I’m curious to hear if anyone has had issues returning to the US since Trump’s return to the White House. I have heard rumors of people’s phones being looked through by TSA agents, looking for anti inflammatory content.
I ask this as I’m trying to drum up the courage to travel in the age of Trump.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8286 posts
We’ll find out when we come back in early June. With a direct flight from Europe, we won’t run into U.S. TSA personnel, but will have CBP staff after we use the Global Entry terminals. We’re going on our trip, and not letting the situation keep us from doing so.
For more than 25 years of returns to the U.S., we’ve never gotten a particularly warm, “Welcome Home!” greeting, and it’s often felt pretty surly, but as U.S. citizens, we’re going on vacation, and then we’re coming home, without question.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3081 posts
Please see this caution from the webmaster about posting questions on this topic: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/should-americans-go-to-europe-a-friendly-reminder-about-political-posts
This post covers the phone issue (TL:DR, it's not TSA) https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/is-tsa-taking-our-phones-at-security-to-check-them-for-anti-trump-content
Posted by
Colorado, USA
19 posts
Just returned from 2 weeks in Poland. It's the fastest I've ever been through DIA & no checks.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9189 posts
My entry through the global entry line in Seattle this week took all of 10 seconds. Walk up to the machine, have the scan done, receive the message to continue on. I noticed absolutely no difference from any other time entering the US.
I don't think you need to operate on an assumption of fear. No matter how one considers current political events, border entry, at least for those with Global Entry, is unchanged.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23777 posts
I agree with Cyn. That is our experience. Over the years I have had more trouble getting back into the US than anywhere else. The exception would be Cuba. Cuba had its challenges of getting in and out. When the wheels left the tarmac in Havana I felt a great relief for heading home.
Posted by
Freedonia
17069 posts
I flew back into the USA 12 days ago. Global Entry. No difference. Very easy.
The guy sitting next to me on the plane was from Iceland. He went through a regular line. Was done a couple of minutes after me.
Unless you have made threats against the government, aligned yourself with a terrorist group, or will try to smuggle illegal substances into the US, you'll be fine.
Posted by
51 posts
Not Europe, but our experience coming back home from Canada was the same as it ever was.
Posted by
Paris
10696 posts
My entry through the global entry line in Seattle this week took all of 10 seconds.
Same for me in Atlanta yesterday
(We are talking about immigration here anyway, not Customs)
Posted by
Rhode Island, USA
252 posts
We returned last Friday night from two weeks in Slovenia. No issues going over, no political comments while there, and about one minute for two of us to return through Boston together with CBP MPC. He wasn’t concerned with our phones at all.