When you enter the US, you have to claim your checked baggage as part of the process of going through customs, then re-check your bags if you’re continuing on a domestic flight.
If you have a device in your checked bag:
you’re violating the safety rule about not having lithium batteries in checked luggage.
if you’re asked if you are travelling with a phone and you lie and say you don’t have one, then if they search your bags and find it, then they’ll have strong evidence that you lied to a federal officer, which is a crime.
When you enter the US, you have to claim your checked baggage as part of the process of going through customs, then re-check your bags if you’re continuing on a domestic flight.
If you have a device in your checked bag:
you’re violating the safety rule about not having lithium batteries in checked luggage.
if you’re asked if you are travelling with a phone and you lie and say you don’t have one, then if they search your bags and find it, then they’ll have strong evidence that you lied to a federal officer, which is a crime.