Immigration advocate sues US government over warrantless phone search

Thomas Kennedy, an Argentinian-American writer and immigration advocate, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government following an incident at Miami International Airport. Kennedy alleges that a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent coerced him into surrendering his smartphone for a physical search after threatening to prolong his interrogation and indefinitely retain his device. The lawsuit seeks the deletion of any data allegedly copied from his phone during the encounter. This case highlights ongoing legal debates regarding the extent of border agents' authority to conduct warrantless searches of electronic devices. Kennedy claims he felt compelled to comply due to the threat of detention, raising significant questions about privacy rights and the scope of government surveillance at US ports of entry. The legal action aims to challenge current CBP practices and protect the digital privacy of travelers entering the country.