Is USA safe to visit?

[perellonuts]

I can’t even believe I’m asking this but is it safe to visit USA now? I’m concerned about the social media issue, I’m pretty sure I’ve liked one or two anti-trump posts each time I’ve doom scrolled since his first term. Could this be used against me? I definitely feel free speech is not tolerated there now. I’d be travelling with my neuro diverse son, age 7. He is perfectly capable with full autonomy and we travel a lot but being separated with no due process would be a disaster and scares the hell out of me. We’ve been invited to go to collect a prestigious award and they put you in a hotel for a few days etc. We have American friends and family and the first hand ICE stories are horrific.

I'd still go there, and am planning to this year in fact.

You will be fine

Yes

I'm not even gonna try, for a while at least. I actively post anti-Trump stuff on an almost daily basis 😀 I've haven't actively despised anyone quite so much since Thatcher. ✊

Why are they asking for your social media info? This was always optional before. I think I find the whole administration so creepy and scary. Maybe this is just putting me off going/supporting USA.

Of course it’s safe.

We feel the same. At what point is it an issue?

Yes it's safe.

Personally I wouldn’t go to America in the current climate. But each person needs to weigh up their own risks. I have an autistic child and for me the risk of harm to them is significantly increased in the states.

The border is only about 90 minutes away but we don’t cross now. (Although do miss our lunches in Burlington).
Safer and happier north of the border

Tbh I don't know. I guess it'd become an issue if it's true that they are actively and thoroughly checking people's social media accounts. I don't have an award to collect though, but there are some relatives I'd like to visit at some point.

Now that handing over your social media account details is set to be mandatory, and you might have to give DNA samples...I'd just rather go elsewhere.

It's all a bit too creepy.

I wouldn’t go in the current climate.
South Africa sounds safer

My son is my main concern. We’ve been shouted at in the airport by border control for zero reason before and any detention would not go well. Pretty sure no one would be interested in my disgust at trump dressed as the pope but why take the risk?

Fuck that. There are roughly 200 more interesting places to visit.

I agree it's safe to go there.

However I've knocked our planned visit on the head for 2027 as I don't trust the whole thing around the social media history.

I feel that you say the wrong thing to a question when going through security and you could be denied entry.... something insurance won't cover

Why do you know it’s safe? Just because you think it or are you involved in boarder policing of trump haters?

We've decided we can't visit until things are very different. My DB & SIL live in the US (currently looking at going North of the boarder) & whilst it's crap we can't visit, I don't feel comfortable to do so. I'm physically disabled & both DD & I are Audhd....to be separated at any point would be awful. My social media is also very anti-Trump.
Another consideration is I won't visit certain countries due to their human rights record, and the US now falls under this category.

Agree but it’s to collect an award. I don’t have to go but don’t know if I’m being over cautious or sensible if I didn’t go. I wouldn’t go otherwise under the current administration. I wouldn’t be so worried if I wasn’t with my neurodiverse son.

I hadn’t even remembered the DNA thing. I’m the last person to commit a crime, unless disgust at knocking down the White House is now a crime? I don’t know.

No, I’d ask them to send the award to you and explain you don’t feel comfortable.

If you feel like that about entering the country should you consider accepting an award from an institution vested there?
we have family there and visit but feel nervous about our MH unwell adult family coming too for context.

You'll be fine, as long as you've not been posting about how you want to assassinate trump.

It’s from a university so no issues with the award, just the administration of the country and distrust of boarder safety. I’m not sure “yes you’re safe or no you’re not” answers are going to help me decide. I think I need to know more detail about the boarder process and what they think of liking anti trump memes! I don’t know how I can find this out.