Not when the MAGAT-in-Chief is running ICE.
Something that has come up in coffee break chats in my workplace: “I don’t know if I’ll ever go to the US again.”
These are upper-income, white folks. The US is increasingly seen as a dangerous place for non-Americans.
Takes a lot of R&D funding, with security guarantees, to overcome that gut reaction.
Personal safety, for yourself and family, trumps career opportunities.
Seconded from an upper income, white European. With strong leaning towards “no, for sure not”. I have insulted the Great Leader, how can I be sure to pass the border control without being arrested, kept in a Guantánamo like prison for a couple of weeks (without medication I need) and end up expelled at my own expense? No thanks, i’ll pass.
For now maybe, at the rate Trump & co are going that may not be true for much longer.
That’s another extra problem, How many desirable immigrants can withstand the loyalty tests required to immigrate? even if they are willing to ignore the risks they maybe simply not be allowed to go.
Started back in February:
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/26/musk-doge-science-cuts-universities-fallout