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.

@Maray1967 I’ve been many times and you learn the ropes. You get the odd over tired idiot but overall it’s efficient and ok. They don’t know the names of all hotels either! With the Esta you put down what it is at the time. Many borders are intimidating! It’s just a side issue of travel!

You still get questioned at the border, even when you have a valid esta. Entry is at the absolute discretion of the border officer in charge. Esta does not guarantee you entry.

I've been taking my child to the US since she was 3. The social media question is still optional for now.

When applying for my new ESTA this year (passport had expired) I had to upload a photo of myself and my passport. My child didn't on hers. A nicer than normal helpful border agent told us in the US my child will need to give fingerprints at immigration once they turn 14. This was at MCO Orlando.

The border agents are not your friend, they are there to do a job. Some are nicer than others.

Do you need a VISA to travel to the US? Then you will have to give more details.

My husband travels a lot for work there, I would not let him go if I thought it wasn't worth the risk.

Also, when all is is said and done, US Immigration and Customs don't have to let anyone in. They don't need a reason.

No. What if you need emergency "women's health" care, I'm assuming you're white British , if not that's another issue altogether

I'm baffled that a US citizen would be asked about their whereabouts in their own country.

Could you go out via Dublin or Shannon so that you go through pre-clearance? The US border control officers who work overseas are supposed to be a bit more human than the arseholes you're more likely to encounter at an airport in the US and at least if refused you're only in Ireland, not stuck at the mercy of Kristy Noem.

Depends what colour your skin is

you get questioned at the border if you are a citizen - what is your point? You just answer the questions about where you are staying ect. Did you bring any food in?

I also get questioned at the UK border (however they are unquestionably nicer usually)

Detained is one thing and is largely understandable

But don't you find it at all concerning that the German tattoo artist had been more or less been 'disappeared' by ICE - no-one knew where she was and she was without consular assistance for over a month? - if she'd been promptly deported it wouldn't have been an issue.

They question everyone. They ask how long I’ve been away.. I tell them I live in the Uk. Why do I live I the UK? How long have I lived in the Uk… Why am I here? They take it a bit personally that I have left the US 😂**

Never been asked where I'm heading when crossing back into the UK (and I travel quite a bit). First, I tend to use the e-gates, but if I have my youngest in tow, then occasionally I get asked about food or purpose of the trip but never where I'm staying because... what's the point? A citizen is back where they belong and ok to stay indefinitely, cause it's their home. It is baffling any border official would see a point to that question.

Of course I find it concerning.. but that is def not the worst thing that has happened at the Tijuana border and has been happening loooong before trump and under every administration. I suspect that trump has made it more newsworthy

(points to username)

Kamala Harris’s participation in the coverup of Joe Biden’s dementia was unforgivable to a lot of independents and anti-Trump conservatives who would have been happy to vote for a different Democrat - preferably, one who was never part of the Biden administration. “South Park” joked years ago that presidential elections are between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. You don’t necessarily “like” either, you just pick the one that seems the least awful.

I’m not a UK citizen so was always questioned prior to the egates and now questioned if travelling with children.

i am a us citizen and always questioned especially as I raise a red flag as I live abroad. I beleive the aim is to look out for those who have left the country and been radicalised- and I have, us chocolate tastes like shit to me now 😂

If you really want to be safe travel and carry a "dummy phone". I believe less than 1% of US travellers get their phone and devices searched.

If you really want to avoid that. You can factory reset Ur phone and then restore from backup once you've crossed but I don't think you'll need to do that. Most travellers (not all) from the VWP have a smooth passage through the border. I went to the USA this summer for my cousin's wedding. I had a fab time.

Well, that sounds really hostile towards their own citizens I'm afraid. Returning from holiday, sometimes you'd get a 'were you on holiday' type of question but nothing invasive like you describe- but of course, I don't know what UK officials ask when it comes to Brits who have moved abroad.

Trump pardoned a major drug trafficker.

All CBP asked me this summer was where I was staying, if the family member I was staying with us a resident (US citizen) and when my return flight was.

This isn't the experience for everyone. But I feel it's the most common experience. But I do always feel more scared at the US border Vs Schengen border.

I see it less as hostility and more of there process… this is what they are trained to look out for. If someone is a us citizen but lives abroad they are seen as equal risk as someone from abroad. Also I think their jobs must be pretty boring so must be exciting for them to get an anomaly

Day to day life in the US is quite safe for most people. My life is practically idyllic. The problem is that it is not fair that life here is not safe for everyone.

As a tourist from the UK, odds are that you will encounter absolutely no problems. You will likely go through immigration control with a smile.

I would still be reticent to cross the border. If you are detained, it will be unpleasant. You may be held for several days before being deported. The detention conditions may not be good and there are reports of them sometimes being especially problematic. There is no guarantee you will not be separated from your child during that time.

If you could travel without your child, it would be different as any risk would be solely your own.

Friend of DS (of a nation that can't get an esta and needs to apply for a 10 year us visa) also recently visited the States and had no issue. He went out and explored SF.

If someone is a us citizen but lives abroad they are seen as equal risk as someone from abroad That is the surprising bit to me, yet any US citizen based abroad is still expected to file their taxes every year like those who've stayed home their whole lives. Not very balanced.

Private your social media.

I would love to say you are okay but the whole thing re providing data for 5 years puts me off. I was there in feb 2025 and no issues at all

We are all white with traditional anglo-british names, and would not risk it.

Going there with a dark skin or even worse, an arabic sounding name would seem beyond foolish to me.