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I would like to plan on a trip from the US to Ireland/Scotland/England. However, now with the media shining a light on ICE (please nobody make this political, facts only) procedures, I'm concerned I might have problems returning to the US. Yes, I'm brown. But I'm a born US citizen. My ancestors just happened to be born on what is present day TX, AZ, CO,NM, etc. So we were the first "Americans." But, I'm concerned with what's going on and being able to return. How realistic are my concerns? I'm hearing horror stories, but I don't work at an airport or customs, so these stories may only be a small percentage of existing racial profiling.
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of what to expect when returning?
I'd like to reiterate, please don't make this political. I just need first hand experiences from people that work in the travel business so I can plan accordingly or so I know to postpone my travel plans.
Mods, if this post violates any rules, please block. Thank you.

Don’t work in travel, but travel a lot.

Do you have a US passport? If not, apply right away. Sometimes the wait is long.

If you have a US passport, you won’t have a problem returning to the US.

Usually, the immigration officer, who may well be a person of color, will look at you, and the picture in the passport, and say, "Welcome home."

I hear you. I'd like to travel abroad, but worry about returning, and I'm not brown! So if you are, then I completely understand your concerns.

A couple of things I'd suggest... whatever countries you'll be traveling in, put the phone number to that country's U.S. consulate in your phone before you depart the U.S. If you run into trouble abroad, you're not scrambling to reach help.

Are you going to work with a travel agent for your trip? If you weren't planning on it, then I would, just because it's one more person's contact who might be able to help you when abroad if something happens before your return.

Ireland/Northern Ireland was one of the best trips we ever took. It is oh so incredibly beautiful - I've been to Scotland and England, too, but Ireland was just magical!

Always make a couple of copies of your passport to keep in other travel bags, such as suitcase and backpack.

And I'll respectfully disagree with formerpeopleperson about always being able to return if you have your passport. There are stories out there where people tried to return to the U.S., and were detained. Chances are, your return to U.S. customs will be a non-event, but you should be prepared, especially if you're on any social media and are vocal about geopolitical issues.

And yes, if you don't have a passport, get moving on it now, even if your travel is not to commence for many months!

Yes, I have a passport, but it's expired. Thats first on my list to renew. I'm also going to get a Real ID in the next few weeks. We're planning for the first 2 weeks of December. I've lived overseas in the past, so all logistics like passport etc. I already know about. My only concern is being racially profiled and having difficulty getting back into the country because I'm Mexican descent. But thank you anyway.

Ooops sorry. Wrong thread.

[This message edited by BoundaryBuilder at 3:39 AM, Monday, May 12th]

American citizens have no problems returning to the US.
My WH works for a huge global company, none of the employees have any problems,ever.

Number4, thank you for the great advice. I hadn't even thought of some of these. I'll definitely do this. Especially copies of the passport and consulate numbers in my phone. I already know to log off all of my social media. I may even delete the apps on my phone until I complete my travel. M also only speaking in English while en route back home. I'm applying for my new passport in about 2 weeks when I get paid.
1girlsmom, do you or your husband work in travel? Also, is he Mexican-American?

My partner has been a permanent resident for almost 35 years. We flew into SFO about two months ago and he was detained for approximately 40 mins. Was not asked any additional questions, just his documents returned and we left. No explanation.

He is from further south than Mexico and not of Latin descent, but brown skinned.

Similar conversation with a friend of ours. He is from Mexico and permanent resident of almost 40 years. Wiped clean his social media, detained for about 2 hours.

AnnieOakley,
Thank you for the response. My previous passport was a government passport. Had it not expired, I would have had no concerns whatsoever. However, I cannot use it anymore and will be applying for a regular passport.
I'm Mexican-American and very much look it. Obviously with English being my first language, I have no accent, other than a Chicago one. But I'm reading all these horrible news stories. So I am very much concerned. I've been planning to go to Europe for several months now in December. So I'll be a little disappointed if I have to postpone it. But better to postpone it than to have worse consequences. Again, thank you for responding. I'm hoping to hear more from some travel folks or POC that recently traveled overseas and back. I have this wonderful friend. She's so pale she almost glows in the dark. Bless her heart, she doesn't have a racist bone in her body. She once commented, "There's no more racism in the military!" Every POC first paused, and then we all busted out laughing. Her experience is limited to her very Caucasion experiences. Since she didnt hang out with racists, and she wasn't one, how could she ever experience it first hand? KWIM. We loved her for the fact that she didn't surround herself with horrible people, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. It's the same thing for travlers who aren't a POC right now. Of course they wouldn't be profiled. I cannot afford to be naive.

No he isn't but the guys exiting and entering the US are Mexican, Peruvian, Ukrainian, Brazilian, Chinese, Japanese, African, guys from Singapore, Israel, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Iran...
As long as the paperwork is in order- no problems.
We've never heard of any American guys having a problem re-entering the US.
Even recently, whether they are American born or from other countries & have obtained citizenship.
My husband was detained for entry into Canada once even though he had all his employment paperwork, passport & all documents required.

I was returning from Canada one time. You clear US immigration in Canada.

The officer asked me where I was born. I answered "New York", which was in my passport. He asked, "Where do the Knicks play basketball?" I had left New York when I was four. I had no idea where the Knicks played basketball.

I said, "Oh no, I’m going to be stuck in this frozen wasteland forever because I don’t know where the Knicks play." (This was in Edmonton. I think it was 40 below.) (I love Canada)

He laughed and waved me on.

One million people enter the US every day, citizens and visitors. 42% of citizens are "minorities." A US citizen cannot be denied entry. Period. Can you be detained? Sure, for good reason. Don’t have drugs or bombs in your suitcase. Don’t refuse to answer questions, should any be asked. Don’t be a smartass.

Might you run into a jerk at immigration? Maybe, but there’s a long line behind you and the officers are just trying to get through their shift.

Worry about being struck by lightning, instead. More likely than being detained.

[This message edited by Formerpeopleperson at 7:06 PM, Monday, May 12th]

Although I'm not a person of color, we are having the same discussions in my household because my son is transgender. All of his documents align, and his gender on his passport is male, not non-binary. But still, he does not consider it safe to leave the country, even as a 12th generation citizen. None of us know what policy changes could be implemented overnight that would result in an invalidated passport.

[This message edited by BraveSirRobin at 1:47 AM, Tuesday, May 13th]

Can you apply for Global Entry? Then you mostly interact with machines.

FPP, are you a person of color? This time that you were returning from Canada, was it within the past 3 months? For over 20 years, o traveled internationally at LEAST 1x/year. Now, I have legitimate concerns as someone of Mexican descent who speaks Spanish occasionally because I'm not used to being afraid to speak Spanish (I'm a polyglot).
Pippin, I hadn't even thought of that. I will check and see if we qualify for Global Entry! Thats definitely going to be added to my checklist.
BSR, I completely understand. I'm not a conspiracy theorist by any means, but the amount of craziness right now on the news does make me want to research first before traveling for my own safety...and convenience, or inconvenience. KWIM!

I hope you get to go and safe travels. Be sure to see a panto if you are in England round Christmas! They are hilarious!

[This message edited by Pippin at 2:53 AM, Tuesday, May 13th]

Pippin, Yes we are going in December if all goes well. What is a panto?