I have a coworker travelling there in July. Unwillingly, I’ve been more or less been kept in the loop what preparing the trip implies and I’m pretty horrified.
Up until now, these are some of demands made (and accepted):
- full disclosure and acess to social networks
- criminal record
- recent photo, perfectly groomed and in the attire to be used to travel there. No deviations will be tolerated from the supplied photo.
- complete list of possible identifying marks on the body, with pictures (tattoos, moles, melanistic spots, scars, etc)
- name and social networks of parents, siblings and other close relatives, including children.
The person is separated with two children; this is causing a lot of friction.
- has already been warned an interview of up to two hours will be held upon arrival.
The person speaks broken english at best.
- disclosure of place of employment and other connections to public organizations
They are connected to a local soccer club and a youth sports association.
To add to all of this, this isn’t a standard caucasian human but someone who has looks that can be taken for someone from the middle east, slightly darker shade of skin included.
Flying from southern europe straight to Florida.
I’m concerned. I would not go, full stop. They have people waiting there for them but nonetheless. Considering the heated state of affairs, it is something I consider of not easily to overlook risk.
Realistically, most people entering as tourists need to be concerned with CBP asking for unlocked access to your phone, which will disappear into a back room for a few minutes while they presumably steal all your credentials. The broader scare stories about detention, interrogation, and deportation are really very rare.
I have some (stupid) non-white-passing family that have been travelling to the US (including Florida) regularly and they have had zero issues.
I would absolutely not go. Full stop. But when you look at the real numbers, tourist entry into the US isn’t down all that much and most people who desire to go don’t have any issues with immigration.
You used to hear about needing a burner phone when visiting China, that it is now also required to visit the US is insane.
They probably won’t let you in if you bring a burner phone to USA
What is a burner phone? A phone with no direct association with your name? A prepaid plan?
I’ve mentioned this in the thread: what would be the reaction if someone arrived there with no electronics on them? And if further stated they did not intended to buy any for their stay? What could happen?
Honestly they would probably just back-track you because you’ll be more suspicious. Idk I’m just theory crafting but customs can look up employment and other data instantly, idk what else
You mean my civilian public identity data?
Let’s speak about me now: I have no social media presence and I like it like that. I pay my taxes, I drive a 20+ years car. I’m boring and I enjoy it as it is.
Someone telling me I seem suspicious because I have no electronics and no interest in using it would be gold.
Actual event: I was once stopped for speeding. The police pulling me up asked me if I hadn’t seen the FB post warning for the speed radar. And I bluntly put it that I had no account on the network. Their face was priceless. I got fined for speeding, fair, but that was that. Social networks are not official communication channels. They want to be, but they are not.
Anything could happen. To be totally honest, most Americans, myself included, have never been outside of the country, so we don’t know.
If I had to speculate based on the news, the fact that he isn’t white, doesn’t speak English well, and may have no electronics/ questionable electronics, all adds up to a high likelihood of him being detained for an indeterminate amount of time, and potentially being deported to somewhere that no one wants to be.
The phone part I wasn’t aware. There’s another reason to never keep sensible info in a phone and commit all accesses to memory.
Don’t take your phone with you. Put your sensitive information and credentials into Bitwarden. Buy a cheap smartphone from the U.S., install Bitwarden and use it. When leaving, log out of Bitwarden, delete the app, reset the phone and leave it behind.
I am not going anywhere.
But you made me wonder. What would be the reaction if someone went there and not carried a cellphone nor any other electronic equipment? And now I’m thinking about my own personal use of it. I can survive without internet for long bouts and my most important credentials are commited to memory, along with important numbers.
What could happen if someone just arrived at the gates with two book, a notebook and perhaps a couple of mechanical pencils and a pen?
My lawyers at my university say this behavior will get you detained. Really making it look like you have something to hide.
the phone part also means YOU are exposed and documented by the US fascists to the extent they have any messaging or email history with you on their phone. And everyone else they’ve messaged.
If i ever goto the USA again I’m taking a spare phone i have in my draw.
It’ll have nothing on it except for apps I absolutely need.