Edited to add: Thank you all, you’ve given me food for thought. I did buy trip insurance (months ago), but I did not opt for ‘cancel for any reason.’ At this time, I’m continuing with my plans and if I need to make a change last minute I will. Can’t say the same for my buddy. He needs to do what feels right for him. We were only traveling together for 5 days, the rest of the trip I’m on a bike tour solo.
This may wind up in the political board, but I need to bounce stuff off the hive mind.
I have an upcoming trip (July) to the Netherlands. I’m a US citizen (born here, not naturalized, and my parents also born here).
I am clean and have never been in trouble.
However…my travel buddy is concerned (also born here, not naturalized, and parents also born here, clean, no trouble)…
He’s brought up what ifs - what if…a customs official takes your phone, and detains you, simply because. What if…tensions run higher by July…what if…what if…
I hadn’t really given much thought to those things, I was more focused on being a calm, courteous, conscientious traveler (which I am in the best of times). And enjoying the Netherlands.
I’m fully aware that what ifs are all around, everywhere, all the time.
That said…what are YOUR thoughts about traveling internationally and being able to safely arrive back home these days?
I have zero concerns. We are traveling to Europe in June and haven’t given it a second thought. My D is traveling in May for work and pleasure and I have no worries for her either.
Can you get global entry?That way you have no reason to interact with anyone. We are traveling internationally next week and I have not been concerned but I am concerned for others who are not white and born in the us
My employer has had a policy that one must use a travel laptop and phone for international travel if they have to do any work while traveling. Nothing can be stored locally. Company cloud only. CBP can ask to inspect your devices at any time.
If he is that concerned, he may want to use a factory clean phone and not do anything with it that could be “suspicious”. Same with laptop computers if he travels with one. I.e. like @BunsenBurner 's company travel policy mentioned above.
If you are US Citizen - born or naturalized- with US passport, you will be allowed to enter US no matter what…
We had ridiculous experience couple years ago in Iceland. We were flying from France to US with connection in Iceland. My daughter under 18 at that point got a lottery ticket = computer decided to check her luggage for drugs. It was ridiculous. She could not be searched without parents (I needed to use bathroom…) , but she was old enough to fly alone… They were not interested in any other backpacks, only hers… We barely made the flight (connection was like 40 minutes). I asked the guy, what theoretically would happen if they would find drugs? Would she be forced to stay in Iceland? Or where would they send her (she is US citizen)? He was not sure
Edited to fix country. It was Iceland. Ireland was at another trip
I am a white, US-born US citizen and I once had trouble crossing the border from Canada because a border agent thought my name sounded fishy. I was separated from my traveling companion and detained in a little room, and the agent asked me to recite the pledge of allegiance (not kidding!!) and was very suspicious when I could not recite it (because I went to hippie schools where this was not recited). I eventually convinced them I was a genuine US citizen because I could recite a lot of obscure state capitals.
Wow! You had quite an experience. We’ve never experienced any problems crossing border from Canada (in car) or at any US airports. It was always big smile and “Welcome back.”
But if you have US passport, they have to let you in… You have no other place to go (unless you have another passport.)
Yes, I was confident I would eventually be allowed to enter. For me, it was just a weird experience. I would have been more worried if I had been detained due to being a member of a politically inconvenient category of people.
H and I and the kids + partners will be in France in October. I just bought “cancel for any reason” travel insurance just in case. I’m not all that worried, but things do happen, and my family chats are full of my-so-polite things about the admin.
I doubt my British relatives will be heading over here anytime soon, though.
The partner of one my nieces was born in the US to an undocumented woman from Central America. I’m sure they are very careful about documentation. They have a sibling with a green card - no idea if they will experience any trouble, but preparation is the key.
If I was going to Europe I would not wear a certain red baseball cap that is popular with some here in the US. In other words I would try to be as inconspicuous as possible.
I hope this post is not flagged, trying to be realistic.
He was not sure 