I know I am being wildly unreasonable about DD’s New York trip but I need people to tell me I am

[CurlewKate]

Dd is going to New York for a two week work trip tomorrow. Obviously I won’t tell her this-but I am so scared about her being in the US at the moment. I’m not at all an anxious person and I’ve never felt like this about anyone travelling abroad before. Tell me I’m being completely irrational!

Statistically you are incredibly unlikely to be involved in any scenario like this, it’s a country of 350 million people.

The US has its problems but the idea it’s not safe for British visitors is OTT.

Do you read the news?

If we are at the point where some people think New York is too unsafe to travel to, then perhaps switching off from the news would be beneficial for them.

If we are at the point where some people think New York is too unsafe to travel to, then perhaps switching off from the news would be beneficial for them

Indeed

JFK handles about 1200 flights and roughly 170,000 passengers a day, and if anyone honestly thinks they're closely examining the social media of all those, then frankly they need help

Yes there'll be some spot checks, but most ICE work is depends on intelligence and tip-offs, so unless she's stupid enough to have joined some "Let's murder Trump" headbanger group they won't be interested

As for being there it's similar to any big city, except IME the people are nicer. Watch out for pickpockets, avoid known problem areas - there's nothing in them to see anyway - and she'll be fine

Probably being irrational in the odds of anything happening are vanishingly low. If she's white and travelling on a British passport then she's unlikely to be caught up in any ICE/border issues (that feels so grubby to type out). It's very different going to New York vs more Minneapolis right now (or smaller, less tolerant, redder cities).

Although make sure she's got all the right paperwork in order to avoid having the experience Rebecca Burke did!.

But that said I wouldn't go to the states right now.

Mostly due to ethical reasons - I'm going to get ripped apart for this but their government is increasingly becoming a dictatorship, civil rights and freedom of speech are being trampled on, women's health is being pulled, they're threatening to seize land regardless of sovereignty (Greenland, the Canada threats) etc etc. For me it would be the moral equivalent of going to 1930s Germany for a holiday. 60% of the population either voted for Trump or didn't vote at all (same difference) - I'd always have that at the back of my mind, especially as both myself and DH work in women's healthcare.

I appreciate that she's travelling for work though so doesn't have much of a say. I do have friends who work for companies who have cancelled work trips to the US/moved them elsewhere in the world but the majority of that is due to ethical reasons/uncertainty around the US economy and government interference in academia that means they don't want to do business there, rather than a real concern about personal safety.

Best pizza in NYC.

How incredibly rude, and not 'kindly' at all.

Agreed. I'm also partial to Fascati in Brooklyn Heights and Prince Street Pizza. DH is a Joe's man (overrated IMO).

@CurlewKate Tell your DD to try them all and report back!

Nothing
Its nonsense and virtue signalling

No its true

Is she white?

If so, she will be fine

If she isn't, I totally understand your fears

Just to balance this post - I work in comms logistics and a household name client has just scheduled a 2000 pax internal meeting in NY with a short lead time, and they're extremely risk averse, especially given thats nearly all of their senior leaders in one place.

Wtf?

Are you saying that the OP is wanting to police American politics, can't, and can't handle that she can't and also can't control American politics....and is just telling herself that really she's worried about her child's safety?

I've seen some stretches on MN but this one is next level! I think OP is being ridiculous, but not half as ridiculous as you are!

Loads of different nationalities are passing through USA everyday. Many of my friends on a range of visas. I have been reprimanded twice as a visa holder for not carrying a specific form on me.

As a tourist Esta holder you’ll be fine. You’re not their concern. Regardless of heritages.

I got stopped at immigration under Biden - twice. My 18yr old got stopped nd taken back for additional questions (with Green Card) under Biden. This isn’t a new thing, it’s about it those with visas following the immigration rules. They exists in the UK too.

Just saying!

Thank you. I expected to be told that I ABU. Because I know I am!!! I think some people missed that last bit.

I think it'll be fine but I don't think you're stupid. Her personal safety (deportation, ICE etc) is probably much as it ever was but the risk of a major diplomatic situation in Greenland/ with NATO is not non-existent and being abroad complicates things.

Those who say this is about you wanting to control global politics either have their head in the sand or think things are going well politically in the us...

It's not unreasonable. The president is talking up the dangers of the country, telling the world it's full of domestic terrorists and drug users. He is making it clear that foreigners are not welcome and that he doesn't think laws, international or domestic, apply to him.

Minneapolis, of all places seems to be about to be put under a form of martial law.

However, he is clearly not to be trusted or particularly believed.

Im sure she'll be fine, and have a wonderful time.

Yes you are being wildly unreasonable.
Get a grip.
HTH

Getting stopped/having extra scrutiny going through border control isn't new (the US has long had a reputation for how aggressive their TSA agents were going back to 9/11).

What is new is the potential detention in ICE centres without due process or with long/indeterminant waits to be processed. Looks at the stories of Jessica Brösche, Rebecca Burke etc. Not to mention the US citizens who have been incorrectly rounded up by ICE and detained for long periods of time despite having paperwork.

I do not think virtue signalling means what you think it does.

I do love Joe's too (the Soho branch not the Times Square one).

Ah, not so 'kindly' after all then.

OP she's going to have a great time I'm sure! We worry about all sorts as parents, but that's part of the job I guess. Get her to send you loads of pics!

I actually think that if I do have a legitimate cause for concern it’s what someone said earlier- the possibility of an escalation of international tension around Greenland and/or Iran.

Incidentally-it’s possible to tell someone you think they are being unreasonable without actually being offensive. Something some of you might want to consider.

The only thing she needs to worry about is the cold. I was recently in Chicago and was woefully unprepared for temperatures of -16c plus snow. I had to buy new clothes and boots.

The rest is ridiculous scaremongering. Not saying there aren't problems, of course there are; but your daughter isn't going to have any issue.