> a perfectly valid answer

Makes no difference at all in the real world. You don't have to give valid answers, you need to get the guy across from you to not find you suspicious. That phrase is going to put a red flag on you, valid or not.

> you need to get the guy across from you to not find you suspicious.

What? No, who cares about that? Let him find you suspicious, what matters is that he doesn’t access your data. And it is not suspicious to cross borders (esp. US borders) with burner phones. As others have said, it is standard practice.

He doesn't access your data. He confiscates your phone, then still doesn't access your data, then denies you entry, then still doesn't access your data, then holds you in immigration detention for a week while he tries to access your data, which he can't. Is that a success? Maybe, if your data really is that valuable and a successful border crossing isn't.

> Is that a success?

Definitely.

> Maybe, if your data really is that valuable and a successful border crossing isn't.

Even if my data consisted entirely of cat pictures, it would be more valuable than successfuly crossing the border into a country that actively tries to invade my privacy.

Well why are you showing up at a border crossing if you don't want to cross the border?

You may wish to cross the border but not at all costs.

[dead]