Americans Returning from Cuba Aid Trip Have Phones Confiscated at Airport
Members of a humanitarian convoy returning from Cuba faced detention and questioning by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Miami International Airport after a charter flight from Havana. Out of the 20 US citizens subjected to secondary inspection, 18 had their phones and other devices confiscated, with no clear information on when they might be returned.
This group was part of the Nuestra América Convoy, inspired by a 19th-century essay by Cuban intellectual José Martí that critiqued US influence in the Americas. The convoy comprised 650 delegates from 33 countries and delivered around 20 tons of aid to Cuba. Some participants traveled by sea on a 75-foot fishing boat from Mexico, loaded with essential supplies like rice, beans, canned food, baby formula, bicycles, and solar panels for local organizations. Others took charter flights, primarily from Miami. One delegation, led by an activist group, reported bringing 6,300 pounds of medical supplies valued at $433,000. The 20 detained individuals were all part of this specific delegation.
The supplies aimed to mitigate the impact of the ongoing US blockade on oil exports to Cuba. Since the Trump administration’s actions against Venezuelan oil shipments following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, the situation has worsened. Although the State Department has permitted limited fuel exports to Cuba’s private sector, the island has been suffering from severe shortages, leading to rolling blackouts, food spoilage, and a crumbling waste management system. The healthcare system has been particularly affected, with reports of preventable deaths due to a lack of resources.
The convoy included notable activists, such as a prominent leftist streamer and a labor organizer known for leading a strike at an Amazon facility. Both had their devices taken during the inspection.
An organizer from the activist group shared that a previous charter flight had gone smoothly, but upon their arrival, 20 members were pulled aside for secondary screening. She described the questioning as a mix of standard inquiries about their trip and more personal questions regarding family connections in Cuba and Venezuela. Some agents expressed political opinions during the questioning, suggesting a bias against the aid they were bringing.
CBP did not provide a comment on the situation. The customs agents offered the group a choice: unlock their phones for inspection or have them seized. While two individuals voluntarily handed over their devices, the remaining 18 had theirs confiscated. Agents also examined notebooks and journals, taking photographs of their contents. One member noted that her phone was in airplane mode, and she had deleted sensitive information before customs, but she was still unsure of what happened to her device during the inspection.
A representative from a legal organization stated that such phone searches are common against activists and that they are providing support to help recover the confiscated devices. She emphasized that these actions are intended to intimidate, but she believes the activists will persist in their mission to support Cuba despite the blockade.
A Cuban-American member of the convoy, who used a burner phone for safety, reported traveling back to the US without issues, likely due to her Global Entry status. She noted that while she was cautious, others in her group faced more scrutiny.
The Trump administration has threatened tariffs against countries supplying fuel to Cuba. Recently, a Russian tanker carrying crude oil was escorted through the English Channel, highlighting ongoing international tensions. Several Caribbean nations have pledged humanitarian aid to Cuba, advocating for reduced tensions with the US.
The Cuban-American member emphasized that the convoy’s goal was to assist civilians suffering from the blockade, stating that the mission was fundamentally about helping people in need.
Warrantless searches of phones typically violate the Fourth Amendment, except at ports of entry like airports, where the Supreme Court has deemed them reasonable. CBP conducts two types of device searches: basic inspections, which allow agents to view offline content, and more invasive forensic inspections, which vary in legality across different ports.
Travelers can refuse searches, but non-citizens may face entry denial, while citizens who refuse may have their devices confiscated, as happened to the majority of the convoy members.
Another member of the convoy reported a smooth entry experience, with only a few individuals facing secondary screening for a short duration. However, she expressed frustration over the challenges in raising awareness about the dire conditions in Cuba.
She noted that their group faced obstacles in holding a press conference before the trip, as authorities denied their permit. The prevailing US policy seems to operate on the belief that inflicting hardship will lead to a popular uprising in Cuba, a stance she criticized for neglecting the real needs of the Cuban people.
