**CLAIM:** a Viral Facebook Post and TikTok Video Are Warning Travelers That **U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Will Be Implementing a "Nationwide Lockdown" at All Ports of Entry Over Memorial Day Weekend**, Claiming That Officers Will Be "Forcing Citizens to Present Enhanced ID or Risk Having Their Vehicles Impounded."
CLAIM: A viral Facebook post and TikTok video are warning travelers that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be implementing a “nationwide lockdown” at all ports of entry over Memorial Day weekend, claiming that officers will be “forcing citizens to present Enhanced ID or risk having their vehicles impounded.”
RATING: đźš« FAKE
FACT CHECK:
No “Lockdown” Exists: CBP has issued no official statement regarding any “Memorial Day lockdown” or mandatory vehicle seizures. The agency typically issues routine travel advisories about expected wait times (which will be longer due to increased travel volume), not threats of impoundment for standard ID non-compliance.
Standard ID Rules: U.S. citizens are legally required to present a valid passport, Trusted Traveler card (Global Entry/NEXUS/SENTRI), or an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) only when entering the U.S. by land or sea under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). A REAL ID driver’s license is not valid for international air or border crossings. However, even without an EDL, you will not have your vehicle seized. You may be directed to secondary inspection for further identity verification.
Common Scare Tactic: This warning resurfaces every holiday weekend, often misinterpreting routine secondary screening or a local state-level “Click It or Ticket” campaign as a federal CBP crackdown.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Do not cancel your trip due to this false alarm. Do expect heavy traffic and longer waits at the border. For accurate, real-time port wait times, check the official CBP Border Wait Times app or website.