Comment by lazide

9 months ago

Yup, in this scenario:

Gun violence risk? Very low. Not as low as western Europe, but way lower than South America.

Risk of being hassled by some overzealous immigration officer? Much higher.

I certainly think the latter is a more valid concern as we really don't know the math on it and the capricious nature of the executive branch / security folks is, but I also wouldn't let it interrupt my life. If they turn you around and send you home at the border, I say let everyone know and do what you can to document it and so on.

Obviously the latter is more of a personal choice too. But you're also not likely to have the same consequences as gun violence.

  • They can easily arrest you for arbitrary reasons, and then deny you later entry to the US after deporting you - a lifetime ban.

    While not as high a risk as ‘dead’, it’s pretty bad, especially if your career is heavily dependent on the US or you have US citizen family/relationships.

    The biggest issue is the arbitrary, capricious, and frankly nonsensical nature of a lot of what seems to be going on.

I would expand that to a general risk of being hassled, physically intimidated, or even threatened. I've personally seen (either as the target or as a bystander) a steady rise over the past decade of total strangers out in public jumping from a minor mistake or a bit of carelessness straight to political accusations, slurs, etc. Occasionally it even happens without any inciting event (e.g. based only on appearance).