Australians cancel US trips over border crackdown concerns

Australians are cancelling trips to the US as a border crackdown frightens international visitors.

Combined with a weak Australian Dollar, some travellers have stated online they are rescheduling or cancelling.

The concern comes after two Germans – who hadn’t booked any accommodation – were strip searched and detained at Honolulu Airport, held in custody overnight and then sent packing back to Europe.

“Are there any other Aussies that are thinking about cancelling their trip to the US?” TikTok user Remi Meli posted online this week.

Ms Meli says she plans to see New York in December, but reports of travellers being detained had made her think twice.

Executive orders from Donald Trump are forcing border officials to implement “enhanced vetting and screening for all foreign nationals intending to enter, or already present in, the United States”.

Various Australian academics have spoken up about cancelling trips to conferences for fear of being detained or refused entry.

Australian immigration lawyers have issued public statements advising travellers to print out bank statements and have detailed itineraries on hand.

Disposable burner phones are also advisable, so personal devices are not thoroughly invaded.

A string of notable border incidents have unfolded since Trump’s executive order.

A Lebanese doctor with a US visa and a job at a Rhode Island hospital was denied entry.

Europeans are telling media agencies they have been stopped at US borders and held at detention facilities for weeks, despite holding tourist or work visas.

“I know it’s very unlikely … still enough time for me to cancel my trip and reschedule or go somewhere else entirely. So is that the consensus, is that what people are doing?” Ms Mali said in her post.

Multiple commenters on Ms Mali’s post – which has garnered 3800 comments – said they had rebooked, but many others said they had no dramas at the border.

“I was supposed to go to America in March and cancelled. Going to Europe in October instead now. I had a lot of friends in America saying it wasn’t safe because I’m trans,” one person said.

“I cancelled my trip that was in 2 weeks time. All of my friends over there have advised to stay away. It’s just not worth the risk,” said another.

“I cancelled. Friends that live over there and work in the airports are saying it’s getting bad. They will stop you and search laptops and phones,” said another.

Plenty of people are saying they had no issues upon arriving in the US, and concern about the situation was scaremongering.

“Don’t cancel. I was scared of the same issue we got through fine. Answer their questions honestly, know where you’re going/staying, how long you are staying for etc. Best experience. I want to go back!,” one woman said.

“I’m an Australian and I just travelled to NY and LA a few weeks ago and was fine,” said another.

Figures released by the US government earlier this month show overseas visitor numbers to the US fell more than 11 per cent in March compared to the year before, and were down 3 per cent for the first three months of the year.

The official Australian government travel advice notes approved Electronic System for Travel Authorisation documents and visas do not guarantee entry.

“An approved ESTA or valid visa doesn’t guarantee entry to the United States. US Customs and Border Protection officials at the port of entry will determine your eligibility,” the advice says.