Death by Lambda on Nostr: I do know one can be turned away at that point if one refuses to unlock the phone. ...

I do know one can be turned away at that point if one refuses to unlock the phone. And for example in the US you can be compelled to unlock the phone if it is on and protected by biometrics only.

Regimes who want to clone phones do not need to do it at the airport, nor do they specifically need the phone to be on. But it is logistically easier at the airport and if one is going to worry about it once one needs to the hotel, one might as well not take the device.