A TikTok video by user @eyesofsav has gone viral after she revealed she was detained for over two hours upon returning to the United States, despite being a U.S. citizen with Global Entry clearance.
The content creator, who frequently travels abroad, posted a warning to fellow U.S. citizens who may be unaware that detentions at the border are reportedly happening more frequently, even for American passport holders.
“I came back from Spain… and I was detained when I came in for about two and a half hours,” she said. “Mind you, I have Global Entry. This should not have happened.”
According to her account, after scanning her eyes and receiving a green check mark for entry, she was pulled aside by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and subjected to what she described as intimidating and invasive questioning.
“I was treated like a literal animal,” she said, recounting how officers moved her between multiple screening areas without explanation. “Every single one of them told me they could not tell me the reason as to why I was being detained.”
he also claimed agents interrogated her about her father’s immigration history, despite his long-standing U.S. citizenship, and asked her to hand over usernames for Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, as well as proof of income.
The video comes amid ongoing criticism of aggressive border and immigration enforcement practices, which have intensified under the current administration led by President Donald Trump, particularly regarding enhanced social media vetting and surveillance protocols.
‘Be Careful Out There’: Warnings for U.S. Travelers
Though she was ultimately released, @eyesofsav said she was deeply shaken by the experience and issued a stark warning:
“Yes, if you are a United States citizen, you still have the chance of being detained coming back into the United States right now,” she stated. “It is crazy times we’re living in.”
Her video aligns with a growing number of anecdotal reports from travelers who say they have faced unexpected delays, interrogations, or detentions at U.S. ports of entry — often with no explanation provided.
What Legal Experts Say
While U.S. citizens cannot be denied reentry into the country, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have wide discretion to detain, question, and search anyone entering the U.S., including U.S. nationals. These powers include access to digital devices and social media accounts under certain conditions, a policy expanded during President Trump’s previous administration.
Civil rights groups such as the ACLU have previously raised alarms about the lack of transparency and accountability in these screenings, calling them invasive and potentially unconstitutional.
Know Your Rights
Legal advocates recommend the following if detained:
- You have the right to ask why you are being held, although CBP is not always required to answer.
- You may refuse to unlock your phone or provide passwords, but devices can still be detained.
- Remain calm and ask for a supervisor if you believe your treatment is inappropriate.
- If you are a U.S. citizen, you cannot be denied entry into the country, regardless of circumstances.
