- CBP officers are intensifying border screenings at all U.S. ports of entry under expanded 2025-2026 rules.
- Travelers face increased referrals to secondary inspection involving device searches and detailed questioning of personal history.
- Nationals from 39 restricted travel-ban countries and long-term absent green card holders face the highest risk.
(U.S.) Travelers arriving at U.S. airports and land borders are facing tougher screening, longer questioning, and more frequent referrals to secondary inspection under expanded rules used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection since January 2025. For non-citizens, that can mean device searches, delayed entry, or referral into immigration enforcement if officers suspect inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The risk is highest for nationals from restricted countries, green card holders returning after long trips, and visa holders in student, work, or exchange categories. U.S. citizens cannot be held for immigration screening once they prove citizenship, but they can still face delays while officers verify documents.
Border Screening Under Section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
CBP officers have wide authority at airports, seaports, and land crossings. Section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act lets them inspect travelers, ask questions, and decide whether someone may enter the United States.
That first review can take minutes or several hours. If an officer wants a closer look, the traveler is sent to secondary inspection. There, officers may ask about the trip, work history, family ties, prior visa use, and social media activity. They may also review phones, laptops, and other devices without a warrant because border searches fall under the border search exception to the Fourth Amendment.
Enhanced vetting has grown since the January 2025 executive actions. Those measures expanded screening for H-1B, F-1, and J-1 applicants and their dependents, and a new USCIS Vetting Center began work on December 5, 2025. The policy has also widened the list of countries and travel histories that draw attention. By January 1, 2026, the travel ban covered 39 countries.
For official border guidance, travelers can review the U.S. Customs and Border Protection official website.
Travelers Facing the Highest Risk at the Border
Nationals from travel-ban countries are at the front of the line for extra checks. The current restrictions include full or partial entry suspensions for 39 countries, after earlier actions in June 2025 and a January 2026 immigrant visa suspension for 75 countries. USCIS also paused asylum adjudications for these nationals in late 2025 and began re-reviewing green cards issued after January 20, 2021.
Green card holders face problems when they spend more than 180 days outside the United States. A long absence can lead officers to question whether the person intended to keep permanent residence. People from restricted countries face even more scrutiny, especially if they were born in one country, lived in another, and now travel on a third passport.
Visa holders are also under pressure. H-1B workers have faced new entry restrictions for some petitions, and the government has proposed fixed stay limits that would replace the current “duration of status” system. Students on F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas face tighter social media checks and shorter grace periods if the rule changes are finalized.
U.S. citizens are rarely detained for immigration reasons. Still, naturalized citizens can be delayed if an officer questions their papers. A valid U.S. passport should end that review. If a citizen is held after proving citizenship, the delay crosses the line.
Tourists and business travelers with B-1 or B-2 visas report denials even when their visas are valid. Asylum seekers at land borders face delays tied to the ongoing pause in adjudications.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the clearest pattern is that border screening now reaches farther into personal history, not just passport nationality.
What Happens During Secondary Inspection
Most travelers spend one to two hours in secondary inspection. Some non-citizens stay far longer. If CBP refers the case to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, detention can extend for 24 to 72 hours or more while officials decide on next steps.
Officers may ask for passwords, examine digital photos, copy data, or review message histories if they believe there is a link to visa fraud or another violation. Refusing to unlock a device can lead to denial of entry or more detention. Travelers can ask for a supervisor. They can also ask for a lawyer, though CBP does not have to provide one.
A partial DHS shutdown, now over 45 days, has added strain to border processing. Fewer resources often means longer waits. That affects airports, land crossings, and airports serving large immigrant communities.
Rights at the Border by Traveler Type
- U.S. citizens have the right to immediate admission once citizenship is shown. They should ask for a supervisor if delays continue.
- Green card holders may be admitted unless CBP proves inadmissibility. They should not sign a form they do not understand.
- Visa holders have fewer protections. CBP can revoke a visa at the port of entry.
- All travelers may stay silent beyond basic identity questions. No one has to discuss religion, politics, or device contents without a clear basis.
Minors and families have protection against separation unless officers believe there is immediate danger.
Papers and Questions That Matter Most
Travelers who are stopped should stay calm and answer only basic questions. Arguments rarely help. The best first step is to keep documents ready and avoid volunteering extra details.
Carry a passport, visa, I-94, job letter, return ticket, and proof of U.S. ties. For green card holders, keep a valid green card and evidence of continuing residence, such as a lease, tax filing, or employment letter.
If CBP presents a form, read it carefully. Form I-407 can be used to give up permanent resident status. Form I-860 is a Notice and Order of Expedited Removal. Signing either document without full understanding can change the result of the case. Official form information is available through USCIS forms pages, including Form I-407 and Form I-860.
Steps to Take If Detained
- Stay calm and comply with basic instructions.
- Do not sign forms until you understand the effect.
- Ask for a lawyer and a supervisor right away.
- Write down names, badge numbers, and times.
- If detention lasts beyond 24 hours, request federal court review.
After release, travelers can file FOIA requests for records and challenge denials through the proper agency channels. Repeated wrongful stops can be reported through DHS TRIP.
Planning Around the Current Border Climate
These border rules are tied to a wider immigration push that began in 2025 and continued through 2026. That includes H-1B modernization, a $100,000 fee for new overseas H-1B petitions, and travel restrictions that now reach far beyond one region. Employers are auditing staff travel histories. Families are postponing non-essential trips. Students are checking visa terms before leaving the country.
For people from restricted countries, the safest approach is to build extra time into travel, keep documents in order, and avoid carry-on devices with sensitive material. For permanent residents, long trips abroad should be planned with care. For visa holders, every entry now carries a higher chance of referral to secondary inspection.
The pressure at the border is likely to stay high as the government keeps using the Immigration and Nationality Act more aggressively. For now, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is treating more travelers as possible security cases, and that has changed the experience of entering the United States for millions of people.
