Sarah Awad just got famous for her turn on Netflix’s Outlast: The Jungle, but it’s her recent run-in with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that has the internet abuzz. Specifically, about the extent of their powers to search people. As the Virginia resident was returning from the shoot in Panama, she was pulled over for a spot check. Then, when the officer kept reading her private journal, Sarah pulled out her camera. The video has over 15.7 views on TikTok and Instagram.
In the recording, you can hear Sarah telling the agent, “Just find the drugs or find whatever you’re trying to find, because now you’re reading something I told you is confidential. And I’m being very cooperative. Just flip through it like, please.” When the officer ignored her and kept reading, Sarah claimed that she was “getting real frustrated.” She asked for a manager, saying,” You don’t have to read my f—ing journal. I’m being so cooperative right now. I’m being so patient. Is it… You done?”
Sarah, who is an artist, explained in her post captions that the journal contained deep, personal entries from before and after her time in the Panamanian jungle. She noted that she was feeling particularly stressed because her mother was waiting for her, and she felt she looked suspicious after spending so much time in the wild. She first put the track up with a background track and then reuploaded it after requests from the communities.
The growing powers of CBP
Viewers on both TikTok and Instagram were extremely opinionated. Some viewers were outraged by the invasion of privacy. One TikTok user wrote, “Reading peoples journal, is disrespectful. I would sue.” An Instagrammer echoed this sentiment, writing, “I felt violated and it wasn’t even my [journal].” Another Instagrammer even went as far as to say, “I would’ve gotten kicked out of the airport because I’m too crazy to not snatch that out of her hands.”
Just as many, however, brought up the legal realities of crossing a border. One TikTok user noted, “When you go through customs they legally have the right to read your texts, going thru social media, look at photos, search your phone, read any material or documents you have. So this [girl] is complaining over something that it’s completely legal.”
Another user agreed, writing, “CBP has full search authority at the border. They don’t need a reason, they can just because they can. Most people don’t know this.”
According to the official CBP website, the agency’s search authority is derived from federal statutes. Specifically, 19 C.F.R. 162.6, which states that all persons, baggage, and merchandise arriving in the customs territory of the United States from outside are liable to inspection.
The agency states it is not their intent to subject travelers to unwarranted scrutiny. Instead, they rely on the judgment of individual officers to determine the extent of an examination, which is usually established with questions. The agency also uses tools like the Interagency Border Inspection System to assist in identifying travelers for secondary examinations.
The debate also touched on the legalities of digital privacy at the border. The CBP website clarifies that border searches of electronic devices are used to combat serious criminal offenses, including terrorism and drug smuggling.
The agency notes that these searches are rare, affecting less than 0.01 percent of travelers in Fiscal Year 2025. However, they maintain that the authority is integral to protecting the nation’s borders. It should be noted, though, that as of December 2025, CBP announced that they were going to check tourists’ social media for posts against Trump.
Despite the rules, some believe Sarah was right to be upset. One Instagrammer claimed, “That’s someone on a power trip. I would be pissed too.” Conversely, others felt that her reaction was counterproductive. A TikToker suggested, “You making a big deal over it is going to make her more suspicious.” An Instagrammer advised, “Should’ve left it at home. Cbp can go through anything they want and you crashing out is gonna make them look harder at what you trying to hide.”
As the video continues to circulate, it serves as a stark reminder for travelers about what they might face when entering the country. Whether you agree with the practice or find it intrusive, the consensus among those familiar with the regulations is that when you cross a federal border, the expectation of privacy changes significantly.
Published: Sep 8, 2026 07:16 am