Gizmodo: Woman Sues Border Agents to Make Them Return Data They Seized From Her Phone

Gizmodo: Woman Sues Border Agents to Make Them Return Data They Seized From Her Phone by Melanie Ehrenkranz:

A lawsuit filed against officials from the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) this week signals the increasingly invasive practices of border agents—as well as the pressing need for protections of our data.

In February, Rejhane Lazoja arrived at Newark Airport on a flight from Switzerland with her six-year-old daughter, according to a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. After passing through customs, Lazoja says a border agent brought her to a small, windowless room, where she was asked a series of questions, including if she was ever a refugee. Border agents then asked her to unlock her iPhone 6S Plus, which was protected by a passcode, according to the complaint. The complaint states that after Lazoja repeatedly refused—the agents didn’t give her a reason for this search—they seized her phone and SIM card, and didn’t return them for more than 120 days.

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