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.

No threats from me just disgust at ICE, disgust at White House posts, racist speeches and disgust at prolife policies etc.

I’m going to the US I’m March and applied for my ESTA last week. There was a section to include social media profiles however it said it was optional so I didn’t fill it in and I still got approved. My advice would be to apply for your ESTA now in case they make the social media compulsory.

Next question, should you clean up your social media first? Should I do a maga hat photo shoot just to be safe?

Has the ESTA already been changed? When I went a few months ago I said I had no social media and it was optional. It maybe worth checking and applying for one now if it’s not been updated yet.

That’s interesting, I heard it was mandatory now.

I think it’s safe enough, but I wouldn’t go at the moment- we’d planned a big trip this autumn but have shifted the planning to another country. If I had to go, I would go, but if it were at all optional, I wouldn’t. Accept the award by video call maybe.

Are you white? You'll probably be fine if so.

I think it's still only proposed.

Is it an Oscar @perellonuts ? 😅

My FIL lives there and is in his 90s so we don't have the luxury of waiting until Trump is no longer President. DH is fine as his (very limited) social media is mostly around birdwatching and nature. Mine on the other hand .....

DS went in September to see his grandad and there were no issues, but the social media thing was optional. I did have some worries he'd be turned away at the border if they checked his phone.

White with an Arabic name by marriage. Isn’t it awful this is even considered!

What’s the problem with the memes? They haven’t changed the ESTA yet. I just got my new one a week ago.

Honestly, I wouldn’t go. I’ve colleagues in organisations in the States who are debating whether they should leave for international conferences as they’re not sure how they’ll be treated coming back into the US through passport control. Two of them have actually found jobs in Canada as they’re so worried about the safety of their families (neurodiversity, LGBTQ+). One of them quit entirely and moved back to the UK.

My social media also wouldn’t bear scrutiny!

Every other person will be wandering around with a loaded gun so I don't think it's particularly safe, no. But I don't think that's ever been any different, nor is it likely to change.

Sadly, the gun issue is the one reason I've never been to the states, never wanted to, and am never likely to.

I certainly wouldn't feel 'safe' there.

Sadly no, it’s academic.

It’s hardly going to be all fine as soon as Trump is gone, particularly if he dies in office and Vance takes over.

Yes, we have similar stories, many musicians and academics have had to leave.

Likely the case but you CANNOT 100% guarantee that.
The issue OP is raising is real: there is a very small chance that she might be pulled in for further questioning and as a tourist you have NO rights at the border, unlike US citizens and residents. For instance you cannot get consular assistance. It's entirely arbitrary (which, by the way has always been the case, but with the current climate there is a lot more pressure on border staff for hostility towards incomers). Frankly if it were me, I'd go but without a vulnerable DC in tow.

They are proposing to make it mandatory (in the home of the free) but it’s still voluntary at the moment I think.

And the US is still safe (ish) if you’re white and from the UK. But if you have to say that, do you want to give them your money? My Hispanic friend doesn’t visit her family any more.

I wouldn’t go unless I could pretty much guarantee my money wasn’t going to support him. So if you’re living on tacos from street vendors in Portland… probably you can sleep at night. AirBnB in Florida, probably not.

I don’t think it’s hyperbole (OK it is) to say if you’ve wondered what you would be doing in the 1930s in Europe, you know now because you’re doing it. Would you accept a prestigious award in 1930s Germany? If you would, go. If you believe you wouldn’t, possibly think of the 100s of people deported and currently detained without due process in CECOT and pause.

Agree, I’m hoping they’ll vote someone else in next time? If it’s not gone full dictatorship…

And I want to add: the fact that OP is an academic makes scrutiny more likely, not less.

It sounds like this is a professional work trip, yet the most significant risk factor is due to your 7 year old son travelling with you. So he stays at home with family/friends while you travel for work to collect your award. Or, if it is a collective recognition, your organisation sends someone else to receive the honours. Or, you stay at home with your son and are awarded in absentia.

IF your public commentary/social media history really warrants such caution!

Thank you. I can’t leave my son behind. I understand it’s a small chance but if I was unlucky it would be catastrophic.

When I married my late Dh, we considered both changing our names back to a family name that had been lost when his great grandparents immigrated. We didn’t, and I realised then the privilege of moving around the world with a very ‘WASP’ name. It’s another reason not to tbh.

Academic award. If in humanities that’s probably more of a risk than science. Married name of Arabic origin and social media you don’t want them to see?

I’d stay home tbh. I wouldn’t bring my child if I did visit.

Is a country with an absurdly unpredictable govt safe to visit? Is a country with raging inequality and non-existent gun control safe?Quite apart from the current silliness over social media.

I'd give it a miss for the next few years. Certainly leave your ds at home. Surely you can accept your award remotely.

I won't go there again until the current regime is removed. Why would I when there a safer, friendlier, more beautiful destinations?