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WASHINGTON: Muslim travellers, coming in or going out of the United States, are often asked to hand over their cellphones and share their passwords with US immigration officials, the NBC News reported on Tuesday.
The US TV channel reported that 23 of the 25 travellers it interviewed were Muslims and although all showed evidence to prove they were US citizens, they still had to submit their phones for a thorough checking.
All 25 citizens NBC News interviewed said that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at airports and border crossings demanded that they hand over their phones and their passwords, or unlock them.
Those subjected to this search included businessmen, couples, senior citizens and families with young kids. Some were detained for hours when they tried to enter or leave the US. None were on terror watch lists.
One had a speeding ticket. Some were asked about their religion and their ethnic origins, and had the validity of their US citizenship questioned.
Data provided to NBC News by the US Department of Homeland Security showed that cellphone searches by border agents had increased fivefold in just one year, from fewer than 5,000 in 2015 to nearly 25,000 in 2016.
The report predicted that “2017 will be a blockbuster year” for such searches as more than 5,000 devices were searched in February alone, more than in all of 2015.
“This really puts at risk both the security and liberty of the American people,” said Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, on NBC News.
Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2017
Comments (15) Closed
Better to be safe than sorry.
Rise of Islam has started - wait and see..
Security has to follow the rules and earn their paychecks.
What's wrong in it?
Cue predictable comments from the usual suspects supporting this...
Best to use ordinary LCD Java phones.
No smartphones required for travels.
they are ensuring that no unexpected threat should enter into their territory.....
End of US dominance, why visit US? resorting to such measures just shows what a place US is becomming.
Pakistan has lost over 60,000 precious souls to terrorism. This is not about religion per se, it is about what is the value of life in society. Does anyone think that Pakistan society places a high value on life?, it reminds one of a recent article written by columnist I.A. Rehman in Dawn on the subject of value of life in society. We in Pakistan have been so slow in reacting to terrorism, for that many people to loose their precious lives is most unfortunate undeniable proof. Can anyone imagine a western democratic country ever succumbing to terrorism as the way we have, even if one person looses his life the nation is put on alert, most earnestly. This is a clash of values. That a small fraction of entire population has brought a bad name to the community as a whole, and the whole community has to suffer because of those few.
Nothing to worry when nothing to hide? Our people just hate to be questioned and resort to grumbling, kind of inferiority complex.
This is encroachment in privacy to search his/her mobile unless you have some doubt or got some kind of intelligence against that person.
Everything is possible in Trump's America.
@Taurious . That is true, but America is still much better than most countries, consider how many Pakistani's wish to make America home and how many American's would wish to make Pakistan home. Trump is only one individual, although President he cannot change what is intrinsically what America is about, he does not even wish to change that.
Chickens are coming home to roost, decades of wrong foreign policies and backing "freedom fighters" who then go on to become terrorists, when will the US understand that you cannot trample people and expect no reaction? They make billions spreading destruction via weapons sales then wonder why almost half the World hates them... the US does not need any help from anyone when it comes to turning millions against themselves as they are doing fine and dandy..i feel sorry for the public of America who will feel the brunt of this anger whilst those starting wars & selling bombs planes and bullets will be left counting their billions..
@Gee No my friend! Its is question of privacy and human rights. Everyone is entitled to privacy and that does not mean that you have something to hide.