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[+] 47 points 5 months ago (5 children)
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    [–] 45 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    Forget it. Even before this shit happened, a middle eastern looking friend of mine had to stop going to US conferences because he would always get turned away at the border.

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago

    years ago some researcher was on the news and often got extra harassed at their border for his middle eastern sounding name (but not actually related at all)

    likely even worse now

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  • [–] 102 points 5 months ago (5 children)

    Don't go. At all, for any reason. If what has already transpired during Trump's second term hasn't been enough reason to avoid travel, its on him if anything bad happens.

    Can't say you weren't warned.

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  • [+] [S] 20 points 5 months ago (4 children)
  • [–] 38 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Why doesn't he just fly to El Salvador directly and save time. I'm a Caucasian male and I wouldn't go to the US right now, he definitely shouldn't risk it.

    I'd be problematic anyway because I genuinely don't have a social media presence, which I'm sure they would find suspicious. And I'm pretty sure my 70-year-old parents don't have one either.

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  • [–] 17 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Your friend needs to ask the people who paid for the tickets if they'll pay for legal representation and to get him released from whatever incarceration awaits him if he falls foul of the regime there. Assume this could run to hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

    Also, given your description of him, I think that's incredibly likely to happen.

    They'll say he's guilty of something, so those friends won't be sure whether he acted illegally or not.

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  • [–] 25 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    That list is an automatic no from me. America is FAR down on the list of countries I would like to see one day, but as long as those requirements exist, absolutely not.

    The US literally has nothing that would be worth this

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  • [–] 21 points 5 months ago

    Clearly I'm ignorant due to not traveling out of the country in decades, but those demands are shocking to me. We really have devolved into a fascist shithole, huh? They'll probably be fine, but I certainly wouldn't risk it.

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  • [–] 54 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    Even Americans, who aren't Caucasian, are being put into ICE detention (or deported). The US is a dangerous place for anyone with darker skin. Even worse for visitors. Not even safe for Canadians.

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  • [–] 12 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    They start with the dark skins and then they turn on the rest.

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  • [+] 2 points 5 months ago (2 children)
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  • [–] 66 points 5 months ago (12 children)

    Realistically, most people entering as tourists need to be concerned with CBP asking for unlocked access to your phone, which will disappear into a back room for a few minutes while they presumably steal all your credentials. The broader scare stories about detention, interrogation, and deportation are really very rare.

    I have some (stupid) non-white-passing family that have been travelling to the US (including Florida) regularly and they have had zero issues.

    I would absolutely not go. Full stop. But when you look at the real numbers, tourist entry into the US isn’t down all that much and most people who desire to go don’t have any issues with immigration.

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  • [–] 76 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (5 children)

    You used to hear about needing a burner phone when visiting China, that it is now also required to visit the US is insane.

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  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    They probably won't let you in if you bring a burner phone to USA

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  • [+] [S] 8 points 5 months ago (3 children)
  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago

    Anything could happen. To be totally honest, most Americans, myself included, have never been outside of the country, so we don't know.

    If I had to speculate based on the news, the fact that he isn't white, doesn't speak English well, and may have no electronics/ questionable electronics, all adds up to a high likelihood of him being detained for an indeterminate amount of time, and potentially being deported to somewhere that no one wants to be.

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  • [+] [S] 10 points 5 months ago (4 children)
  • [–] 14 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Don’t take your phone with you. Put your sensitive information and credentials into Bitwarden. Buy a cheap smartphone from the U.S., install Bitwarden and use it. When leaving, log out of Bitwarden, delete the app, reset the phone and leave it behind.

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  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago*

    the phone part also means YOU are exposed and documented by the US fascists to the extent they have any messaging or email history with you on their phone. And everyone else they've messaged.

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  • [–] 29 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    don't, just don't.

    if you have to, refuse.

    stay out of the US right now. not because it's particularly unsafe to be inside the country, but because it's incredibly difficult to safely get inside.

    not only that, but going to Florida is like starting foreplay with licking a dirty asshole. some might be into that, but everyone will end up with shit mouth by the end of the night.

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    [–] 14 points 5 months ago*

    Cheers for posting this. My wife and I wanted to plan a trip to finally see New York but after seeing this and researching that this is actually true, we'll just visit somewhere else.

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  • [–] 39 points 5 months ago (5 children)

    After reading all these comments, the impression I'm getting is: shithole country

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  • [–] 13 points 5 months ago

    At this current time, I wouldn't recommend it. Generally speaking the people are welcoming and the things to see are plentiful.

    But the issues visitors will run into aren't with the people or landmarks. I don't want to deal with law enforcement here and I'm a white male middle class citizen.

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  • [–] 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Be aware of where these comments are coming from. There might be a slight bias here.

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  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago

    Yeah the exaggeration in here is wild

    It's a shithole country and it's awful but coming here in a business trip is going to be without incident, it's not fucking judge dredd

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  • [–] 38 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    I have a white coworker who goes to the states almost every weekend to visit family... probably low risk since they're white...

    Here's where is gets wild:

    My manager is a muslim, clearly visibly middle eastern. Goes to NYC for meeting twice a month.

    My friend is pakistani, muslim, middle name is mohammed right there in his passport. Goes to lots of midwest states for meetings at least once a month

    Neither on has had any problems at the border and they tell me that my apprehensions about travel to the US are blown out of proportion....

    I still wont go down there, but i hope for their sakes that they are right.

    so basically 3/3 people i know who travel regularly to the states have no problems... clearly ymmv.

    Low probability of incident, but very serious consequences if it happens

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  • [–] 40 points 5 months ago

    Low probability of incident, but very serious consequences if it happens

    That sums it up. OP's friend will probably be fine. It's just, if not they're not, it's really gonna suck

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (1 child)

    It just depends on what border patrol agent you get on the day. I'm sure most of them are perfectly normal but at least some of them have been installed post Trump, and those guys see it is their sacred duty to see that no one gets in.

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  • [–] 26 points 5 months ago (12 children)

    2/10 if you're white. 5/10 if you're not.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (9 children)

    White or not you are going to be sent to Alligator Auschwitz pronto quick. How many instances of no matter who it it and there is a problem with paperwork somewhere you are toast. Simple stuff like tickets, traffic infractions. Just read the news.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago (8 children)

    There were cases, yes. Probably 0.0001% of all the white people that visited USA during that time. There are many reasons not to go to USA but being scared of ICE is not even in the top 3. If you have to go because of work or for personal reasons just make sure you're papers are in order and you'll be fine. If you're thinking about traveling for pleasure - don't. It's a shithole country.

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  • [–] 4 points 5 months ago* (7 children)

    Statistics are great until you are one of them. There are many other reasons not to go as well. I know I will never return to the us as long as I live.

    Edit: as I said before. Read the news, not us news but world news. A lot higher than you think.

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  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    Tourist are also robbed and murdered in Europe. Tiny fraction of all the visitors but it happens. Would you the same in this case? That statistics are great until you're one of them?

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago (5 children)

    Not the venue I was referring to, sorta a track jump.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    We're talking how dangerous some places are. You're saying that people should be worried about the tiny probability of being detained by ICE. Should they also be worried about the tiny probability of being murdered in Europe?

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (3 children)

    I am talking the us right now not other countries. One can always find an exception to the rule. IMO it is unsafe to travel in the us right now compared to how it used to be. Again IMO why would I take the chance if I don’t need to. Also I do not travel anywhere anymore as I am old and do not feel safe pretty much anywhere these days compared to travel in the past due to either age or times.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (2 children)

    Of course it's more unsafe to travel to US then it used to be. For a white person it used to be 1/10 and not it's 2/10. I really don't know why you're trying to debate something I never said.

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  • [–] 24 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    I wouldn’t do it lol. I’m from the USA and I don’t even wanna leave because I don’t wanna deal with our fucking customs guys.

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  • [–] 9 points 5 months ago* (1 child)

    Pre-COVID (Trump's first time) I took a trip to Europe. All of the European customs officials were polite and professional, did what they needed to do, and still made me feel welcome in their country. When I returned to America, the customs official checking me back into the country was mean-mugging the entire time, rude, and acted like I wasn't welcome back to my own home.

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  • [–] 24 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    At this point I wake up every day and wonder when being trans will be labeled a crime. They've come close to doing so, they've already set the precedent that they're allowed to detransition you as punishment for a crime.

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  • [–] 18 points 5 months ago* (3 children)

    They've threatened to put AuDHD people on a list before too. The US is dangerously close to causing a second Holocaust with how they've acted thus far to any minorities.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (2 children)

    How recent is that? Going after neurodivergents belongs to the middle ages.

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  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago

    RFK Jr was talking about "work camps" for anyone with an Adderall prescription just last year. Possibly more recently than that, it's exhausting keeping up with all of the horrible things this regime says and does.

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    [–] 12 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Not dystopian at all. Go enjoy America... /s

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  • [–] 12 points 5 months ago*

    Florida. Yikes.

    I'll put it this way. My partner and I live in Canada, but her parents live in the sticks in NY. They are as white as you can get. They recently visited and were stopped at the border and interrogated, not by the Canadian Border Patrol but by ICE at an exit point. They were ultimately ok but it spooked the hell out of them. Everyone involved is a US citizen fwiw

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  • [–] 11 points 5 months ago* (1 child)

    Wow thats really fucked up considering I could jump in my car and drive across the border into the US right now and the border guards most likely wouldnt look at me twice

    We went across last year twice and they just wanted to know why and where were staying, didnt even ask for proof

    So its highly dependant on your origin country (im Canadian) and skin colour (im pasty white)

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  • [–] 10 points 5 months ago

    In that interview, they will ONLY be looking for reasons to deny her entry, not to let her in, and they will find something. Then all her expense and trouble will be wasted. I wouldn't bother.

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  • [–] 27 points 5 months ago

    If I was him, I would not go. Simple as that. The US is no safe place for travel.

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  • [–] 9 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    The Canadian travel advisories site claims that it is generally safe to travel to the US: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states

    Frankly, I think they are bullshitting because of Canada's diplomatic position with the US.

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  • [–] 6 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    When was that last updated though? Cuz that a problem- a lot of countries are slow to updating that information especially when the country is still considered an ally legally through treaties

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  • [–] 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    According to the site, it was last updated 2 days ago.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (1 child)

    Well you can color us surprised lol, what’s it say now?

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago

    Still the same.

    My observation is that the Canadian travel advisories site generally seems to be updated in a timely manner. Very soon after Trump's invasion of Iran, for example, multiple Middle Eastern countries, including the UAE, were marked as "Avoid all travel" or "Avoid non-essential travel".

    The fact that they mark the US as lower-risk than multiple European countries that I would consider much safer definitely lowers my trust in them, though.

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago

    If he's brown shut it down, if he's white... idk, shut it down too probably - just to be safe.

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  • [–] 15 points 5 months ago

    I'm a white Texan and now try to avoid flying anywhere, even in the United States, due to ICE's presence at airports. I'm glad your coworker is such an optimist and sees this as an opportunity, but that's completely illogical. If someone were to tell me that they paid for me to have a one-on-one experience with a caged lion, I'd only see that as an opportunity to practice saying "no." Even if the lion told me it has countless job opportunities for me.

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  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    I'm confused about where this list is coming from? Is he applying for a visa? This sounds like something to do with a visa application.

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  • [+] [S] 7 points 5 months ago (2 children)
  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago* (1 child)

    Honestly I think this is a bit exaggerated. I think that this list describes pretty much the worst case scenario that still results in you entering the country in the end. There's no way they interview every tourist flying in from Europe for two hours.

    As far as I know it is also not a requirement to list all of your birthmarks or use the same attire in the visa application photo as the one you're traveling in. These are just "good ideas" that the travel agency think will reduce your chances of being rejected at the border.

    I haven't personally traveled to the US after 2025, but I know people who travel regularly (for work though, not tourism). They've complained about a ton of other things, but they haven't mentioned border checks or ICE being weird in any way.


    Edit: As an aside, I traveled to the USA just before Trump was inaugurated. I'm from Iran, so naturally I was interviewed at the border. Dude asked me if I was an IRGC member. I said no. He was just so fucking happy and immediately told me to have a nice trip. As I was walking away, he had to call me back to the desk to answer a few more questions that protocol demanded (like, how much cash are you carrying and are you bringing in weird seeds).

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  • [–] 6 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    That list is scary as fuck.

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    [–] 16 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    Other people have amazing reasons not to come, so Im not going to add on to that regard. But if your coworker chooses to come, here are some points to take into account when traveling

    • Don't make it look like you going to be staying for a while.
    • Be the gray man: don't take it literally, but don't dress fancy or to rugged. Blend in. If someone takes a photo of you walking by someone else, you don't want them to say "yeah he went over there".
    • be situationally aware: don't be the bumbling idiot with a phone in there hand and earbuds in when walking in public. Keep your head up, wear sunglasses so people can't see where your looking. Stay alert.
    • avoid the bad areas: do extensive research on the area your going.
    • Cash is king: harder to track and create a profile about your purchases with cash. Don't carry to much otherwise that is a good questioning point
    • shit hits the fan: if you noticed your being followed, stay calm and keep moving, make it look like your stoping in a store and go out the back door. Keep a change of clothes, hat and sunglasses. I'm not an expert on evasion but there are plenty of guides out there
    • don't bring your personal electronics, use 2nd hand burners for your travels, just use them a bit before coming as to not raise suspicion.
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  • [–] 13 points 5 months ago

    The best thing I've ever heard in advice for almost anything has always been "look like you're supposed to be there".

    I took a work trip to NYC, I've never been to NYC. I was asked directions 5 times.

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  • [–] 19 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

    Very. It's even dangerous to live here as a citizen now on multiple levels, let alone visit from another country. I'd flee in a heartbeat to a country that hasn't turned into a dictatorship yet if I could.

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  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Depends. Are you?

    • Brown

    • Gay

    • Transgender

    • Liberal

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