CBP Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer waits for pedestrians entering the United States on April 9, 2018 at the San Ysidro port of entry in California. Warrantless searches of devices belonging to journalists and other travelers at the border violate the U.S. constitution, a Massachusetts district court judge ruled in November. (Getty Images/AFP/Mario Tama)

Q&A: Isma’il Kushkush and Sophia Cope on U.S. court ruling against warrantless border search

December 17, 2019 12:24 PM EST

Journalists crossing U.S. borders face a particular set of challenges, as CPJ has reported extensively. The U.S. government claims sweeping authority to interrogate travelers and search electronic devices without a warrant under what is known as the “border search exception.” CPJ has called this a chilling prospect for reporters in transit—especially those working with confidential…

A Mexican official pictured at the bridge connecting Tijuana and San Diego, in April 2018. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating the policies of Customs and Border Protection after documents appeared to show that the agency targeted journalists. (Reuters/Mike Blake)

What we need to know about CBP’s searches of journalists at San Diego

April 5, 2019 1:05 PM EDT

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating whether the Customs and Border Protection Agency inappropriately targeted and questioned journalists and activists. The investigation, announced by CBP on March 6, came after NBC 7 obtained documents showing that the border agency compiled a list of individuals, including at least 10 journalists, for additional screening.

CPJ calls on US Customs and Border Protection agency to reschedule meeting

March 12, 2019 1:55 PM EDT

CPJ calls on Andrew Meehan, Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs, to reschedule the meeting as soon as possible on the treatment of journalists at U.S. borders

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are seen in Los Angeles, California, on January 28, 2017. Today, CBP canceled a meeting with CPJ and other press freedom groups. (Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters)

US border agency cancels meeting with press freedom groups

March 8, 2019 9:40 AM EST

Washington, D.C., March 8, 2019 — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today canceled a meeting with a coalition of press freedom groups–including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the ACOS Alliance–one day after it postponed the long-scheduled meeting and two days after NBC…

Pedestrians wait to cross into the U.S. at the Otay Mesa port of entry with Mexico in San Diego, California. Several journalists say CBP agents questioned them about their reporting on a migrant caravan as they crossed into Mexico. (Reuters/Jorge Duenes)

Several journalists say US border agents questioned them about migrant coverage

February 11, 2019 11:40 AM EST

New York, February 11, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is harassing journalists or subjecting them to invasive questioning during secondary screening when they cross into the United States.

Honduran migrants take part in a caravan toward the U.S. in Chiquimula, Guatemala, on October 17. CPJ has issued safety advice for journalists covering the caravan as it passes through Mexico. (AFP/Orlando Estrada)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the migrant caravan

October 26, 2018 4:07 PM EDT

UPDATED: This safety advisory was updated on February 15, 2019. In October 2018, thousands of migrants travelled as part of a caravan that departed San Pedro Sula in Honduras for the U.S. As the caravan attempted to cross Mexico, the risk increased for any journalists accompanying it.