What are U.S. citizens’ rights when returning from Mexico, including phone searches and detention?

Traveling to Mexico with family. All are United States citizens. I’m still concerned.

I’m concerned about the Trump regime detaining us and searching our telephones.

I’ve had no concerns planning the trip. My concern is returning from Mexico to the United States. I’m concerned about unlawful detaining by people posing as federal agents.

My adult children and I do not partake in illegal activities, drugs, or contraband. My adult children have an Armenian last name. They were born in the United States; their mother is from the United States, and their father is Armenian from Armenia. We have been divorced for 27 years. I do not trust the current administration to protect our civil rights and travel rights. Please make sure the attorney specializes in civil rights and constitutional law.

I think everyone is concerned about being detained by border protection, many posing as federal agents when in fact they are bounty hunters.

You said you have several years’ experience. I need to know that you are a true civil rights attorney and not in support of MAGA. I don’t mean to sound political, but this is a political world now, and I do not want to work with anyone who supports MAGA.

Esquire Greenberg, please advise me before we move ahead if you are in support of the current administration’s horrific policies. Are you a Trump supporter? I am not intending to offend you, but I do not want to do business with or get advice from anyone who supports the current administration’s policies.

Situation: We are attending the celebration of the marriage of a gay couple in Cancun, Mexico—very good friends. I am a vocal opponent of the Trump administration on social media and in public. I have attended and participated in peaceful protests. I am concerned about people disappearing and invasions of privacy at airports and ports of entry.

I want to know our rights as U.S. citizens. Should I be carrying additional documents? What about our mobile devices?

We all hold U.S. passports. My son has TSA Pre-Check. I do not, but I could probably arrange that for myself and my adult daughter.

My legal questions:

• Do I need to carry additional documents?
• Should I wipe my phone or carry a travel phone?
• If asked for access to my mobile devices, what are my rights in refusing?
• Is this chat protected, or can the government or administration access it?

This is very good information.

If I am forced, or if my children are forced, to provide passwords, what are our rights?

Doesn’t the Fifth Amendment infer guilt?

Thank you for that clarification. What if they separate all of us for “questioning”? What exact phrase should we say to anyone posing as a federal agent or border patrol?

That is very helpful. Thank you for not being a MAGA supporter. Too many law firms are capitulating right now. We need more attorneys who stand against autocracy, kleptocracy, racism, and fascism. Can you tell me how to download a copy of this chat?

Thank you for upholding our rights. When it gets tough, remember why you chose civil rights over corporate law.

I am comfortable with this conversation and with cleaning information from it that could be helpful in our journey. Thank you—we can now end the chat.