Early access: 15,549 bills from the current Congress so far, more added daily. Data from Congress.gov, GovInfo and the House and Senate vote records, updated Oct 13, 2026.
Public Law TrackerPLTPublic Law Tracker

H.R. 2604 · Where this bill is now

In committee

Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Apr 2, 2025

What this bill does

In plain words · AI-written from the official summary

Requires warrants for border searches of devices

This bill sets rules for how government agencies can search your phone, laptop, or other electronic devices when you're entering or leaving the country. Generally, they'd need a warrant—a court's permission—before looking at your digital files. The bill also says officials can't hold you up for more than four hours trying to get you to hand over your passwords, can't confiscate your device without real evidence it holds information about a serious crime, and must keep records of searches they do make.

How it affects you

If you're a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, this affects you directly. You'd have stronger protections against government searches of your phone and online accounts at airports and borders. Agents couldn't block you from entering or leaving the country just because you refused to unlock your device or share your passwords. The bill doesn't apply to non-U.S. citizens at the border.

Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 2, 2025)

Protecting Data at the Border Act

This bill limits government access to digital information at the border.

A governmental entity may not (1) access the digital contents of electronic equipment of a U.S. person at the border without a warrant, (2) deny such a person's entry into or exit from the United States because the person refused to provide access to digital content on electronic equipment or online account information, (3) delay such a person's entry or exit for more than four hours to determine whether the person will consent to providing access to online information, or (4) seize electronic equipment from a U.S. person without probable cause to believe that such equipment contains information relevant to a felony.

A governmental entity may access the contents of electronic equipment of a U.S. person without a warrant in an emergency. The entity must subsequently apply for a warrant within seven days, and if a warrant is not granted, the seized information must be destroyed and may not be disclosed.

A governmental entity may not make or retain a copy of information accessed under this bill without probable cause to believe that such information relates to a crime.

Information seized in violation of this bill (1) must be destroyed, (2) may not be disclosed, and (3) may not be received in evidence in any trial or government proceeding.

A governmental entity shall keep a record of each instance in which it obtains access to an individual's digital information at the border.

Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.

119th Congress
1st SessionH. R. 2604

A BILL

Protecting Data at the Border Act

In the HouseNo vote yet

Sponsor: Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA-36) · Introduced Apr 2, 2025 · Immigration · 1 version of the text

Read the full billOfficial record on Congress.gov ↗

Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 2, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”

Sections

Sections · 8