# Thoughts on Visiting the US **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [April 18, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194 "2025-04-18T23:15:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/21 "2025-04-19T01:40:31Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > This is an example of a British tourist being detained for an extended period while trying to leave. I’m not trying to be pedantic, but according to the article she tried to enter Canada without the correct visa. She was refused entry to Canada and turned back at the border where she was detained trying to reenter the US. Look, I’m not travelling to the US right now unless I have to for reasons of economic protest. By the same token, I’m not pursuing travel to China or Hong Kong as we’ve seen how they treat Canadians. But the reality is that many tens of thousands of Canadians travel to the US each and every day. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/22 "2025-04-19T01:46:14Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > I’m not trying to be pedantic, but according to the article she tried to enter Canada without the correct visa. She was refused entry to Canada and turned back at the border where she was detained trying to reenter the US. Yes but all this demonstrates is that in the current fervent atmosphere, what can and should be a minor mixup gets turned into a horror show. It matters not that a mixup is involved - mixups happen. Mis-speak about what you were doing in the US and what should be resolved by a five minute conversation turns into a couple of weeks in handcuffs and jail because Trump. And yes, tens of thousands of Canadians travel to the US every day. The odds are long. But knock a few zeroes off the odds if you are dark skinned and have an Arabic sounding name, and suddenly it’s worth serious thought. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/23 "2025-04-19T01:47:54Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Huh, so you are doubling down on the “people who are not Dopers are not as well informed as they should be” idea. You maybe need to get out and smell the roses. This is a small messageboard. 99.9% of well informed people in the world have never heard of this place. Oh lord, really? Ok, so how do I redress my appalling sin? Really, I am basically just shooting the shit and asking for some advice. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/24 "2025-04-19T01:49:38Z")
Doubling down when you mis-speak is usually the best strategy. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/25 "2025-04-19T01:50:41Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > where she was detained trying to reenter the US. But why waste US tax dollars on detaining her for weeks, rather than just handing her over to Canadian authorities? The detention thing is just ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/26 "2025-04-19T01:51:32Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Doubling down when you mis-speak is usually the best strategy. Again, what do you want from me? Seriously. I simply said that most Dopers are well informed. And do you know what, I also believe that the per capita, you are probably better informed than the population at large. Having said that, I humbly apologize. And I’m done ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/27 "2025-04-19T02:11:45Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > But why waste US tax dollars on detaining her for weeks, rather than just handing her over to Canadian authorities? Because she had no right to enter Canada. Under Canadian law, she needed a work visa to perform services in exchange for payment in kind. When she was refused entry to Canada, she said that she would get on a plane to go home to Britain. Simple. But ICE decided they needed to detain her instead. Which makes no sense. If there is a problem with someone in your country, and that person says “OK, I’ll leave”, there’s no need to detain her. Just excort her to the airport. There was also a Canadian who tried to enter with a work visa. US authorities decided her work visa was not valid. Okay, then turn her away at the border. Instead, they took her into custody and kept her incommunicado for a couple of weeks. The cruelty is the point. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/28 "2025-04-19T02:12:54Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > But why waste US tax dollars on detaining her for weeks, rather than just handing her over to Canadian authorities? The detention thing is just ridiculous. To send a message. Foreign undesirables are not welcome to visit the U.S. Did you read the travel advisory by the Canadian Association of University Professors? > Given the rapidly evolving political landscape in the United States and reports of individuals encountering difficulties crossing the border, CAUT strongly recommends that academic staff travel to the U.S. only if essential and necessary. > > In addition, CAUT recommends that academics who fall into the following categories exercise particular caution: > Citizens or residents of a country identified in media reports as likely to be subject to a travel ban > > ``` > Citizens or residents of a country where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S. > > Travellers with passport stamps evidencing recent travel to countries that may be subject to a travel ban or where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S. > > Those who have expressed negative opinions about the current U.S. administration or its policies > > Those whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration > > Travellers who are transgender or whose travel documents indicate a sex other than their sex assigned at birth > > ``` > Academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing borders and take actions to protect sensitive information where necessary. > **[CAUT advises academics against non-essential travel to the U.S. | CAUT](https://www.caut.ca/latest/2025/04/caut-advises-academics-against-non-essential-travel-us)** > > Given the rapidly evolving political landscape in the United States and reports of individuals encou With the supplement at: > **[caut-2025\_supplement\_to\_the\_caut\_advisory\_on\_travel\_to\_the\_united\_states\_2025-04\_0.pdf](https://www.caut.ca/sites/default/files/caut-2025_supplement_to_the_caut_advisory_on_travel_to_the_united_states_2025-04_0.pdf)** > > 479.28 KB ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/29 "2025-04-19T02:17:39Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The likelihood is still down in the one-in-a-mllion range. My opinion but I feel the odds have jumped up to around the one-in-a-thousand range. I’ve been hearing about a number of incidents. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/30 "2025-04-19T02:19:44Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > It will be ok. > We’re not monsters. Beck, you and the other US Dopers are not monsters. Unfortunately, Americans collectively have chosen to put monsters in charge. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/31 "2025-04-19T02:22:15Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > And yes, tens of thousands of Canadians travel to the US every day. The odds are long. But knock a few zeroes off the odds if you are dark skinned and have an Arabic sounding name, and suddenly it’s worth serious thought. Sad but true. Canada admitted large numbers of Syrian refugees in recent years. It’s likely that she’s one of them, and if so, would have permanent residency status but probably not citizenship yet. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have canceled their trips to the US so far this year, and if I were advising your friend, I’d strongly suggest that she do the same. While the risk to her is low, it’s much higher than average. Also, as a non-citizen, her recourse to intervention by the Government of Canada is more limited. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/32 "2025-04-19T02:24:46Z")
And on top of that, people self select for their chosen work. Prison guards, border patrol officers etc are disproportionately people who want to exercise cruelty and petty power. Trump has very clearly sent these people a message that they are off the leash. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/33 "2025-04-19T02:26:49Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Unfortunately, Americans collectively have chosen to put monsters in charge. And those monsters have given other monsters guns and badges. They snatch people off the street and send them to gulags. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/34 "2025-04-19T02:34:02Z")
I’m going on the belief that most folks are generous of spirit and want to do right. (I’d stay home on the premise I was keeping the USA from being graced by my presence, in protest.) Why would anyone come here? We are just so awful. I wonder why? I just wonder why? If you’re approached by customs and immigration don’t try to make a pendantic point. Just follow instructions. Tell the truth. Ya’ll gotta quit looking at the over edited, added to, faked YouTube videos. There’s no killings in the streets. Smoking debris everywhere. Hungry children with dirty hands out. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/35 "2025-04-19T02:44:09Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > There’s no killings in the streets. Smoking debris everywhere. Hungry children with dirty hands out. I don’t think you get the point. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/36 "2025-04-19T02:50:32Z")
Moderating: > [@Princhester](#): > > Huh, so you are doubling down on the “people who are not Dopers are not as well informed as they should be” idea. You maybe need to get out and smell the roses. This is a small messageboard. 99.9% of well informed people in the world have never heard of this place. This, and a few of your subsequent posts, are badgering the OP over an awkward turn of phrase. The vast majority of everyone (including dopers) are not well informed on most subjects. I think you are blowing up their meaning far beyond what was intended, and the point isn’t even relevant to the thread. Drop this. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/37 "2025-04-19T02:58:58Z")
I am not surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/38 "2025-04-19T03:09:04Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Ya’ll gotta quit looking at the over edited, added to, faked YouTube videos. Outside the US, the current issues with the behaviour of US border officials are mainstream, everyday news. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/39 "2025-04-19T03:10:22Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Foreign undesirables are not welcome to visit the U.S. I would change it slightly: “Foreigners are not welcome to visit the U.S.” Message received. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194/40 "2025-04-19T06:09:33Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > I’m not trying to be pedantic, but according to the article she tried to enter Canada without the correct visa. She was refused entry to Canada and turned back at the border where she was detained trying to reenter the US. Ah, this explains the thing that puzzled me. Normally there is no passport or visa check by CBP when leaving the US. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-visiting-the-us/1017194.md?page=3)