In a revealing account of the emotional and practical challenges faced by travelers, a British couple's planned trip to Boston illustrates a larger trend of hesitation among international tourists. Last year, while Joe Biden was serving as the President of the United States, Jenny and her husband excitedly booked a visit to Boston for June 2025. The couple had previously traveled to New York City and were eager to explore more of the country. However, following Donald Trump's re-election in November, Jenny noted that a shadow began to loom over their travel plans.

Since Trump assumed office, reports have surfaced from various U.S. border points documenting alarming incidents where tourists were detained and interrogated. Some individuals with work permits found themselves sent to ICE detention centers, while even a U.S. citizen reportedly faced expulsion from the country. These unsettling accounts have been echoed by numerous travelers who experienced wrongful deportations, leading many to reconsider their travel intentions.

According to data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office, international visits to the United States plummeted by 11.6% in March compared to the same month the previous year. Jenny expressed her growing discomfort, stating, I had a feeling that I really didnt want to give this new America our money. It wasn't until she learned about the detainments at airports and borders that her concerns intensified, prompting her to cancel their planned trip.

In response to an online inquiry about traveling to the U.S. amidst the current administrations policies, a multitude of individuals shared their experiences. While some reported no issues when entering and exiting the country, others voiced their anxieties about interactions with border officials. Many participants noted that these challenges had been longstanding rather than new developments.

For Jenny, it was deeply unsettling to witness reports of detainments and deportations occurring in what is often referred to as the land of the free. Following her decision to cancel their travel plans, she mentioned feeling a sense of relief. Weve now cancelled the flights and hotel and are heading to Crete for a week instead. Well visit Boston when Trump is long gone, she said, highlighting a shift in their travel aspirations.

Interestingly, several travelers who recently visited the U.S. reported smoother experiences at the border. For instance, Sarah, a 39-year-old financial services professional from Hertfordshire, took her seven-year-old daughter to Miami, the Everglades, and the Disney and Universal parks in Orlando this spring. We were a little nervous about going, given recent coverage, she admitted. In a lighthearted moment, Sarah recalled her daughter asking, Are we still going to America now that man is back? upon hearing about Trumps re-election.

Upon arriving at the airport, Sarah and her family encountered the usual gruffness of border officials but found their journey uneventful. My husband and I discussed how were probably quite privileged at the border compared to some other families, she noted, reflecting on the varying experiences travelers can have based on their backgrounds.

However, Sarah also pondered whether her worries were disproportionate, influenced by media coverage of rare or extreme cases. As someone who tends to rely on data, she tried not to let the alarming stories overshadow their preparations, emphasizing that they had completed all necessary visa and paperwork. Ultimately, her daughter enjoyed their time in Florida, exclaiming upon arrival in Miami, The cars are massive!

On the other hand, foreign nationals with U.S. partners express heightened nervousness about traveling to the United States. Paul*, a 44-year-old French citizen living near the Swiss border, is in a long-distance relationship with his fiance, who resides in Detroit. He plans to fly from Paris to Chicago in June but harbors significant apprehension. I am very uneasy about traveling because I fear being denied entryor worse, being detained, for whatever reasonand never being able to set foot in the U.S. again, he articulated. With his plans to marry in the U.S. this autumn, the stakes of his travel have never been higher.

Paul acknowledged a potential silver lining to the heightened scrutiny at U.S. borders, suggesting that the recent incidents could bring attention to longstanding troubling practices. Rightfully, were all appalled at these recent stories, he said, expressing hope that this scrutiny could prompt a broader reflection on how border authorities have historically treated certain groups.

Alex, a 39-year-old Dutch civil servant of Peruvian descent, recounted his own unsettling experiences while traveling to Peru in 2017. During a layover in Miami, he faced a very angry interrogation from a border official who scrutinized his computer and books, questioning whether he was a communist. I think it was intimidation for its own sake, Alex reflected. He admitted, In all honesty, Im quite scared to travel to the U.S., but at the same time, I cant help but feel a strong irony about this whole situation. Europeans now face treatment by the U.S. that was previously reserved for folks from developing countries.

As international travel continues to evolve in the context of U.S. politics, the experiences shared by these travelers underscore the complex emotions and considerations that many face when planning trips to America. With the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policy and border security, it remains clear that the implications of traveling to the U.S. extend far beyond mere logistics.