To think that the UK might avoid US for holidays moving forwards

[PeeJamas]

As per title really,

AIBU to think that the UK will avoid USA for holidays moving forwards?

1. You are being unreasonable suggesting this
2. You are not being unreasonable suggesting this. 😆

When you go to majority world countries you expect levels of treatment that differ from a Western democracy in the global north. Well, you should.

They have done precisely that to visiting academics recently. For example:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-french-scientist-detained

It's not uncommon to be grilled at US immigration just for the hell of it because some guy is on a power trip. E.g. 'Why are you coming over here to speak to our students, why do our students need to know that, can you tell me something about your research area to prove you really are an academic? That's not what I was told about this topic at high school - are you telling me I'm wrong?' But the chances of that happening have gone up massively.

The majority of my colleagues are also now cancelling pre-arranged trips after the recent spate of Europeans being denied entry or disappearing into the detainment system.

that's a very confused reply but are you saying people identified as needing to be deported shouldn't be detained whilst they're processing the deportation?

wasn't the academic flagged up for stealing something?
And all immigration will question you.
Why are you here?
who are you visting?
how long are you staying?

You think a border person is going to want an in depth discussion with you about your academic work?

you are so massively over reacting. You really are not special enough for them to be trawling through your 'phone
Exactly that. I've been there recently as have my sister and mother at different times and places and it was incredibly quick in all instances. No questions asked beyond the purpose of our trio, no phones handed, and did not see anyone asked for their phones.

I'm bemused by how hysteria can be spread from the media! Of course, most of America is not just defined by its politics. As a natter of fact, my experience was exactly the opposite, they had no interest in discussions about politics, much more interested in sports and the outdoor, food and family.

it is hysteria, isn't it.
A load of mostly white, middle class women thinking they'll be shackled in a dungeon for weeks because they have a funny meme about Trump on their 'phone.
You are not that important

Re the French scientist who was denied entry. What the administration spokesperson said is below, a version they released a day or so after the French minister of higher education and science gave his version, which was that the scientist had communications on his phone that were highly critical of the administration's policies towards scientific research.

I will say that I'm quite dubious (to say the least) of the administration's version as being in unlawful possession of confidential information from Los Alamos or any other laboratory is a criminal offence. The consequence is not being put on a plane back to France. I would be very interested in knowing whether ICE retained the phone in question.

“The French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory — in violation of a non-disclosure agreement — something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal,” she said.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told CNN that they could not speak about specific cases but that all people entering the US “are subject to inspection on a case-by-case basis.”
“If an individual has material discovered on their electronic media that raises flags during an inspection, it can result in further analysis. Claims that such decisions are politically motivated are completely unfounded,” Hilton Beckham, CBP Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs, said in a statement.

Algonquin in Canada can give you the same vibe though.

Im going twice this year and cant wait.

Whatever Trump does or doesnt do, wont affect me.

That lot? What do you mean by that?

I'm American. You can keep your pennies with an attitude like that.

As an American, I would not recommend anyone coming here for fear that you could be held and interrogated at great length at the border. And I am being entirely serious.

We are no longer a normal sane country.

We’ve seen a massive decline in USA holidays where I work.

We’re going in July. We go quite often. Trump makes absolutely no difference to us.

Guns laws put me off. If I am going to travel that far I would rather go to Canada with its amazing scenery or somewhere more culturally interesting like east Asia.

Interestingly they gloss over the key issues and try avoid the actual violations.

The UK citizen Ms Bourke was detained fot unauthorised/illegal work on a tourist visa. Any work, even payment in kind by goods/services on either an Esta or a B2 tourist visa is illegal and makes the person inadmissible.
Considering the amount of people mentioning Canada. Canada shoulder some of the blame on this. They acted as whistle-blower to the US after they denied Ms Bourke entry to Canada because they were concerned she would illegally work whilst there.
Had Canada admitted her, the US would have been none the wiser of her unauthorised work and this situation would have been avoided.

The female German was detained at the border again on suspicion of working unauthorised on her Esta whilst having her tattoo equipment in her possession. Upon searching her phone, they found evidence that showed intent to illegally work and get paid for it.

The male German was detained on suspicion of doing the pretty common "overstay Esta and adjust status". Unfortunately, they didn't time their trip to Mexico well and the lack of English didn't help.
Esta/visa overstay is forgiven if you marry a US citizen. It's been common practise under Biden because of the much quicker processing time of the I-485 compared to I-130 consular processing. A lot of European Esta overstayers have managed to get approval and green card within 3 months as opposed the to 16.5 month wait for I-130 approval and additional 6 months after that for the Nvc Embassy part.
(To the point I regret not doing that last summer. I'd have had my green card and been working by Nov instead of having this separated torture).

So again, as mentioned in my previous post, all the mainstream media examples have had bits that count as violations of Section 8 of the INA on what makes you inadmissible and deportable.

So rule of thumb, don't break the rules and then plead ignorance/innocence.

Why doesn’t it make any difference to you? Threatening Canada and Greenland populations, tariffs, ethnic cleansing in Gaza, crashing global markets, data security leaks….

Probably because they’re going to enjoy a holiday and will be too busy having a nice time. 🤷‍♀️

I hope not. My husband is going to the US to a PGA golf tournament in June, he’s got tonnes of Meme’s and jokes about Agent Orange on their golf chat group 🤣

I’ve told him to get ready for the rubber glove search, he thinks I’m joking 🙃. I’m not comfortable with him going over there with the idiots in charge of the country. The only thing that gives me comfort is that he works for an American owned business based in the Uk, and is meeting up with colleagues whilst over there. I know the team and have met most of them, they are wonderful normal humans. Ironically several of them would love to live in the UK, that was before Agent Orange took charge 🤗

The AFP were briefed by diplomatic sources that it was because he had anti-Trump messages on his phone. After the story broke, a spokesperson for the Trump regime denied that, but major news agencies are continuing to report it as the reason for what happened, and so is the French research ministry.

There is a question here of who to believe. Personally I'm more inclined to believe multiple independent media sources than the Trump regime. Especially as this is part of a pattern of people being denied entry or arrested for spurious reasons: I'm guessing you also want to deny the experience of the German tourists who were detained for weeks, or the Canadian with the work visa who was detained for 2 weeks, or the British artist who is still in a detention centre out there?

Several countries (including the UK) have tightened up their travel advice for the US since these events.

In any case, why should I go? It's not about being special, it's that these kind of things can happen to absolutely anyone under the hostile approach to immigration taken by the administration. Anyone's phone can be searched or social media handles checked. It probably won't be me, it will probably be fine, but why should I put myself in that position? Risk is about likelihood x impact, not just likelihood. I don't particularly fancy taking the risk when there are lots of other places I could go to lecture in instead.

If you want to go, knock yourself out. It'll probably be fine. But make sure you don't make any mistakes on the ESTA form because there are no guarantees now that you won't be locked up for weeks because of a misunderstanding.

This is not exactly accurate. A visitor who says no to having their phone searched can be sent home and they absolutely do conduct random checks with no 'red flags' required. They always have done but phone and social media checks have increased.
A french scientist was denied entry based on anti-trump content. He's not going to be the only one. The tangerine toddler can't accept anyone disagreeing, it's 'terrorism' apparently 🙄
Media is rightly reporting on the treatment of those detained. Using 'phone bits' WTF? lol
Detainees are being locked up for WEEKS when previously they would not have been sent to detention centres at all. CBP would have allowed them to arrange travel back home, now they are turned over to ICE
Denying what is going on despite all of the accounts and the crackdown on visitors to a country whose leaders do not hide their anti Europe stance is really bizarre

Tourism is expected to decline and it's been advised that visitors make sure they have information for an immigration lawyer or emergency contact in case they encounter any issues.

It is also perfectly valid to not condone the unethical and vile actions by choosing not to spend a penny towards corruption of the magnitude being seen. TBH, I commend those that take that stance 🤷‍♀️

You wouldn’t think like that if you live where we do in Canada near to the border

"Coming onto a thread to tell people off for sharing how to stick it to Trump even if they are tiny tiny things, doesn’t make you some paragon, it makes you churlish."

meh 🤷‍♀️

Love this @MrsTerryPratchett

Rebecca Burke, Jessica Broesche, and Jasmine Mooney are all 'a load of white middle class women' and they were quite literally 'all shackled in a dungeon for weeks' because an immigration officer took issue with them.

I bet they didn't think they were 'that important'.

We were planning on a US road trip to New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville in the next couple of years but I'm not so sure it's a good thing now. I'm gutted as I've always wanted to go but DH will probably be too old by the time Trump has gone