for third time

August 2, 2019

Freelance multimedia reporter Brooke Binkowski was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers while she was re-entering the United …

More Incidents

How we track Border Stops

Journalists stopped at the border and subjected to prolonged, invasive questioning or who have their electronic devices searched or are asked to provide passwords. We count border stops even if we are unable to draw a direct connection between the stop and the journalist’s work activities, because the resistance of U.S. authorities to provide information makes it extremely difficult to identify the motive and because invasive questioning or device searches could jeopardize source confidentiality no matter the motive. Not every stop at the border is a press freedom violation, but we believe it is essential to capture patterns related to these stops. This category also includes cases where journalists are prevented from entering the country if it appears that their inability to enter the country is related to their work.

Border Stop

Category Summary

Photojournalist questioned at San Ysidro border, separated from camera

Photojournalist questioned at U.S.-Mexico border for second time

Photojournalist stopped and questioned at US-Mexico border

Photojournalist questioned at San Ysidro border

Two photojournalists stopped at US-Mexico border for secondary screening

Filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky has device taken and searched upon arrival in U.S.

Journalist stopped at border for the fourth time, questioned about immigration reporting

Journalist questioned at San Ysidro border crossing for third time

How we track Border Stops

All Categories