Unsafe for foreigners (or well anyone) to travel to US catchall thread

[Geisterfahrer]

Depending on how scattered, isn't this very concerning? I'm not sure I would want to go through a process that is marked by scattered stories of arbitrary detention, even if only for hours.

Yes but it's certainly of a piece with attacks on law firms, media, universities and the proof-of-concept disappearances of foreigners that is happening. My current feeling is a reckoning is coming and Trumpian forces will be repudiated. I'm a little lonely on that take on this board and elsewise.

 

[superrific]

I'm a little lonely on that take on this board and elsewise.

Well, you have a point. The problem is that your take is based on nothing -- like all takes here, which are purely speculative. Difference is, we've been burned so many times in the past by the "someone will stop him" take. So many times Trump should have had a reckoning, somehow it didn't happen. The Supreme Court's opinion last summer was pretty much the capstone of the government's inability (in many cases for lack of desire) to do remove the menace. So it's not that people think he can't be stopped; it's more that people don't want to get their hopes dashed again.

So I think the loneliness is less about, "here are the specific reasons I think you're wrong" and more like, "The refs will always enable Duke to make a run in the second half and close the gap if they are far behind."

 

[hedge]

Plus, people tend to broadcast a lot about themselves when travelling, in my opinion. I don't think it's too hard to pick out the liberals and conservatives as people disembark.

 

[Geisterfahrer]

Well, you have a point. The problem is that your take is based on nothing -- like all takes here, which are purely speculative. Difference is, we've been burned so many times in the past by the "someone will stop him" take. So many times Trump should have had a reckoning, somehow it didn't happen. The Supreme Court's opinion last summer was pretty much the capstone of the government's inability (in many cases for lack of desire) to do remove the menace. So it's not that people think he can't be stopped; it's more that people don't want to get their hopes dashed again.

So I think the loneliness is less about, "here are the specific reasons I think you're wrong" and more like, "The refs will always enable Duke to make a run in the second half and close the gap if they are far behind."

It’s not based on nothing. Biden did win, after all. I don’t believe he’ll be held to account legally or criminally but I do think there will be a correction based the historical American pendulum, and the fact that his 2025 policies are proving far more unpopular than anything he’s ever done. They’re flooding the zone because they know there’s a time stamp on what they can accomplish. I happen to think their maximalist approach is shrinking the distance to the correction.

 

[Zoo_View]

It’s not based on nothing. Biden did win, after all. I don’t believe he’ll be held to account legally or criminally but I do think there will be a correction based the historical American pendulum, and the fact that his 2025 policies are proving far more unpopular than anything he’s ever done. They’re flooding the zone because they know there’s a time stamp on what they can accomplish. I happen to think their maximalist approach is shrinking the distance to the correction.

Geister,

Your optimism gives me hope - you’re reasonable, logical, thoughtful, and not a rightist, leftist, or centrist.

I hope you’re correct.

I worry our “land-over-people” based system (Senate and Electoral College - and House given that lesser-populated states are hugely over represented in the US House) will continue to give power to a minority.

Until we fix the Constitution, we’re likely fucked.

 

[Geisterfahrer]

Geister,

Your optimism gives me hope - you’re reasonable, logical, thoughtful, and not a rightist, leftist, or centrist.

I hope you’re correct.

I worry our “land-over-people” based system (Senate and Electoral College - and House given that lesser-populated states are hugely over represented in the US House) will continue to give power to a minority.

Until we fix the Constitution, we’re likely fucked.

It’s like the farmer says in the Taoist parable: Maybe.

 

[Kraftyheel89]

I had a joint citizen of Canada and USA ask me today how much it woukd cost he and wife to cash in their IRA's here and move back to Canada.

He is a retired scientist, has worked and lived in U.S. about 30 years. No idea how long ago he became dual citizen, decades for sure.

They are afraid to visit family in Canada and try to return. Very afraid. They have about 2.5 Million in IRA's here. I told him he would lose or pay about $1,050,000 in taxes (40%+). I also told him he would lose tax deferral on balance. Finally, though the USD is plummeting. the exchange rate to CAD (Canadian Dollars) is still terrible.

They are actually still considering it. That is how bad and pathetic our Trump Monarchy has become. I have no respect for these spineless, gullible, ignorant MAGAts. None of you are Republicans or "proud" Americans. Stop the facade.

 

[nycfan]

I had a joint citizen of Canada and USA ask me today how much it woukd cost he and wife to cash in their IRA's here and move back to Canada.

He is a retired scientist, has worked and lived in U.S. about 30 years. No idea how long ago he became dual citizen, decades for sure.

They are afraid to visit family in Canada and try to return. Very afraid. They have about 2.5 Million in IRA's here. I told him he would lose or pay about $1,050,000 in taxes (40%+). I also told him he would lose tax deferral on balance. Finally, though the USD is plummeting. the exchange rate to CAD (Canadian Dollars) is still terrible.

They are actually still considering it. That is how bad and pathetic our Trump Monarchy has become. I have no respect for these spineless, gullible, ignorant MAGAts. None of you are Republicans or "proud" Americans. Stop the facade.

Yeah, I wouldn’t sign off on that plan at this point. but I understand the travel risk concern if he or his wife is of a background that might draw negative attention.

 

[altmin]

American Citizen rounded up by ICE. Still consider it an overreaction?

U.S.-born American citizen under ICE hold in Florida after driving from Georgia

Juan Carlos Gomez-Lopez is being held even though a county judge found his birth certificate “authentic” and said there wasn’t reason to consider him an “illegal alien.”

www.nbcnews.com

A U.S.-born American citizen was being detained at the request of immigration authorities Thursday despite an advocate showing his U.S. birth certificate in court and a county judge finding no reason for him to be considered an “illegal alien” who illegally entered Florida.

Juan Carlos Gomez-Lopez, 20, was arrested Thursday evening by Florida Highway Patrol and charged under a state immigration law that has been temporarily blocked since early this month. Details of Gomez-Lopez’s arrest and detention were first reported by the Florida Phoenix news site.


After inspecting his birth certificate, Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans said during the hearing that “this is indeed an authentic document,” but that she did not have jurisdiction beyond finding no probable cause for the charge.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s role is to enforce immigration laws that generally apply to noncitizens. American citizens are protected under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution from unreasonable search and seizure, arrest and detention.

Nonetheless, he remains detained locally at ICE’s request, said Thomas Kennedy, a spokesperson at the Florida Immigrant Coalition who attended Thursday’s hearing.

“Everything tracks for him being sent to an ICE detention center,” he told NBC News in a phone interview.

NBC News has reached out to state and federal authorities for comment.

 

[Zoo_View]

No Murican is named Juan Carlos Gomez-Lopez.

Deport his ass!

 

[wmheel1287]

Yes but it's certainly of a piece with attacks on law firms, media, universities and the proof-of-concept disappearances of foreigners that is happening. My current feeling is a reckoning is coming and Trumpian forces will be repudiated. I'm a little lonely on that take on this board and elsewise.

The current pace of erosion of checks and balances tells me this administration aims to never allow a vote to take place for that reckoning.