Twitch star Hasan Piker says questioning over political views at airport 'was deliberate'

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Political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker said he was stopped and questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on May 11, marking another incident in heightened scrutiny at U.S. borders.

"It was definitely tense because you never know where this is going to head," he said.

Piker had flown in from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to attend a speaking event at the University of Chicago. Passing through the Global Entry line at border control, an agent pulled him aside and led him to the back. Piker, who is an American citizen born in New Jersey, told Paste BN he was "expecting" to get flagged, having heard stories of other American citizens recently being stopped by border agents.

Even though he's experienced Gunshot Residue (GSR) tests and Secondary Security Screening Selection (SSSS), this was the first time Piker's been taken somewhere else and questioned by officers.

For about two hours in what he was told was a routine inspection, Piker was questioned about his political beliefs and potential connections to the militant group Hamas, his opinions on President Donald Trump and when he was banned from Twitch. "The specific style of questioning that revolved around my commentary made me feel as though this was not just targeted, this was deliberate," said Piker, who has 2.8 million followers on Twitch. He was released shortly after asking if he was being detained.

"This is pure speculation, but I'm landing on the side of it's a simple intimidation tactic to create a chilling effect on speech for political dissent," Piker said.

A CBP official told Paste BN in a statement that Piker's inspection was not politically motivated. "Claims his political belief triggered the inspection are baseless," the agency said. "Our officers are following the law, not agendas. Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection – a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released."

As a public figure, Piker said he felt privileged to entertain the questioning as a way "to see if there was truth" to the stories other people had told about their own detention.

"It turns out, it was almost 100% correct," he said.

Piker shared his story online to educate others about what could happen when trying to enter the United States as many travelers, including American citizens, feel uncertainty around their rights and potential issues at borders.

Some warrantless searches are legal: What to do if you're stopped by border control

More vetting stirs more fear at U.S. borders

U.S. immigration has tightened under the Trump administration's Jan. 20 executive order to increase national security and address public safety threats. Travelers – even those with U.S. citizenship – are seeing similar heightened vetting and questioning.

"I think officers are perhaps asking questions about things that might not have previously been on their radar," immigration lawyer at Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Glenn Schieck previously told Paste BN.

Over the past few months, university students and activists on valid visas have been pursued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and subsequently detained or even deported for being outspoken on political issues. Most recently, Mohsen Madawi, a Columbia University student, was detained on April 14 when arriving for an appointment in his citizenship process. He was held in a detention center in Vermont for weeks until a judge ordered his release.

Earlier this year, when trying to enter the United States following a visit to her home in Lebanon, physician and Brown University professor Rasha Alawieh's phone was searched and found to have Hezbollah-related photos. Her visa was canceled and she was deported.

These high-profile incidents are stirring fear among U.S. citizens, who worry that posts on their social media, or saying the wrong thing publicly could get them in trouble with immigration officers. It's also steering international travelers away from visiting the United States out of safety concerns.

Why am I being stopped by border control?

Although border control searches have always occurred, even for U.S. citizens, experts say they've become more common since the order. During these inspections, travelers may be questioned or their electronic devices looked through as a way to confirm their identity and reasons for being in the United States. The agents are also checking for threats to national security or foreign policy, the definition of which, some believe, has broadened under the new directive.

"Any traveler entering the U.S. is subject to CBP inspection," CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham said in a statement to Paste BN. "CBP follows strict policies and directives when it comes to searching electronic media. These searches are rare, highly regulated, and have been used in identifying and combating serious crimes, including terrorism, smuggling, human trafficking, and visa fraud. Any claims of politically motivated searches are completely unfounded."

During a basic search, agents go through the content on your device's hard drive, like photos (including those that are deleted). Your device is offline or in airplane mode during the search, so agents can't access anything online like your email. Agents can also technically inspect your social media profiles if they're public, which has prompted some travelers to clean up their online presence.

What are my rights at U.S. borders?

While you still have rights at U.S. ports of entry, it's not as clear-cut as when you're officially in U.S. territory. For example, the Fourth Amendment protection against warrantless searches diminishes within 100 miles of the border. However, the First Amendment right to religious and political beliefs still applies, so U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents don't have to answer related questions – and are also afforded the most rights in not being denied entry, according to an ACLU Know Your Rights Guide.

Conversely, noncitizen visa holders and tourists can be denied entry to the country if they refuse to answer certain questions.

The consensus among immigration attorneys is that cleaning up your devices to minimize searchable content, combined with being honest with border officers, should help you avoid any issues. However, it doesn't hurt to have the name and number of an immigration lawyer written down on a piece of paper on your person, just in case.