US-born citizens returning from overseas travels

[BigJaj]

Jurisdiction

Virginia

I've heard in the news that CBP's been going very hard on even green card holders and residential aliens as much as visa travelers. Any idea if just as much for even US-born citizens too? Think carrying and whipping out my Maryland birth certificate could avoid or minimize the risk of losing my electronics to CBP when returning from overseas? So the airports I usually depart from and return to fall under Fourth Circuit's jurisdiction. So far what I'm aware of, I've never committed "border violations" at all.

Is it safe to travel with your phone right now?

Know your rights, but also minimize your risk.

www.theverge.com

 

[Zigner]

Why do you believe that your US passport won't be sufficient?

 

[adjusterjack]

^That.

 

[Red Kayak]

Use your passport or Real ID when travelling.
Whipping out a birth certificate would make you look suspicious.

 

[BigJaj]

Use your passport or Real ID when travelling.
Whipping out a birth certificate would make you look suspicious.

Never mind the birth certificate part. Almost forgot that seeing Maryland under the "Place of birth" line in my passport verifies my birth cert and so does REAL ID ‍(face palm).

But even so, I have no reason to worry about losing my electronics to CBP as much as everyone else would?

 

[army judge]

I have no reason to worry about losing my electronics to CBP as much as everyone else would?

Hmmm, I recognize the "?" at the END of the above sentence.

However, the aforementioned sentence appears to be DECLARATORY, rather than INTERROGATORY.

No worries, you'll receive your answer during your in person contact with the wonderful, kind, calm, respectful US BORDER PATROL PERSONNEL, upon your attempt to reenter the United States.

 

[BigJaj]

Hmmm, I recognize the "?" at the END of the above sentence.

However, the aforementioned sentence appears to be DECLARATORY, rather than INTERROGATORY.

No worries, you'll receive your answer during your in person contact with the wonderful, kind, calm, respectful US BORDER PATROL PERSONNEL, upon your attempt to reenter the United States.

Does your specialty include immigration law?

 

[army judge]

Does your specialty include immigration law?

The site owner doesn't permit ANY attorneys to troll his site seeking clients.

However, you might find information on the following sites to be useful:


I am not ENDORSING or RECOMMENDING any site or individual, I'm just illustrating resources exist where one can seek a qualified, licensed attorney.

https://www.avvo.com/immigration-lawyer/va.html

Virginia Immigration Lawyers - Compare Top Immigration Attorneys in Virginia - Justia

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Immigration Lawyers | Northern Virginia Immigration Law Firm, PLLC

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Fairfax Immigration Lawyers | Compare Top Rated Virginia Attorneys | Justia

Find the best immigration attorney serving Fairfax. Compare top Virginia lawyers' fees, client reviews, lawyer rating, case results, education, awards, publications, social media and work history. Get help now. Last Updated March, 2025.

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https://attorneys.superlawyers.com/immigration/washington-dc/washington/

https://www.fragomen.com/offices/washington-dc.html

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Immigration+Lawyer&find_loc=Washington%2C+DC

Immigration Lawyer | DC Metro Immigration Law PLLC | United States

Best Immigration Lawyer for Green Cards, H-1B, Employment, Family Petitions

www.dcmil.com

However, you'll find none operating on this site.

 

[Tax Counsel]

I've heard in the news that CBP's been going very hard on even green card holders and residential aliens as much as visa travelers. Any idea if just as much for even US-born citizens too? Think carrying and whipping out my Maryland birth certificate could avoid or minimize the risk of losing my electronics to CBP when returning from overseas? So the airports I usually depart from and return to fall under Fourth Circuit's jurisdiction. So far what I'm aware of, I've never committed "border violations" at all.

Is it safe to travel with your phone right now?

Know your rights, but also minimize your risk.

www.theverge.com

When you trave abroad, your U.S. passport is your best friend as it is easiest and fastest way for a citizen get through the immgration a customs lines at the airport. The federal governmant may not deny entry to a U.S. citizen. However if there is an outstanding arrest warrant for you are subject to arrest once you are cleared and step foot into the U.S.

Make a record of your own items you take with you on a trip, like photos of it in your home, to prove that they are not imported goods subject to customs duties. Anything up buy abroad you should get and keep a receipt for what you actually paid for the item and some estimate of its actual value. This is important to establish the value of the goods. If you don't do that ICE agents will estimate the value for you and impose a customs duty that is likely to be higher than just simply paying whatever duty is owed.

Having those sorts of records will go a long to making the reentry process go more quickly and smoothly. Not having any thing to prove what yours before the trip and what you paid for the items you bought on the trip may end up with the government reaching deeper into your pocket to pay up tax on items you are bringing into the U.S.

 

[Red Kayak]

Never mind the birth certificate part. Almost forgot that seeing Maryland under the "Place of birth" line in my passport verifies my birth cert and so does REAL ID ‍(face palm).

But even so, I have no reason to worry about losing my electronics to CBP as much as everyone else would?

Perhaps your paranoia can be allayed by enrolling in a Trusted Traveler Program

Global Entry

Securing America's Borders

www.cbp.gov

And yes, I believe that you are being overly paranoid.

 

[Mark_A]

It is always a good idea to make a hard copy of the id page of your passport and also to take a photo of it on your phone, in case you lose your passport.

One can also get a Passport Card (the size of a driver's license) as a backup, although it is not valid for travel to countries other than land or sea entry to/from Canada or Mexico and some Caribbean nations (not valid for air travel), but might help you prove your identity if your passport is stolen overseas. If you already have a regular passport book you should be eligible to use Form DS-82 to obtain a passport card by mail as a "renewal" even if it is your first passport card.

 

[Mark_A]

I've heard in the news that CBP's been going very hard on even green card holders and residential aliens as much as visa travelers. Any idea if just as much for even US-born citizens too? Think carrying and whipping out my Maryland birth certificate could avoid or minimize the risk of losing my electronics to CBP when returning from overseas? So the airports I usually depart from and return to fall under Fourth Circuit's jurisdiction. So far what I'm aware of, I've never committed "border violations" at all.

The position of the current administration is that non-citizens of the US do not have full freedom of speech protection when entering the US with a visa, including visa upon arrival, and non-US citizens may be denied entry for various reasons that could not be applied to a US Citizen with a valid US Passport. In other words, non-US citizens entering the US to engage in certain political activities (such as expressing verbal support of terrorist organizations) may be denied entry, or in some cases may even be deported if they engaged in illegal political demonstrations (such as shutting down educational institutions by illegally occupying college campus buildings).

Some people may disagree with that, but those are probably the same people who are convinced that Donald Trump illegally collaborated with Russians to influence the 2016 presidential election.

 

[Tax Counsel]

Some people may disagree with that, but those are probably the same people who are convinced that Donald Trump illegally collaborated with Russians to influence the 2016 presidential election.

There is no connection between the two and therefore strikes me as a poltical statement rather than a logical one.

 

[Mark_A]

There is no connection between the two and therefore strikes me as a poltical statement rather than a logical one.

The OP provided a link to a site where they explained some non-US citizens entering the US had their phones examined and denied entry if they contained any links to, or possible political support of, terrorist organizations or governments. I have already seen a lot of editorials, etc from liberal media condemning this new State Department policy. These activities or political links found on a phone cannot be used to deny a US citizen re-entry into the US.

As far as Trump is concerned, some people think he was guilty of illegal activity (conspiring with a foreign government to influence the US 2016 election) for even talking to Putin before the election, even though the special prosecutor exonerated Trump of any improper activity. I was just pointing out that these same people who think Trump is guilty of a crime of conspiring with Russia are often the ones who seem to be objecting the most about the new US State Department policy of denying entry, or even sometimes deporting, non-USA citizens for any kind of link or support of terrorist organizations or certain US political adversaries, or engaging in questionable political activity inside the US.

So I don't see how one can say they are not connected.

 

[Red Kayak]

Almost forgot that seeing Maryland under the "Place of birth" line in my passport verifies my birth cert and so does REAL ID ‍(face palm).

Just a reminder: if you have renounced your US citizenship somewhere along the way, having your birth certificate won't help.

 

[BigJaj]

Just a reminder: if you have renounced your US citizenship somewhere along the way, having your birth certificate won't help.

Never did though. Otherwise, surely I wouldn't be holding an active/valid US passport let alone a REAL ID Virginia DL.

 

[BigJaj]

And yes, I believe that you are being overly paranoid.

Maybe. Almost forgot I notched in one international travel under the current administration so far when I went to Colombia last month to surprise my girlfriend for Valentine's Day. When I came back, it was a fast track as usual through Global Entry lane after answering no to CBP officer's question of anything to declare.

Couple years ago though, CBP did pull me aside one time. Had to completely empty my pockets, sit there, and twiddle my thumbs until my turn was called up for inspection more thorough than TSA and answering questions of why I travel to Colombia pretty often. Of course, I told him because of LDR. Fortunately, he didn't pry into my electronics then. Eventually, he cleared me to go. Last question I asked him is if I'll likely be back there after every 5-10 times I see my girlfriend to which he said very likely. Didn't happen again though and I've been back to Colombia over a dozen times or two.

After recently hearing through vlogs on Instagram and TikTok about so many people getting pulled aside by CBP, can't help but feel paranoid if CBP will pull me aside for every single return from future trips overseas. Am I still "being overly paranoid"? Plus wouldn't they need to ramp up recruiting or manpower to inspect every single one of thousands of travelers for 30-60 mins each? Any idea if they've been carrying that level of detentions since day 1 under current administration or have they recently started to ramp it up?

 

[Mark_A]

Maybe. Almost forgot I notched in one international travel under the current administration so far when I went to Colombia last month to surprise my girlfriend for Valentine's Day. When I came back, it was a fast track as usual through Global Entry lane after answering no to CBP officer's question of anything to declare.

Couple years ago though, CBP did pull me aside one time. Had to completely empty my pockets, sit there, and twiddle my thumbs until my turn was called up for inspection more thorough than TSA and answering questions of why I travel to Colombia pretty often. Of course, I told him because of LDR. Fortunately, he didn't pry into my electronics then. Eventually, he cleared me to go. Last question I asked him is if I'll likely be back there after every 5-10 times I see my girlfriend to which he said very likely. Didn't happen again though and I've been back to Colombia over a dozen times or two.

After recently hearing through vlogs on Instagram and TikTok about so many people getting pulled aside by CBP, can't help but feel paranoid if CBP will pull me aside for every single return from future trips overseas. Am I still "being overly paranoid"? Plus wouldn't they need to ramp up recruiting or manpower to inspect every single one of thousands of travelers for 30-60 mins each? Any idea if they've been carrying that level of detentions since day 1 under current administration or have they recently started to ramp it up?

There are probably people who travel from Columbia to the US frequently who are involved in drug trafficking.

 

[BigJaj]

There are probably people who travel from Columbia to the US frequently who are involved in drug trafficking.

Wouldn't CBP need to aggressively recruit more officers if they're going to assume even every single fellow American coming back from Colombia or Mexico is a drug trafficker? Talking about millions too.

 

[Mark_A]

Wouldn't CBP need to aggressively recruit more officers if they're going to assume even every single fellow American coming back from Colombia or Mexico is a drug trafficker? Talking about millions too.

You said that you frequently travel from Columbia to the US. Probably not that many people do that. Colombia has a notorious history with drug trafficking, particularly cocaine, with powerful cartels like Medellín and Cali playing a major role in the global drug trade. Most drug trafficking from Mexico is probably by land, air (small private planes), or sea.