Work trip to USA

[Wonderbug81]

I'm in a senior role and there's talk of a work trip to US this year. For context I've been to the US multiple times and even lived in NYC for a year a long time ago.

However I'm British Asian and I don't want to go - it's a very different place to the one I lived in.

At the moment it's not a firmed up plan but we'll be going to number of places (not just the more left wing cities) and I want to be ready to discuss it when the time comes.

This makes no sense. Sorry. Are you referring to the U.K. riots in 2011 and 2024? I don’t understand why that makes you think London public transport unsafe?

One of my white British friends (travelling with his also white wife) got stopped in the US for five hours in the airport border control - a few weeks ago.
I would no way as an Asian person risk any of this.
I can't believe someone on an earlier post called you debating whether to go or not, histrionics. A lot of white people have absolutely no idea of what the reality is like for people of colour.

Is that you Karoline? I recognise your erudite tone.

Very good

Now why do you thinik the OPs company should not put all of her team / senior saff on the same plane?

I don’t know - because there’s a very small chance it might crash? Can you answer my original please about why London public transport is unsafe? I’m on a London bus right now, and everything is fine!

When do you think big corporations realised the danger of planes crashing into stuff?

Thank you. There are some comments on here that absolutely show people have little understanding of what's it like. It's not just the 'ICE threat', it's the hostility, the unpredictably of the environment etc too.

The US justice system is just about holding the govt to account but you never know what's around the corner.

Yes I've lived and worked in the US myself.

I never said the UK was better although despite the race riots and the onslaught of Farage I feel much safer here (not least because of the lack of guns).

I'm going to be visiting prime Trump voting country so while I know it's not all Trump, some parts of the country definitely have the same mentality as he does.

Wonderbug81
The US justice system is just about holding the govt to account but you never know what's around the corner.

Non-nationals dont have the same rights as citizens so any risk assessment need to factor that in.

It's not necessarily ICE. It's the general environment and the unpredicatability of the govt, particularly as I'm going to a heavily Trump supporting state.

i think you should be ok. What does your company say about this? What is their advice?

My friend who’s Jewish lives there with 2 adopted South Korean children (grown up) 1 lives in Florida and the other Delaware or Philadelphia. They haven’t had any issues yet but her in-laws are in the south and she’s always said she’d never move there in the past due to racism. They’ve visited though.

You're really over exaggerating and making things up now.

It's absolutely fine if you don't want to go but I live here and majority of Americans and visitors are going about their day to day business.

Going into a heavily Trump supporting state, and what are you expecting? That they setup roadblocks asking if you support Trump or not and shoot you if you say no????? Are you going to start political debates or do your work???

What southern state are you going because politics aside most southern states tend to be very friendly and respectful and it's actually purple haired mostly white liberals who are screaming like idiots, attacking people, wanting to know your political views so they can try to cancel you etc.

Go and do your business, treat everyone you meet with respect and avoid political and religious debates simple. And if you don't want to to go that's fine, speak to your boss and let them know.

As I've always said there's an unhealthy amount of news about the US being consumed in countries like the UK.

I don't know if it will help but this guy's recently visited the US from the UK and Ireland and had an amazing time in many statues including Louisiana in the south and I've seen a lot more recent videos from people who visited and have great times and enjoyed the hospitality of Americans irrespective if their political leanings. There's a lot of alarmist biased headlines and social media exaggerates things massively.

From The Guardian:

Reports from 2025 describe racial profiling, especially in areas under federal law-enforcement takeovers, where increased arrests and detentions disproportionately affected immigrants and people of colour. (e.g., Washington D.C. deployment)

In 2024, hate crimes in the U.S. were at their second-highest level on record, with more than half motivated by race or ethnicity.

For Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders specifically, a 2025 study found 53% experienced hate incidents in 2024, up from 2023, which respondents linked in part to the political climate and rhetoric.

I'm in the habit of reading well-balanced, well-reported news, not 'making things up' or taking one person's views as gospel.

And me on the ground have not experienced any of that but because the Guardian told you so therefore you spiral into despair and fear.

As I said the average American is going about their business as normal so it's up to you to keep getting yourself worked up over stats from the Guardian or not. Again there is an unhealthy amount of news about the US out where and it's very easy to just spiral on and on when majority of the news is exacerbated and biased.

Am I saying nothing is happening, of course not but when you read stuff like that or look on mumsnet or reddit it's like Armageddon in the USA which absolutely not true.

To avoid you continuing to spiral just tell your boss you don't want to go and move on with your life.

According to mumsnet I have to duck and hide and sprint every time I leave my house in Chicago because I'm a person of colour. FYI I don't and I have no fear or concern.

And yes immigration related arrests will affect people of colour way more because you have millions who have crossed the southern border, there is no way you will arrest equal number of whites and Hispanics for immigration related offences because guess what, there are way way way more hispanics who crossed the border illegally compared to eg white Brits. Guess what even under Obama and Biden most deportees will be southern and central Americans who crossed the border illegally so I don't get what you expect.

Also you do know that media can be biased as well right? You do know that mainstream media is dying and use sensational fear mongering to stay relevant right?

I've read some of those articles including the one by the Guardian story but they are NOT balanced views at all.

But as I said instead of spiraling on mumsnet, make the decision once and for all and inform you boss and move on with your life. You will always find what you look for, if you look for incidents of kindness and friendliness in the US you will also find it.

Also when they say 53% reported hate incidents is that 53% from 100 people or 53% from 10 million people???? There a reason they use those percentages not absolutes because it's more sensational.

@Wonderbug81 And what % of those stats is against business visitors from the uk? I’d bet very little or none. It’s just over dramatic to think any of that will affect you. Your bosses might think you are just not wanting to do your job if the US matters to their business. If it’s just a jolly, don’t go.

And people were back on buses the next day?

Exactly my point.

There is a sinister atmosphere so I wouldn't blame a non white to think twice.

I understand your concerns. When DD went to New York with school her white teacher from Manchester, but with a Spanish name was interrogated by immigration for 2 hours.

I don't understand, surely if you're in a senior role you have the skills to put forward your concerns rationally to your boss and suggest zoom or similar instead?

Agree with pp unless you're going there illegally and intend to harass and obstruct law enforcement officers I don't think you've anything to worry about. Have you seen your gp about anxiety? It can often creep up on us particularly when heading towards or in peri/meno.

Could you be a little more patronising.

YANBU. I live here (on the west coast, in a blue area) and I would not come here. And I won’t travel to any large U.S. city myself right now.
I know it might feel alarmist, but it truly isn’t safe right now… it maybe only feels like you’re being unreasonable (if you’re questioning this at all) because it just doesn’t seem like this could possibly be real - but it is.

it is INSANE what is going on right now.

i hope you can get out of coming here. I’m so sorry.

it’s true, the chances of you being safe are quite high, but why risk even the slightest chance of being dragged away and locked in one of their detainment places?

they’re not following any kind of due process. They are just bullies running around grabbing people. It’s truly horrific.

I’d take my business (money/custom) elsewhere. Vote with my feet and stay away.

You are gaslighting.
it is truly dangerous here in the US right now, and suggesting someone should see their GP for anxiety when this is REAL is absolutely unhinged. You should maybe see your GP, but unfortunately there aren’t any medications that help a person gain empathy.

Thank you. Your response says it far better than I could have. The complete lack of understanding of what it could feel like for someone in this position (let alone people living in the US every day) is astounding.