A new college journalism curriculum module has been introduced to educate students on protecting themselves and their digital devices when working near and across the U.S.-Mexico border. Titled "Digital Security 101: Crossing the US-Mexico Border," the module was developed by Dave Maass, Director of Investigations at Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and Dr. Martin Shelton, Deputy Director of Digital Security at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF). This initiative is a collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Multimedia Journalism Program and Borderzine.
The module provides a detailed process for enhancing digital security for journalists passing through U.S. Land Ports of Entry. It emphasizes threat modeling, which involves assessing risks based on the journalist's work, immigration status, potential adversaries, and more. The training includes strategies such as using encrypted communications, adjusting device settings, minimizing data on devices, and preparing for interactions with border authorities.
In development since early 2023, this module addresses concerns over increasingly invasive questioning and searches at U.S. borders under past administrations. It also considers documented cases where border authorities targeted journalists covering migrant caravans during previous presidential terms.
"Today's journalism students are leaving school only to face complicated, new digital threats to press freedom that did not exist for previous generations," Shelton stated. "Our curriculum is designed to equip emerging journalists with the skills to protect themselves and sources."
The guidance was created after field visits to six ports of entry across three border states and interviews with numerous journalists and students from both sides of the border. It also draws from EFF's and FPF’s extensive experience in researching constitutional rights and security techniques related to digital devices.
“While this training should be helpful to investigative journalists from anywhere in the country who are visiting the borderlands, we put journalism students based in and serving border communities at the center of our work,” Maass explained.
The module includes a comprehensive slide deck for lecturers, an interactive worksheet, roleplaying activities, and analysis exercises. It has already been implemented successfully in trainings with journalism students at UTEP and San Diego State University.
Dr. Richard Pineda, Chair of UTEP Communication Department said, “UTEP’s Multimedia Journalism program is well-situated to help develop this digital security training module.”
For further information about the module or related resources:
- [Digital security 101: Crossing the US-Mexico border](https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/border-security-module/)
- [More about the module](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/journalist-security-checklist-preparing-devices-travel-through-us-border)
- [EFF’s guide to digital security at the U.S. border](https://www.eff.org/press/releases/digital-privacy-us-border-new-how-guide-eff)
- [EFF’s student journalist Surveillance Self Defense guide](https://ssd.eff.org/playlist/journalism-student)