Is it safe to visit The US?

[niknak1234]

Over the last few months I have seen a lot of is it safe to travel to The US threads, and a lot of replies of "I wouldn't chance it."

Why do people really think is going to happen at the most popular tourist destinations?

Strip searched at JFK airport because you posted you didn't like Trump on Mumsnet? Shot by ICE at The Magic Kingdom whilst queueing up to meet Chip n Dale? Deported to Caracas whilst watching Lion King on Broadway?

This. I probably could go. Old, white, female, english speaking. But I travel a lot with a Hispanic dual nationality friend. Is she as safe as me? Of course not.

Just come back from LA. Absolutely not a problem. Immigration staff a bit gruff but no more than usual

Well, yeah - it’s probably ‘safe’ if you’re a white, middle class tourist and aren’t parading around downtown Detroit at night or joining in ICE protests.

But visiting while the dangerous orange idiot is in power wouldn’t be for me. The knowledge of everything that’s going on - from the Middle East horror to people of colour being detained at borders to innocent civilians being shot in the face - would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

As an aside, everyone I know who has visited NYC lately says it’s gone massively downhill over the past few years. So sad as it’s one of the greatest cities in the world IMO, but I’ve been hearing very bad reports😔

I was in New York last year, it’s still fab.

I’m not sure being white matters much. A lot of the TSA and immigration officers are not white themselves. The USA is about 60% white now. The working age demographic less so.

I’d rather go to Russia.
Seriously.

When visitors talk about New York “going downhill” recently, they’re almost always referring to the smell of weed which has always been there in some areas. Honestly, it’s less noticeable since it was legalized as fewer people are smoking the stuff that reeks. I personally notice it far more when I visit London, not that it bothers me much.

Although nothing will ever beat the city post-lockdown but before the borders were opened, New York is still a fabulous place. Not for everyone, sure, but then that’s every big city.

What I’m hearing re NYC - yes the weed smoke everywhere, but also a big increase in very visible poverty. Lots of homeless and mentally ill people on the street - hardly surprising when the welfare system is so poor. With that comes a stark polarity between rich and poor that feels uncomfortable.

For the average tourist, rising costs - particularly around eating out - can make the cost of a holiday there eye watering.

It’s a real shame as I love the place. I used to find it less expensive than London and it felt safer too.

Or the means.

Same. I live in Canada, and I know a few Americans who live here, because married to Canadians, who have no intention of visiting the US anytime soon.
Also plenty of Canadian "snowbirds" who used to spend every winter in Florida who are not travelling there now. Not necessarily because they feel unsafe, but because of the actions of the US president. They can stuff their tourist dollars as far as Canadians are concerned.

I hear that congestion pricing has made a big difference to the noise and traffic

There are literally stories of tourists being detained by ICE in their

It’s may be safe for the average person, but ICE is literally detaining average tourists for a week or more in their “jails” when it suits them with little recourse to their own laws or international law.

lets lso look t, they want all your social media accounts so they can check if you’ve said anything against the Glorious Orange Leader!

so no, it is not a safe country to visit while the Orange Muppet is in control.

And you completely dismissed the feelings and experiences of OP because she’s White, hypocrite.
White people are people, too and are allowed to share thoughts and experiences. If someone of another race has differing experiences they are always free to join the conversation respectfully and share from their point of view. There’s no need to dismiss a White persons feelings to do so.

I had a sniff and only found visa irregularities for being detained.
Which (innocent) tourists are being detained for longer than random checks?

There literally aren’t any. Yes, tourists are being detained when they try and break (or bend) visa/ visa-waiver rules but no one is being hauled off by homeland security because they reposted a meme of JD Vance.