- The Guardian
- Issue #2141
Photo: vectorportal.com (CC BY 4.0)
OVERVIEW: DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE USA
The United States, long mythologised for its amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties, has always offered a unique blend of lofty rhetoric and brutal reality. For many – especially Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans, and their descendants – it has never been safe. What’s new is how openly the repression is now performed, with the mask of liberal democracy slipping off to reveal something more erratic, vengeful, and hostile to dissent. Travellers are advised to proceed with extreme caution, a bulletproof vest, and a comprehensive health insurance plan (or two).
SAFETY
Arbitrary Law Enforcement: US laws may be enforced with the consistency of a Melbourne weather forecast. Authorities have been known to arrest, detain, or expel individuals for activities that aren’t crimes, especially if your social media history isn’t aligned with the current administration’s fan club.
Violent Crime: While homicide rates have seen a recent decline, violent crime, including robbery and assault, remains a pastime in certain areas. Exercise particular caution in schools and if you belong to a racial, ethnic, or religious minority group. Bulletproof backpacks are the latest fashion trend for a reason.
Political Dissidence: Opponents of the current regime may find themselves on unexpected, all-expenses-paid trips to undisclosed overseas locations. Due process is a thing of the past, if it ever existed at all.
HEALTH
Medical Costs: The US healthcare system is in crisis, with employer healthcare costs increasing by 160 per cent over the past 20 years. A simple doctor’s visit might require a mortgage or selling a few organs.
Reproductive Rights: Abortion laws are now dictated by a game of state-by-state roulette. Some areas have criminalised the procedure, leading to tragic consequences.
Public Health Infrastructure: Health is run federally by a nutjob with a worm in his brain. Recent cuts to health agencies, including the FDA, CDC, and NIH, have raised concerns about the nation’s ability to manage health threats. Luckily, nothing bad has ever resulted from a disease outbreak, right? For reliable health advice, consider consulting sources outside the United States.
LOCAL LAWS
Drug Offences: Penalties for drug offences are severe, including long prison sentences, longer if you have the wrong skin colour.
Police: Law enforcement in the United States has a reputation for killing people with little justification. Take care to limit your interactions with police to watching them on TV from another country
TRAVEL
Entry Requirements: US authorities have absurdly broad powers to decide if you’re allowed to enter the country. Border force agents may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason they think up. Electronic devices may be searched for evidence of dissent. Consider carrying a burner phone loaded with cat videos.
Immigration Enforcement: US authorities actively pursue, detain, and deport people who are in the country ‘illegally.’ Be prepared to show documents proving your legal presence, and hope they are sufficient. Good luck!
Visiting Guidelines: If, despite our advice, you travel to the United States, exercise a high degree of caution. Seek advice from local Communist organisations on how to safely assist oppressed Americans in their quest for liberation. Solidarity knows no borders. J
