Work trip to USA

I am point out the OP needs to do a risk assessment of the location the OP is travelliing to for work

Big companies often have special travel security plans for particular international destinations. That can mean special rules about bringing your electronics, extra travel allowances so you don’t walk in cities, or even hired security escorts. Some places we might travel, we get briefings like to simply presume the hotel room is bugged.

I would start by asking if your company has done a recent review on their travel policies for the U.S. will they be providing fresh laptops with minimal installs? Will they be providing burner phones for both work and personal use?

Rather than outright refuse, ask them to show they are taking security seriously. Then decide if you are comfortable with their plan.

Have lived in the USA as a white person in the first trump administration, when it wasn't even like today,and don't think you're being unreasonable at all.

I’ve worked for US software companies for 25+ years and am married to an America, so have been in and out of the US many times. I can attest to the abruptness of US immigration and I can attest that many officers are professional. I can also speak to a number of both British Asian colleagues and Indian colleagues who have had major problems even prior to Trump. That included one senior member of our mgmt - British Asian - who always planned for an assumed three hour hold on entry, despite being and even more regular visitor to the US than me.

Yes, it did, but I think it’s safe to say it hasn’t put people off using public transport in London. As I said, millions of people use it daily, and pretty much rely on it. Few people in London have enough money to avoid using public transport altogether. I’m very surprised that an isolated incident from over twenty years ago has affected you so much. Are you a survivor of it?

however it happened

London public transport is extremely safe. Millions of people use it daily with no problems, and the only major incident on it was the 2005 bombings, which was terrible but happened once in the 200+-year history of London’s public transport network.

YANBU - look up the the recent testimony of US citizen Aliyah Rahman about her experience at the hands of ICE.
Edited to add - her experience from Jan 2026.

If you risk assess

The trains and buses of major cities were used as targets by terrorist eg Japan Spain and the UK.

HGV etc are used in open public spaces.

If the OP is worried about a trip to the US the company should be doing a proper risk assessment.

Its 4 years out from a failed revolution and has not recovered from the political unrest. Then there is the change in policing and any political unrest should be assessed in conjunction with its local staff.

I was in NYC recently and I have to say...it felt really on edge, more than usual. Maybe it was psychological, I must be watching too much news. I saw police cars patrolling in Central Park and I instantly felt a bit stressed.

I wouldn't risk going to a southern state if I was anything other than a white blonde man, and even that isn't without risk these days it seems.

@OhDear111 what’s a ‘standard British person’??

Why is getting the tube and buses in London not safe anymore?! I live in London and get public transport most days, as do millions of other Londoners and visitors, and quite a few people on this thread, I would imagine.

Why?

If your company is working overseas your travel security is something which it should take into account.

I have worked medium size companies which has one recommendion that staff always have ther luggage brought up by a staff to make sure the room was empty and only take taxis which were arranged by the hotel or company

An international one which had kidnapp insurance and a ransom rescue team and had strict travel rules about having the local staff arrange visitor movement in some parts of the world.

Another which had to try manage political unrest which left local workers trapped on site for days and their famalies trapped at home.

Most will not book senior managers on the same planes anymore.

And just getting the tube and buses in London is not a safe activity any more.

The US is not going to have any more danger than is had before for a documented non-national traveling on business. And if the local staff feel there could be a problem they will be able to notify you and the UK office.

Your main risk from State actors is that you dont know how to manage interactions with an armed police force. Or that you would panic if you think you may be detained/arrested. "Mainly peaceful protest" is not happening and other political activism is usually avoidable.

I'm a British Asian with PR living in Virginia. As long as you're not lying on your visa, committing crime or putting yourself in the middle of police / law enforcement operations you'll be just fine.

many years ago I very boldly told my US senior management that I would not travel to mainland China due to their human rights record.

I held my breath

our conference was relocated (ironically to the USA but those were different times…)

Avoid histrionics, make a reasonable case, see what happens.

I suppose that the one good thing about flying into the US at the moment is that most of the CBP arseholes have volunteered for field duty so it's the nicer officers left staffing the airports.

There's always the option of Irish preclearance though.

I'm also a brown-skinned British person and would be very reluctant to travel to the US in the current climate. @AnSolas raises some excellent questions to put to your employer if they're really keen for you to go. I would want to know that they had risk-assessed and had plans in place should there be any risk to your safety.

You do realise they’re kidnapping and detaining people off the streets? And it’s not blond European types they’re harassing.

What is your firm EU or US based?
Big international multinational or national organisation with US branches/links?

What travel policy are in place?

What happens if you were arrested?
Will your firm front bail bond and immigration lawyer or are you on your own?

If there are concerns or the visit location is a "hot spot" what mitigattion can the local organisation put into place?

Honestly, if it's later in the year, I'd postpone worrying about it. Trump could have invoked the Insurrection Act by then to prevent the mid terms and you might find the trip is postponed.

US immigration officials can be quite abrupt, but in what way are they always giving you a hard time, even though you are there for legitimate business purposes?

I can understand why you would rather not go, but don’t shoot yourself in the foot careerwise because of your fears. Simply answer questions politely but as briefly as possible, without adding unnecessary details.

And obviously make sure your visa/esta and business paperwork are in order.