HN Reader

'A hostile state': Why some travellers are avoiding the US

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My wife and I recently flew to New Zealand from London, we opted to avoid a transit via the US. Not just because of the political situation in the country, which isn't ideal, but because our bags wouldn't be checked all the way through. Having to offload our bags and re-check them in either JFK or LAX is a huge pain – travelling via China, Singapore or any of the middle eastern countries is so much more convenient in comparison.

3 days agoby ctippett

If I didn't live here I wouldn't visit the US either even before all this recent crap. High crime rates, high poverty rates, poor education, expensive, and the 5th highest incarceration rate in the world on par with Turkmenistan and Brazil. 1.5% of the US population is either in prison or on probation and a short step away from prison.

3 days agoby AngryData

In Canadian burning man discussion groups, consensus is pretty much that no one is going this year due to the tariff war (well that and criticism of the nonprofit that organizes it) . Out of hundreds who chimed in on the discussion threads, only one said they'd still go this year.

Many people I know have also cancelled travel plans and bookings. There are definitely some undeniable changes in how we're spedning our vacation time.

3 days agoby pcthrowaway

A friend of mine from Europe was very determined to visit the US this year, travelling through several states, meeting up with me along the way. He would have spent a lot of money here, but now that is not going to happen. Now there is no way he will travel here due to the hostility demonstrated by the current administration. I agree with his decision, he should stay away or risk being incarcerated because of an overzealous immigration gestapo, as has already happened to at least one European tourist. The US has gone mad, with a mad king that seems to hate everyone and everything as well as his deplorable minions.

3 days agoby leptons

My girlfriend wanted to visit the US once in her life, but we decided to cancel the plans due to the current uncertainty. A German tattoo artist was detained because she had her work equipment with her. What will happen when I bring my phone and laptop as an IT guy?

3 days agoby z02d

If you come here then, as a foreigner with no rights that will be respected by the current government, you can be snatched right off the street and deported to a prison in a country that's foreign to you.

Stay the hell away, it's literally 1939 here.

3 days agoby emorning3

I have guidance from my company to clear everything from my laptop and mobile when passing those borders. Funny thing is we don't do anything suspicious and its a large US company. They just don't want the liability of client data being copied by an trackable gov process...

3 days agoby antman

Visiting New York for me now would be like a Jew going on holiday in Germany in 1938.

Ultimately my money would be going to a Christian nationalist regime and I have no illusions about what kind of "freedom" the US have in store for the world.

3 days agoby Yeul

US is now shipping people to El Salvador "by mistake" without a way of getting them back: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politic...

This is from the playbook, it's a trial run for "Night and Fog": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacht_und_Nebel

3 days agoby titaphraz

Why? Because maybe they don't like to be detained just for the fact they have texted someone on Whatsapp that they disapprove of the current US administration.

3 days agoby ofrzeta

> prompting Germany, the UK, Denmark, Finland and Portugal to issue travel warnings and advisories for the country

I'm glad they posted links, that is a lot better sourced than many media groups. But the links suggest that the UK's updated advice [0] is "follow US law while in the US, the form you want is an ESTA". That is something of a non-statement. In fact there is a lot in this article that on close inspection doesn't say anything. Like the rather generic Soligo quote for example.

[0] Bizarrely the source trail is via The Hill; I would have thought the BBC could go straight to a UK government website.

3 days agoby roenxi

My wife is a huge Disney fan and I accepted my fate years ago that eventually we will take our kids to Disney world when they are the optimal ages to get the most out of it. That time comes next year and we had already pencilled our visit for the spring but now we are considering our options and may look at going elsewhere, it's a real shame as it's been a long standing dream for my wife to repeat her childhood experience but it's a different world now.

3 days agoby dnel

This is not new:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35176741

it is affecting more people, and more "mainstream" people.

I cannot find it, but I recall a British MP either being denied entry or being held a few years ago.

3 days agoby graemep

Because folks are getting arrested at the airport for having anti-trump thoughts. It's pure 1984.

3 days agoby josefritzishere

just taking off my shoes is enough to not even take connections there

3 days agoby 1oooqooq

Right now, I don't even want to transit through the US let alone travel there.

3 days agoby billybuckwheat

Honestly if I was American, I think I'd be pretty happy about that. Less strangers, less tourists, more Americans in America.

And if people still want so desperately to come in my country, they got to follow the rules, whatever how stupid and outrageous they are.

I know it's also contributing to slowing the economy, not only tourists but new talents, qualified migrants may think twice before getting in, external investment may be lower.

But does it really matter to the American farmer or blue collar ?

3 days agoby aucisson_masque