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Comment by crypt1d | Hacker News Reader

I've never been to the US. I'd love to visit though, so many beautiful places to see! I had this idea to rent an RV on the west coast and spend a few months visiting bunch of places.

But lately I've been deterred by all this TSA crap and the political 'developments'. I just no longer feel comfortable about traveling there. Don't get me wrong, my home country is far from peachy. But everything I read about US these days screams - don't come here. I'm sure their tourism industry wont fall apart because of one person, but I'm also pretty sure I'm not the only one that feels like this.

Seems like I'll just go somewhere warm for the winter to chill out (Canary Islands, anyone?)

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I feel the same sense of unwelcome, except I have lived & contributed to the US economy for almost 10 years now. I'm planning on leaving in < 18 months or so (could leave right away, but there's a number of things I need to wrap up).

I have many foreign friends (and a few americans) who have either left already, or are planning to. This is all highly educated, skilled people - academics, inventors, potential company founders, etc - the kind that the US probably should aspire to keep.

I don't think the US tourism industry or economy will fall apart just because of you or I. That being said, it feels like at this rate, US hegemony might look very different a decade or two from now. Fewer brilliant grad students and company founders coming to the US in 2017 will probably be felt in 2027.

It really is not as big of a deal as everyone acts like it is. Take your stuff out, take off your shoes, and your belt. Walk through, get on your plane. Enjoy the US. This place is HUGE.

Take your stuff out, take your shoes off, get in line for the machine of dubious quality, watch your items disappear into the X-ray checker, go through machine of dubious quality, realize that two of your items are not on the belt along with your others, realize that they were taken aside for additional checking; wait for someone to bark at you to come watch your stuff get tested.

I'm not saying that people should skip coming to the US because of all of this, but it is a ridiculous process, especially the separation from your belongings. I once thought a man took my backpack - it was an identical model - and I yelled for about 30 seconds until I saw my bag come out of the machine. Nobody paid attention.

Get detained in a tiny cell at Houston airport for 12 hours with no explanation (happened to my father). Get your entry denied and have your vacation plans + all the money you spent on hotels/rentals/etc go to waste (happened to a friend of mine).

Speak to any foreigner that has had prolonged contact with US immigration/border agencies (particularly if they are from a poorer country - doubly so if it's a muslim country) and you will hear plenty of stories like that.

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