Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and Finland, have issued updated travel advisories for citizens visiting the United States, citing concerns over stricter immigration enforcement and potential detainment at U.S. borders. The warnings come amid growing concern in Europe over Trump’s executive orders focusing on stricter visa screening, border enforcement, and immigration crackdowns.
A Canadian woman and a British artist have also reported being detained recently, drawing further attention to the U.S.’s increasingly rigid stance at ports of entry. Despite having valid travel documents, travelers are being reminded that border agents have the final say—and being turned away is a real possibility.
The U.K. and Germany recently warned travelers that holding a valid visa or ESTA authorization does not guarantee entry into the U.S. Reports of European nationals being detained or deported have prompted German officials to investigate specific cases. The advisories stress that even minor infractions, such as overstaying a previous visa, could lead to arrest or removal.
Meanwhile, Denmark and Finland have issued separate warnings for transgender and nonbinary travelers, highlighting concerns over their safety amid shifting social policies in some U.S. states. Travelers are being advised to carry documentation proving their return plans and to be prepared for additional questioning upon arrival.
The United States may see a drop in international visitors in 2025, with experts citing concerns over the Trump administration’s policies. A report by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, forecasts a 5.1% decline in foreign arrivals, a sharp contrast to earlier predictions of an 8.8% increase. The report also warns of a potential 10.9% drop in tourism spending, as global travelers reconsider the U.S. as a destination.
The U.S. State Department has reiterated that it will strictly enforce visa rules and entry conditions, reinforcing the unpredictability travelers may face at immigration checkpoints. Meanwhile, foreign ministries continue to monitor the situation, advising travelers to remain informed and prepared before visiting the U.S.
A separate recent issue involves a flight carrying 199 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. that landed at Simón Bolívar airport near Caracas on Monday, 2025-03-24. U.S. repatriation flights to Venezuela had ground to a halt weeks ago after the Trump administration revoked a license allowing Venezuela to export some of its oil to the U.S. despite sanctions.
However, on Saturday, 2025-03-22, the two governments reached an agreement on resuming the flights, as part of the Trump administration's plan to remove undocumented migrants. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the flights as a chance to "rescue and free migrants from prisons in the U.S."
The deportees had earlier been transferred from the U.S. state of Texas to Honduras, in Central America, and then flown by Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa to Maiquetía, north of Caracas. The U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs described them as "illegal aliens" who "had no basis to remain in the United States".
Venezuela had originally agreed to take in Venezuelan deportees from the U.S. in a deal struck by Trump's special envoy, Richard Grenell, in January 2025. Maduro noted that the U.S. administration’s decision to revoke the license of oil giant Chevron to operate in Venezuela created "a little problem" for their communications regarding repatriation.
In the preceding week, the Trump administration had deported 238 Venezuelans to a mega-prison in El Salvador, arguing that they were members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang, a move that caused an outcry in Venezuela. Relatives of those deported to El Salvador insisted their loved ones had no criminal connections.
The deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador's feared Cecot prison was followed by a warning posted on X by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, indicating that Venezuela would face "severe and escalating" sanctions if it refused to accept its citizens deported from the U.S.
In response, Maduro ordered his government to "step up the action needed to guarantee return flights for detained migrants" as the two nations navigated a complex repatriation process amidst political turmoil.
