What Can CBP Ask Me at the Border — and Do I Have to Answer?

At a port of entry, CBP officers ask questions to decide who and what comes into the country. What you are required to answer — and what happens if you do not — depends heavily on your status.

What the Law Says

CBP commonly asks about your identity, the purpose of your trip, how long you are staying, where you will be, and what you are bringing in.

• U.S. citizens must answer enough to establish identity and citizenship (and show a passport). You can decline to answer further questions — about your travel, for example — and while that may cause delay or secondary inspection, you cannot be denied entry for refusing.
• Green-card holders and visa holders are in a different position: answering questions can be part of being admitted, and refusing can lead to delay, denial, or detention.

You always have a right to remain silent, but at the border the consequences of staying silent are not the same for everyone.

An Everyday Example

A returning U.S. citizen is asked detailed questions about who they visited abroad. They can decline to elaborate; they might be sent to secondary inspection, but they must still be let back into the country. A visa holder asked the same questions may need to answer to be admitted.

What This Means for You

Know your status going in. Citizens must prove citizenship but cannot be turned away for declining further questions. Noncitizens should understand that refusing can carry real consequences for admission — and may want to speak with an immigration attorney before traveling.