Is traveling to the United States dangerous these days? Both Berlin and London have updated their travel information for the U.S. to highlight that possessing a U.S. visa or a visa waiver does not guarantee entry, although they stress that it is not a “travel warning”—an advisory against traveling to a specific country.
Three German citizens have been detained in recent days while trying to enter the United States—an issue taken “very seriously”, according to a spokesperson for the German government. The German Foreign Ministry updated its travel advisory on Tuesday, now including a reminder that approval via the U.S. ESTA system or holding a U.S. visa does not automatically guarantee entry into the country.
In one case, a German citizen with a Green Card (permanent residency) was detained last week at Logan Airport in Boston upon returning from Luxembourg. According to family members, he remains in detention. In another case, a 25-year-old German man was stopped while crossing the border from Mexico with his American fiancée in February, Der Spiegel reported. He was detained for two weeks before being sent back to Germany. A 29-year-old woman, also stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border in January, was deported to Germany last week.
Tourists from Germany and other EU countries usually have visa-free access to the U.S. for up to 90 days through the ESTA system, which only requires travelers to notify authorities of their visit.
However, “the final decision on a person’s entry into the United States rests with U.S. border authorities,” a German government spokesperson said Wednesday, adding that the same principle applies to German authorities.
The United Kingdom has also updated its travel advice for citizens heading to the U.S. The latest information for British passport holders, published online by the U.K. Foreign Office and updated on March 14, states that travelers “must comply with all entry conditions, visa requirements, and other access conditions. U.S. authorities set and strictly enforce entry rules. Those who violate the rules may be subject to arrest or detention.” An archived version of the same page from February only stated that “U.S. authorities set and enforce entry rules.”
In early March, British media reported that a British woman was detained for more than 10 days at the U.S. border due to a possible visa violation. The U.K. Foreign Office later confirmed that it was providing assistance to a British citizen detained by American authorities. According to British media, the woman has since returned to the U.K.
The tightening of entry rules, even for European citizens, comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders to strengthen immigration controls, border security, and visa verification procedures since taking office in January.
The German Foreign Ministry has stated that it is investigating whether these recent detentions are isolated cases or part of a broader shift in U.S. policy.
According to The New York Times, “In recent weeks, a flurry of international visitors attempting to enter the United States from other countries have been denied entry at border checkpoints, leading to either deportations to their home countries or days or weeks of detention… The incidents have sparked international concern over what travelers can expect at U.S. border crossings”.
These concerns are prompting many potential tourists, researchers, and artists to postpone trips to the U.S. Some high-profile detentions and deportations suggest an escalation in tactics by immigration authorities, who have been accused of targeting individuals based on their political views or activism. A French space researcher was denied entry to the U.S. this month because his smartphone contained messages critical of the Trump administration’s academic research policies. His name has not been disclosed, but according to Le Monde, he was traveling to attend a conference near Houston. “Freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values we will continue to defend with pride. I will uphold the right of all French researchers to remain faithful to them, while respecting the law,” said Philippe Baptiste, France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, in a statement.
Baptiste also posted on X that he had requested an emergency meeting with other European ministers to develop a plan for protecting academic freedom. “Europe must rise to the occasion to protect research and welcome the talents that can contribute to its success,” he stated.
Another case involves Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian entrepreneur who was detained at the San Diego border while finalizing the process to obtain a legal work visa. She was held for about two weeks. “There was no explanation, no warning. One minute, I was in an immigration office talking to an officer about my work visa, which had been approved months before and allowed me, a Canadian, to work in the U.S.,” she wrote in the Guardian. “The next, I was told to put my hands against the wall, and patted down like a criminal before being sent to an ICE detention center without the chance to talk to a lawyer”.
One of the most well-known cases is Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and lawful permanent U.S. resident with a green card. His arrest by federal agents has raised concerns among First Amendment advocates. The Department of Homeland Security claims it has evidence that Khalil was actively—but not materially—supporting Hamas. Last year, he participated in pro-Palestinian encampments at Columbia University.
Another case involves Badar Khan Suri, a doctoral student at Georgetown University originally from India, who was arrested on Monday night at his home in Arlington, Virginia, by masked agents who claimed his student visa had been revoked. He was accused of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media” and having “close ties to a known or suspected terrorist, a senior advisor to Hamas,” according to Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
Suri’s attorneys have filed a petition for his release, arguing that his detention is unlawful. On Thursday, a judge ordered the Trump administration not to deport Suri until further court rulings.
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen and H-1B visa holder, was detained this month upon arrival at Boston Airport. According to McLaughlin, Alawieh had traveled to Beirut to attend the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Brown University sponsored her visa after offering her a research position. Previously, she held a J-1 visa.
