Erin O'Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency, doesn’t believe crossing the US border has gotten more difficult in recent years.
She made the comments last week during an exclusive interview with CBC's The House, telling host Catherine Cullen that "every day, we are seeing thousands of people go back and forth.”
However, the senior bureaucrat did acknowledge that she’s aware of individual instances where American border officials searched travellers' electronic devices, such as phones.
According to information obtained by CBC News, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers searched 55,318 computers, cellphones and other electronic devices in 2025, a 17.6% increase over 2024 and a 32.4% increase over 2023.
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority also reports that more Canadian devices are being searched during US border crossings, noting that Canadians wanting to enter the US have no choice but to comply with border officials. The agency did not provide a breakdown between searches at airports versus land borders.
“United States border agents are legally entitled to search your phone and other electronic devices. Border agents do not need to provide a reason when requesting your device’s password,” the authority cautioned.
Updated travel advice issued by Global Affairs Canada last year echoes that sentiment, even if O'Gorman didn't, warning that Canadian travellers denied entry into the US could be detained while awaiting deportation.
“Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices,” the agency said. “Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities.”
While causation is difficult to determine, increased scrutiny of electronic devices at the US border corresponds with a sharp drop in the number of Canadians choosing to visit the US, as well as increased trade tensions and annexation threats from the American president.
Cell phone mobility data analyzed by the University of Toronto revealed a year-over-year median decline of roughly 42% in Canadian visits to US destinations, while Statistics Canada reports that the number of Canadian-resident return trips from the United States has decreased for 15 consecutive months.
