Starting Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will implement a new regulation requiring all individuals entering or leaving the United States to be photographed. This new regulation also allows U.S. customs officials to capture fingerprints in some cases. These measures are intended to address national security concerns, such as fraudulent use of travel documents. While concerns have been raised, DHS has assured that the data will not be used for “blanket surveillance” and will retain the personal data for up to 75 years. The program is expected to roll out gradually over the next three to five years.
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The article discusses the author’s recent visit to the US, highlighting both the joys of family and travel and the author’s growing reservations about the current political climate. Proposed new regulations by the Trump administration, including invasive social media and family history inquiries for visa applicants from countries like Australia, are a major concern. The author observed the stark changes in the US, including reduced tourism and increased political division, spurred by actions such as the revocation of visas for protestors and the expansion of travel bans. While the author cherishes their connections within the US, they express that, as a tourist, they would opt for a more welcoming and less restrictive destination.
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Under a new proposal, the United States may soon require tourists from dozens of countries, including the UK, to provide a five-year social media history as a condition of entry. This policy, proposed by the Department of Homeland Security, would affect those eligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program. The proposal also includes gathering phone numbers, email addresses, and more family information. Critics are concerned about potential harm to digital rights and longer wait times for ESTA approvals.
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As part of the ongoing immigration crackdown, the United States will now require visitors from countries like the UK to provide their social media history for the past five years. This new policy, deemed mandatory for tourists and visa holders, will be implemented through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). Furthermore, the State Department issued a memo instructing staff to scrutinize visa applicants for involvement in activities like “fact-checking” and content moderation. This follows earlier restrictions barring entry to those deemed to be against free speech, illustrating the administration’s increasing efforts to control who enters the country and what viewpoints are allowed.
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Under consideration by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are new plans that would require all tourists, including those from Britain, to undergo social media screening before entering the United States. This proposed mandate would apply to both visa and non-visa travelers and would necessitate providing social media information from the past five years, along with other personal details such as email addresses, phone numbers, and family information. Currently, the ESTA application requires only an email address, home address, and emergency contact details. These proposed changes are open for public consultation for 60 days, while there have been reports of travelers being denied entry over social media posts and messages.
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According to recent data from Statistics Canada, the number of Canadian residents returning from the U.S. in August experienced a significant decline, falling by 29.7% to 2.9 million trips. Simultaneously, U.S. residents visiting Canada also decreased, but to a lesser extent, resulting in more Americans travelling to Canada than Canadians travelling to the States for the third time since June 2006. While Canadian travel to the U.S. decreased, overseas trips by Canadians and non-U.S. residents visiting Canada both saw increases. The growth in overseas visitors was primarily due to travelers from Europe and Asia.
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Canadian travel to the US has plummeted for the seventh consecutive month, with car trips down 36.9% and air travel down 25.8% in July compared to the previous year. This decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including fallout from antagonistic trade policies and threats from the White House, as well as Canada’s ongoing cost of living crisis. While US residents’ land travel to Canada also decreased, air travel saw a slight increase. The diverging economic trajectories of the two countries further contribute to these trends.
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February marked the second consecutive month of declining Canadian car trips to the U.S., with a 23% decrease compared to the previous year. This significant drop follows similar declines in January, unprecedented since March 2021. Contributing factors include President Trump’s economic threats against Canada, a weakened Canadian dollar increasing travel costs, and severe snowstorms impacting travel conditions. Air travel to the U.S. also experienced a slight decrease.
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John Q. Hosedrinker