Having to explain how you ended up in a death camp in El Salvador when you came to visit legally as a tourist.
this post was submitted on 02 Jun 2025
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Asklemmy
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Dude. We fear this as pasty-white Canadians. I cannot imagine what the fear should be like with less Republican-esque looks.
Trying to create an answer that is more universal than our current political situation.
It's too damn big. There isn't any such thing as visiting the USA. You can see a little tiny bit, and what you choose will color your viewpoint.
It's 50+ countries in a trenchcoat. Pan-Americanism, in the US context, is laughable at best and absolutely a shambling nightmare at worst. There's several reasons why our government sucks. But the sheer size of this fucking empire is the top of the list.
Before the end of the century, it's going to Balkanize hard.
The USA.
*Gestures broadly*
Everything happening right now.
cuz like 99% of what you spend will go to some rich fuk
It's risky if you're any of the following:
- Black/brown, or from a non-white country
- Queer (ESPECIALLY if you're trans/NB, I left because it got that bad)
- A woman
- Disabled
- Have made left-leaning posts on social media
Even if you're none of those, there's always the chance that your next trip to the mall or store will become the next major event in your life. There's also the slim chance that you might get an all-expenses paid trip to El Salvador. Don't do it, it's not worth it.
Basically if you're anyone except a white cishet man, then don't go there. Even then, you probably don't wanna go there.
Vaguely gestures at everything.
You need me to pick just one?
yeah. 2025 is just not the best timing for that activity.
-
Spending your vacation money in the US is sending some of that money to Donald Dump and friends.
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Seeing how tourists have actually been detained by ICE, it's not even a hypothetical, I'd say the chances of it happening to you are at the very least nontrivial. Given the choice of countries for my vacation, I choose the one where the chances of that are, in fact, trivial.
You could get put in jail for no reason and risk being sent to a concentration camp.
Dude just open a newspaper it's plainly obvious why not.
To not support USA financially
Being detained upon arrival and immediately being sent back (if you're lucky) is just the start.
- Gun violence
- Border control and immigration
- Unaffordable healthcare
interestingly, (from the countries I lived in), you get travel insurance for practically nothing. then if you have an accident or need healthcare while travelling you get it all paid, no deductibles or anything.
so foreign tourists in the US actually have affordable healthcare.
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Bit of a shithole innit
It's dangerous. People are a 35 times more likely to be killed by guns than my country.
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Having insufficiently pale skin.
It really depends on what part of the USA. New Mexico, New York,texas,etc are very different experiences. Some good some bad
Trump
Guns
Trump supporters with guns
ICE
And CBP. If you're anything but a white male, they don't like you.
It's not /just/ about colour. Plenty of white people are being detained illegally. The only way to be certain not to be illegally detained in the US is not to visit the US. Sadly, not an option for many people who are already there.
Even if you're a white male, it's safer to be wealthy just in case.
gestures around broadly wellll
I guess if you look brownish, it can be a risky endeavour, depending on where you want to visit exactly. But what do I know, I've never been there
If you're white or have a posh Northern European accent, then you'll probably be ok.
If you're brown and have a Southern or Eastern European accent, then you'll be considered "Mexican". And possibly mistreated as the hired help or favored slave.
If you're black, you may get shot by police or persecuted by ICE.
It can happen to anyone, even someone married to an Australian police officer who married a man in the army.
I'd recommend wiping your phone before going. And some of our busiest airports have gotten more dangerous lately.
Other than that, you'll be fine.
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Hmmmmmm
- Well, if your not Hitler yourself, you will be put in a KZ.
- if youre a Woman. KZ.
- You have a Gun? KZ.
- You dont have a gun? KZ.
- Youre black? KZ.
- You have porn on your Phone? KZ.
- They suspect youre a terrorist bc you dont have porn? KZ.
- You have Money? KZ so they can cease it.
- You dont have Money? KZ bc poor.
- You have long hair? Youre trans, KZ.
- You have short hair? Trans man, KZ.
- You go to a mens Toilet? KZ.
- You go to a womens Toilet? KZ.
- You go to a Toilet with no Indication if its Mens or Womens? Non binary, KZ.
Want more?
What's KZ?
It's a German abbreviation for "Konzentrationslager" meaning concentration camp. Not sure that's what they meant, though.
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The current policies in place by the trump administration make it a little more difficult to visit. Generally it is fine to visit. I have visited int he last and enjoyed the experience.
I recommend not traveling here. If you must, stick to greater urban areas and national parks. Stay out of the interior! Rural and outlying exurban areas could be dangerous for anyone who doesn't appear to be white, English-speaking (but not too educated), and completely conforming to conservative values.
Bruh. This is outright fear-mongering.
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Disclaimer: this depends a lot on where you are travelling from, I'm just relaying things I've heard from friends
If you are travelling with women, they (and you) are likely to be questioned to check for "sex trafficking" reasons. You are likely to have to strip for no other reason than the officer wanting to (regradless of the previous point) If you don't pass as white, or dare speak a latin language, you are likely to face hostility. The food is bad
Hey now. I actually like pineapple on pizza.
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Are you fucking kidding me? JUST FUCKING LOOK AT IT.
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