Tunick Border Phone Wipe Case

Samuel Tunick is facing federal obstruction-related charges after a passcode entered during a January 2025 inspection at Atlanta airport triggered a GrapheneOS function that erased his phone data.

Prosecutors allege the wipe violated 18 U.S.C. Section 2232, while Tunick’s defense challenges the warrantless search and the government’s use of border-search authority. The case could clarify how constitutional protections for smartphones apply at the U.S. border and how courts treat device-wiping features during compelled access.