In recent months, multiple American citizens have reported troubling experiences with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when re-entering the country through Miami International Airport (MIA).
These incidents have raised concerns and left travelers feeling perplexed about their rights as citizens.
In January, a man returning from Nicaragua found his Global Entry status revoked after a routine stop at baggage claim.
By April, a social-media travel-content creator was detained for hours as officers checked her social media accounts and inquired about her father’s immigration status.
Just weeks later, a Miami ICU nurse traveling frequently between the U.S. and Cuba reported being stopped by Customs, alongside other passengers, for baggage checks after arriving from Cuba.
What connects these individuals is their American citizenship and a sense of unsettling ambiguity regarding their treatment by Customs officials at South Florida airports.
Historically, it is not uncommon for Customs officers to detain and question returning citizens.
However, reports of such encounters have surged during President Donald Trump’s second administration, giving rise to fears among travelers about their perceived targeting.
Jorge López Gutiérrez, the Miami nurse who immigrated from Cuba in 2010, speculated that increased scrutiny stems from the current administration’s policies.
He noted that during recent trips, Customs officers searched all passengers’ bags without differentiation, irrespective of their citizenship status.
Describing the experience, Gutiérrez remarked, "They don’t care if you’re a citizen or a non-citizen."
In one flight, Gutiérrez witnessed fellow passengers being asked to turn over their phones, raising questions about the extent of Customs’ power and their justification for such actions.
The Trump administration, however, maintains that Customs is merely fulfilling its legal responsibilities.
While U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry, Customs stated that less than 0.01% of travelers encounter device searches, declaring it untrue that the new administration has inappropriately intensified electronic media searches.
There are also high-profile cases of citizens expressing concern that they may have been targeted due to their political views or professional affiliations.
For instance, Amir Makled, an immigration attorney from Michigan, was detained at Detroit Metro Airport and asked to provide his phone after representing a pro-Palestinian activist.
Similarly, Hasan Piker, a left-wing online streamer, faced lengthy questioning at O’Hare International Airport about his political opinions, namely those related to Trump and Gaza.
In response to these claims, a CBP spokesperson emphasized, "We are acting in the best interest of the country and enforcing the law accordingly."
Insisting that no political beliefs influence inspections or detentions, CBP dismissed allegations as "baseless and irresponsible."
Travelers like Sav from Fort Lauderdale have turned their harrowing encounters with Customs into cautionary tales.
Known for her light-hearted TikTok travel vlogs, Sav went viral after sharing her experience at MIA on April 26 after returning from Europe.
In her video, which has since garnered over two million views, she described being stopped by Customs, having her social media scrutinized, and facing probing questions about her income and her father’s immigration status.
Her encounter escalated to the point where an officer yelled repeatedly in her face when she answered a question about her future travel plans.
Though she couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason she was targeted, Sav speculated that it might be connected to her brand of anti-Trump merchandise, though Customs did not bring this up during her questioning.
Following the surge of social media accounts detailing such encounters, the Department of Homeland Security responded to one of Sav’s videos, asserting, "FALSE: Claims that her political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless."
Amien Kacou of the ACLU of Florida noted that the current climate has likely contributed to an increase in anxiety among travelers concerned about being targeted for their expressions of free speech.
Kacou mentioned that though it’s early in the administration to assess trends in detainment at re-entry, the fear is palpable as more narratives surrounding citizen detainment spread online.
He said, "It’s very logical that people should be anxious at this time, that they might be targeted for their free speech.”
The potential repercussions from travel incidents have led some American citizens, including lawyers, to adopt precautionary measures, such as carrying burner phones or erasing sensitive apps before flying back to the U.S.
Kacou, concerned for his fellow attorneys facing heightened scrutiny, stated, "I feel concerned, as every attorney should be, especially attorneys who sue the federal government and sue the Department of Homeland Security.”
Peter Quinter, a former U.S. Customs attorney, explained that travelers are subject to questioning or detainment well beyond customs checkpoints, regardless of whether they pass through Global Entry, a program designed for low-risk, pre-approved travelers.
He emphasized that even those who think they have cleared all necessary checks can still face further examination within the airport.
Jose G., a 37-year-old barber from North Carolina, shared his troubling experience from January upon returning home from Nicaragua, after visiting family.
Having only received his Global Entry card months prior, he entered MIA expecting a smooth passage.
However, the alarming presence of officers checking random travelers caught him off guard as he proceeded to baggage claim.
Upon retrieving his bags, he was stopped and asked for his documents—a request that bewildered him as he believed he had already cleared Customs.
He argued with the officers, expressing his discomfort about being asked for identification after believing he had already met the necessary criteria.
Sadly, the confrontation escalated, resulting in the revocation of his Global Entry status that very day.
Following a tense detention and luggage search, Jose received a confirmation email about his revoked Global Entry status days later.
Now, Jose candidly reflects on how his unintended conflict with officers left him anxious about traveling internationally again, especially as a visibly tattooed person.
He stated, "That was different. It felt different,” adding that his experience seemed more akin to intimidation than national security practices.
As these accounts continue to circulate, whether justified or not, they have ignited widespread concern about the changing dynamics of travelers’ rights in U.S. airports, with many wondering what may lie ahead for their journeys through Customs.
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