The article discusses the rising anxieties among travelers, particularly those who are not US citizens, due to increased scrutiny and detentions at US airports and borders under the Trump administration. Immigration lawyers and travel consultants report a surge in concerns and changes in travel behavior.
The Trump administration's intensified screening of foreigners and immigrants, coupled with policies like the largest deportation program in American history, has resulted in numerous reported ordeals for travelers. Examples include the detention and potential deportation of a German-born resident, a Canadian woman, and an Irish green-card holder, all for various reasons ranging from old marijuana charges to expunged drug convictions.
Travelers are taking proactive measures, including using burner phones, deleting social media accounts from their devices, and carrying photocopies of personal documents. Travel consultants advise clients to consider domestic travel due to the uncertainty. The tourism industry is expressing concerns about the impact on international tourism, with a reported decline in overseas visitors. Airlines, while not yet seeing a downturn in outbound international bookings, anticipate a potential slump based on consumer confidence surveys and economic factors.
While the Trump administration insists law-abiding travelers have nothing to fear and that news coverage is overblown, the article highlights several cases of detention and emphasizes the pervasive fear among travelers, regardless of citizenship. The government's response focuses on national security concerns, while concerns persist about potential biases based on names, tattoos, or social media content.
The article suggests that the increased scrutiny and detentions go beyond standard immigration enforcement and raise concerns about the potential misuse of border control as a tool for political intimidation.