Rep. Loretta Sanchez has introduced legislation to establish guidelines for border searches of electronic devices such as laptops and smartphones. Currently, federal border agents may conduct searches and seize travelers’ personal laptops and other electronic storage devices without evidence or suspicion of wrongdoing.

The Border Search Accountability Act of 2008 (H.R. 6869), introduced Sept. 11, would establish specific rules for the retention, storage, copying and sharing of personally identifiable information that may be contained in electronic devices.

“This legislation will ensure that when an individual’s property is seized at a U.S. point of entry, there is a well-defined procedure in place that will protect their electronic data–especially information that does not pose a threat to our homeland security,” Sanchez said in a statement.