It’s no secret that numerous countries have updated their travel advisories for their citizens interested in visiting the United States; the revised advisories and warnings come at a time when escalating tensions between the U.S. president and foreign leaders are front and center as a global trade war commences.
But it’s not the current trade war that is pushing countries like France, Germany, Canada and many more to update their travel advisories to reflect warnings of potential interrogations, arrest, detention and deportation of their citizens, it’s the new immigration laws imposed by the current U.S. president mandated through an executive order that have revealed hostile border entry points into America and border control agents targeting not just illegal immigrants, but foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. as a tourist as well, all with the required visas and documents to safely pass through.
New Zealand is now preparing to join Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom as they reconsider updating their travel advisory for the U.S. after eight Kiwis were detained under the new U.S. immigration laws.
New Zealand Warns Citizens to Check Entry Requirements Into the U.S. Before Traveling There
New Zealand has not reviewed or made changes to its U.S. Travel Advisory since 2023, however, with the recent turn of events, and eight Kiwis being subjected to hostile border control checkpoints, all detained under the new U.S. immigration laws.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has indicated they are reviewing the current travel advisory, and will note of any changes or updates once the review is complete.
Currently, there are 11 countries warning citizens about traveling to the United States due to these harrowing incidents, not counting a recent travel advisory issued by China due to ‘escalating economic tensions’ with the U.S. government.
While the review takes place, MFAT is advising Kiwis to check entry requirements into the U.S. before traveling there, particularly getting in contact with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to ensure validity of the requirements.
Eight Kiwis Detained at U.S. Border Since November
MFAT has reported that eight Kiwis have been detained at U.S. border entry points since November 2024.
One Kiwi woman in her 40s was reportedly detained by U.S. border control agents for 15 hours at the San Francisco International Airport and interrogated for 5 hours, because agents took issue with her visa. She was then forced to buy an extremely expensive return ticket to New Zealand and escorted to the gate by authorities with her legs in chains.
“She obtained the necessary visas, could provide proof of income and proof that she was leaving,” the post alleged, describing her as someone with “no criminal record or history of political activism. She was humiliated and is still deeply traumatized.”
Foreign national tourists who have faced hostile interrogations at U.S. border control points, and have been arrested on the spot, warn of the detention centers women are being brought to; many describing them as real jails, with hardened criminals, nothing to sleep on, no feed to eat, and no mattresses or very little mattresses to sleep on.
MFAT is also encouraging Kiwis of LGBTQIA+ to be aware of the U.S.’s new customs and laws on transgender and gender diverse individuals, after the U.S. president signed an executive order on January 20, stating, “all government-issued identification documents must now reflect one’s “immutable biological classification as either male or female.”
Should New Zealand choose to formally revise its travel advisory to the U.S., we at The Travel will be sure to update you upon our findings. Until then, stay up-to-date with necessary government travel information, heed the new laws, and travel safely.