Worries over trips to the US: ‘What if they google me?’

German tourists being deported, French professors unable to enter the country due to criticism of Israel, a student detained for an opinion piece on Gaza… Staff and students planning to travel to the United States soon are very worried. In response, the university held two walk-in sessions, one for students and one for staff.

In a small room in the Sanders building, twelve staff members gather on Tuesday afternoon with international coordinator Ilse Schenk from Human Resources and a tactical advisor from the Department of Integrated Security. All of them have plans to travel to Trump’s country soon. They mainly have questions about what they should convey at border control regarding their work.

Fear

A PhD candidate who will attend a scientific summer camp wonders whether she should describe her research as ‘health economics’ or whether she should be honest and say it focuses on transgender issues. “What if they Google me and find out?”

Another researcher notes that she will be going to the United States for a conference at the end of June. “Being held up at the airport is my biggest fear.” A colleague travelling with her is ‘quite critical’ on social media, while another posts a lot about diversity, she explains.

Be honest

‘Always be honest’ is the most important advice from Schenk, but they cannot say for sure whether that will lead to problems. “There are known incidents where lhbti+ individuals dressed in drag have been sent back, but at the same time, a million people enter the U.S. every day, and it is not always a problem”, says her colleague.

Further along in the Sanders building, the walk-in for students feels more like a presentation than a conversation. Approximately forty students listen in via Teams, while only a few are present in the room. Maaike van Gerven from the International Office warns them: “We don’t have the answers to all questions. Stay informed and assess the pros and cons.”

She points out to the students the grace period of their student visa. This means that they can stay in America for a maximum of thirty days after their exchange ends. “Do not travel abroad during these thirty days, as there is no guarantee you will be allowed to return.” The travel advisory remains green, Van Gerven emphasises.

However, she advises students with an ‘x’ as their gender marker in their passport to avoid travelling to the US. “They only accept people with an M and an F in their passport.” She also recommends having a return ticket before departure to assure border controllers that they will leave. “And make sure you have all documents ready, be straightforward and honest when they ask questions”, Van Gerven urges the students.

Iranian students

Meanwhile, at the staff walk-in, three people from RSM BV discuss their travel plans. One of them expresses disbelief that they are having this conversation. They plan to travel to the US in August with colleagues and students from the programme. he main concern involves the nationality of two students: they are Iranian. The question arises: ” Should we let them go, or would it be better to take them to another country? And wouldn’t that be discrimination?”

Schenk emphasises that making an exception for a student is not discrimination if there is a real risk, even if it’s based on nationality. Her colleague points out the advantage of having ‘safety in numbers’. “If you go as a whole group of students, including two Iranians, it is easy to explain what you are doing.” Unfortunately, all students are travelling to America independently, so that advantage does not exist.

Too woke

In applying for a visa or ESTA, social media information is now also asked for, Schenk notes. It’s unclear whether the consulate will conduct its own Google searches. A social media check existed even before Trump, she explains. However, new instructions for the controllers specify looking for statements deemed ‘too woke’ or negative sentiments regarding the United States and Israel.

The colleague of Integral Safety advises the attending colleagues to thoroughly search their phones and laptops for sensitive documents. “If you scroll through your photo album and certain pictures stand out to you, they will probably stand out to border control as well.” He cites photos from an anti-Trump demonstration as an example. Empty phones and laptops can be borrowed from EUR. “And what if they ask why I have a completely empty laptop, isn’t that suspicious?” asks the PhD candidate going to the summer camp. “No, just say: that is business policy”, replies the Integral Safety officer.

Schenk adds a disclaimer to all advice. “Things are quiet on this front for now, but that can change quickly. It is very unpredictable.”