DHS does not deny strong-arming tourist into letting them into his phone, only that agents sent him home because of a meme
The story circulating online — first in Norwegian newspaper Nordlys and then picked up by British tabloids — claims that during Mikkelsen’s encounter with the Department of Homeland Security, agents took his phone and found a meme depicting Vance as a bloated, smooth, bald man staring off into the distance.
Mikkelsen claims that the officials threatened to fine him $5,000 or send him to prison for five years if he refused to provide them with his phone password. The tourist ultimately agreed to hand over his information, allowing agents to look through his phone.
The reports picked up enough steam in headlines and on social media to justify CBP putting out a statement denying parts of the story.
Since 2023 they need you to fill the online immigration form online from this app or in a web app inside WeChat. If you don’t have a phone, you can do an extremely long line to a kiosk where you essentially do the same.
Immigration office then they want to see the qr code generated by that app, it can be a screenshot and you can generate it while abroad (they also wanted the legacy handwritten slip, maybe it was just for a temporary measure waiting for other ports to update)
Source: I personally experienced it in Guangzhou airport
I flew in 2024 most recently and had no such requirement. I wonder why the differing experience.