In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a concerned reader writes:
I'm heading to a large conference in the southern US later this year, where I'll be presenting on a topic that is under attack by the current administration (think reproductive rights, trans rights, etc.). I'm an academic in Canada, so I'll be traveling across the border. But I'm a US citizen, for whatever that's worth.
I haven't been able to find any real information about how worried I should be or what I should do as I prepare to go to the US. I'm privileged to be in Canada, but I have a deep sense of responsibility to participate in some kind of resistance -- which has been much harder for me since I'm not currently embedded in my usual US community. So, I'm fairly committed to going to this conference.
But I just keep getting increasingly worried, and since most academics in Canada are completely avoiding the US (for good reason!!!), it's been difficult to get any advice on what to do if I'm set on going. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any sense of how dangerous this could be, what precautions I ought to take, etc. Any thoughts or advice?
Sadly (for so many reasons), all I know about is what I read in the news. One reader submitted the following response:
I don't have much of info on your specific situation, but one piece of advice I have seen time and time again is to turn off the Face ID feature for unlocking your phone when you cross the border!! As I understand it ICE/customs agents are abusing the Face ID unlock feature by waving it in front of people's faces, whereas they (allegedly) need a warrant in order to get your phone passcode number. A lot of the recent border denials seem to have revolved around contents on the individuals' phones, so this is something to keep in mind when you are coming in to the U.S. with info on your phone that they may not like.
Do any other readers have any relevant experiences or tips to share?
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