The original post and the following discussion at https://www.reddit.com/r/esp32/comments/1x3bmjh/ordering_esp... clarify that the devices ordered were likely counterfeit and one had a fake FCC ID, so it was illegal to buy them irrelevant to the new law and likely why they were seized.

So the conclusion is not necessarily "don't buy ESP", but "verify what you're actually buying".

The whole point of most of those esp32s being in that metal can module is that they're already tested and have FCC certs. That is, the intentional transmitter is already certified, making intgrators' lives a lot easier.

I bet there's either something the poster isn't telling us, or CBP made a bad call.

Or you can buy a three-pack of Xiao ESP32-C3s for $20 from Amazon in the US and not worry? Seeed also ships domestically, though more slowly. If I was trying to build and sell a product around them paying 3X as much would matter to me, but for the Home Assistant etc. screwing around I do with them, it's fine to pay the upcharge.

I am a bit skeptical. IT caught my attention because I recently ordered some parts, but then I recalled that all my existing gear from that supplier already has FCC certification. And indeed so does the base technology:

https://documentation.espressif.com/en/documentList?t=Certif...

It could be there's more to the story of what the person ordered, or it could be that CBP are misapplying the rules (quite likely under this administration), but it seems like some very overstated assumptions as written.