2nd Circuit rules border agents may search phones without warrant or suspicion

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has ruled that border agents are permitted to search travelers' cellphones without a warrant, probable cause, or reasonable suspicion. The decision expands the authority of federal border officials to conduct device searches at ports of entry. The ruling falls under the longstanding 'border search exception' to the Fourth Amendment, which grants the government broader search powers at national boundaries. Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the privacy implications of warrantless access to personal devices. The decision marks a significant legal precedent for digital privacy rights at U.S. borders.