Looking to Avoid US Deportation, Please Help :)

SnoopX on 03/08/2025 - 17:34
Last edited 03/08/2025 - 17:35

So I'm looking at travelling to Minnesota for work this month and am genuinely concerned from hearing many stories, of being turned back around at customs.

Reason for this is I have been supportive of non US talking points on social media. I'm not an influencer at all, but neither were others who were sent back for not agreeing with US policy.

In prep I have:

Deleted Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook 2 months ago
Have kept LinkedIn
Am considering buying a cheap mobile and only use a US E-Sim without a mobile number or account
Will set the mobile up with new Gmail
Will only install Signal when I land and communicate with friends
Then remove app prior to leaving US just in case

I know this sounds really paranoid, but I am genuinely worried. I have said NOTHING that anyone here would bat an eyelid to, but it's a crazy place over there at the moment.

Thoughts? I feel like a new clean mobile will make them think worse things! Lol!

Thanks for you help :)

Travel North America United States

Comments

  • 30year old Camry on 03/08/2025 - 17:37
    +128

    Wear a MAGA hat through customs

    • SnoopX on 03/08/2025 - 17:49
      +10

      Hahahahahahah never thought of this lol.

    • AustriaBargain on 03/08/2025 - 18:11
      +8

      Do all the usual American stuff, say y'all a lot, burgers and cola, etc.

      • FireRunner on 03/08/2025 - 19:45
        +23

        cola

        And deported. It's soda or pop in the US of A

        • kraigg on 05/08/2025 - 15:36
          +3

          Apparently people use pop in the Midwest, like in Minnesota, and soda on the East and West coast. So just remember where you're travelling to, and use the appropriate language to blend in with your environment. Good luck!

      • athuntershill on 04/08/2025 - 13:42
        +6

        Put on some weight - The average American man weighs about 90.6 kg and woman weighs about 77.5 kg

        • Caped Baldy on 04/08/2025 - 18:00

          Yikes, that's quite high. I weigh the same :( but am taller than the average american man 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm)

          • Protractor on 04/08/2025 - 18:19
            +6

            @Caped Baldy: Sumos are considered anorexic in 43 US states.

          • tenpercent on 05/08/2025 - 17:24

            @Caped Baldy: That's not very tall tbh.
            5 feet 9 inches is about average or just under

            • pinsanity on 06/08/2025 - 21:41

              @tenpercent: All the leaf blowers from the other side of the Southern border have driven down the average.

      • us3rnam3tak3n on 07/08/2025 - 14:58
        +1

        Melbourne to Minneapolis is 9,522 miles or about 493,187 football fields (including end zones). Just tell them that's how far you've travelled.

        • tenpercent on 07/08/2025 - 15:09
          +1

          Yeah but how many Yankee Stadiums is that?

    • 87percent on 03/08/2025 - 19:52
      +13

      Or bring a 14 year old girl

      • Jackson on 04/08/2025 - 09:53
        +4

        And instantly become investment capital

  • Benoffie on 03/08/2025 - 17:50
    +16

    I doubt doing all that will prevent any flags.

    If you're super concerned, go the B1 route rather than the VWP/ESTA and have the consulate here in Australia tell you to your face whether they like you or not.

    More expensive and timely but less issues at the border for the more vocal among us….

    • SnoopX on 03/08/2025 - 17:59
      -1

      Never heard of this method. Let me investigate. Appreciate you bro!

      • xuqi on 04/08/2025 - 00:18
        +8

        What Benoffie says is 100% correct. Deletion of your past history will only make them more curious about your intentions.

        If you've been an outspoken critic of the Don and his policies, your name will most likely already be flagged.

        • nobro25 on 04/08/2025 - 10:04
          +2

          But are you really dumb enough to put your real name out there?

          • CocaKoala on 04/08/2025 - 20:27
            +4

            @nobro25: Am I not supposed to use my real name on the Internet? Oh man. I'm doing it here even on ozbargain.

            At least I didn't put the whole thing out. Coca Koala Jr the 3rd.

      • foursaken on 05/08/2025 - 15:54
        -1

        You've never heard of getting a VISA to go to a country?!

    • bweiss on 04/08/2025 - 07:52
      +7

      You've got to supply A LOT of information when submitting a B1 visa, including ALL social media handles that you've had.
      So I would not suggest going down that route if possible… I'd stick with the ESTA.
      B1 visa doesn't guarantee you entry, you can still be denied at the border, they are very clear with that on all the paperwork around it.

      I'd definitely suggest not lying however. i.e. if asked for your social media handles, don't try to 'forget' any… remember the US has a very big 'intelligence' industry, they will be able to pretty easily identify what accounts you did have, and if you closed one in the past few months, but then say that you 'forgot' about it.. they'll smell that bullshit very easily.

      Lying / misleading a border official is easy grounds for detention and deportation.

      • Jackson on 04/08/2025 - 09:55
        +25

        All the people that ever worried about China over the US must have egg on their faces now

        • LFO on 04/08/2025 - 10:49
          +4

          Lies have little short legs, truth always catches up

        • Eeples on 04/08/2025 - 16:18
          -2

          I think we can worry about both; just fine.

          • tenpercent on 05/08/2025 - 17:22
            +6

            @Eeples: No! You must believe in the false dichotomy, always. Pepsi or Coke.
            Left or right. China bad or USA bad.

            /s

      • WT on 04/08/2025 - 13:31
        +1

        by the sounds of it booking at a trump hotel might give you better odds, then cancel when youre in

      • frostman on 05/08/2025 - 16:39
        +1

        So is this now happening for anyone travelling to the US for a holiday?

  • Downvoter on 03/08/2025 - 18:05
    +38

    They’ve already flagged you on their system sorry.

    • frostman on 05/08/2025 - 16:37
      -1

      how? unless his Twitter handle uses his full name?

      What if it's just an Alias?

      • Protractor on 05/08/2025 - 16:46
        -3

        I'm not sure any more whether aliases are aliases (or 100% anonymous) any more given the data out there, the tech bros who control it, the MAGA tactics,and the amount of connection gmail and hot-mail etc accounts can deliver to serious deep divers. But would they bother, for Joe Average? Who knows? I never thought I'd see masked US agents kidnapping ppl in broad daylight, without even identifying themselves. Or a felon in charge of the western world.

  • thatonethere on 03/08/2025 - 18:14
    +11

    Make new very vanilla social media. But they likely have pre flagged you. Best option is to not be profiled that they need to checl socials.

  • Gdsamp on 03/08/2025 - 18:27
    -1

    NGMI

    • joka on 03/08/2025 - 18:41
      -1

      DDRW Please

  • surfingedge on 03/08/2025 - 18:35
    +13

    Book a connecting flight through Canada, where they have US preclearance before you board the plane. So if you get rejected you just go back into Canada and not a US jail. Or cross from Canada / Mexico by land. Abu Dhabi also has US preclearance but probably quite uncommon to go that way from Aus so might lead to more questioning

    • Protractor on 03/08/2025 - 18:37
      +47

      Lot of trouble to visit a shit hole run by a sociopath, and his lunatic mates.

        • Protractor on 03/08/2025 - 20:30
          -7

          Doesn't take much for you to do a 180 on Trump. Now you're his born again champion, defending him,LOL.

          • tenpercent on 03/08/2025 - 20:32
            -1

            @Protractor: JFC you are confused. Hitting the libations hard again?
            DJ Trump, aka Mr Warpspeed, aka buddy of Epstein and the Clintons, can go and get jabbed.

            • Protractor on 03/08/2025 - 20:38
              -4

              @tenpercent:

              Hitting the libations hard again

              Me libations? LOL. There's a joke applicable here (to you). Google Dennis Leary, No Cure For Cancer and listen to the the line about drugs and Keith Richards.

        • EBC on 04/08/2025 - 08:22
          +4

          Carney was elected in the 2025 election.

          • tenpercent on 04/08/2025 - 12:01
            -5

            @EBC: He was already appointed PM before being elected to any position whatsoever. Very unusual. Not in keeping with the traditions of the Westminster system. Not very democratic. He's an establishment man. He's a technocrat. He's the same as Musk et al he just puts lower case 'L' liberal spin on it to sell it to the Canadians.

            • EBC on 04/08/2025 - 12:41
              +8

              @tenpercent: I'm a dual Canadian/Australian citizen and all this is just not really correct. There have been several Canadian prime ministers that have been named the leader of the elected party without themselves being elected. It doesn't happen often but it's not unheard of.

              Your original statement that he had "never been elected to hold a seat in any Canadian or any other parliament" is just wrong because, he literally just won an election in Nepean.

              Also the Westminster system has explicit processes in place for this exact scenario. The tradition is that if the the new prime minister isn't an MP at the time of appointment, that they become an MP very shortly afterwards through either a by-election or a general election(what happened in this case).

              • tenpercent on 04/08/2025 - 14:13
                -4

                @EBC:

                Also the Westminster system has explicit processes in place for this exact scenario

                Does it? Do share with citations.

                It doesn't happen often but it's not unheard of.

                It's entirely unheard of before this year. No PM in the history of the UK going back to Rober Walpole, none in Australia's history, and no others in Canadian history became PM before being elected to parliament before Mark Carney (money master former head of the Bank of England, former head of the Bank of Canada). I can't find a single other example. I'm all ears if you are aware of any.

                • EBC on 04/08/2025 - 15:05

                  @tenpercent: Not really interested in playing a game of misinformation whack-a-mole with you.

                  Here is the relevant quote from the "Open and Accountable Government" document which serves as the cabinet manual for Canada:

                  "By convention, members of Cabinet (Ministers) must normally be members of Parliament (normally but not necessarily the House of Commons) or become members within a reasonable period (since Confederation, all but three Prime Ministers have included non-Parliamentarians in their Ministry; of the 90 such individuals appointed as Ministers, 13 were named to the Senate at the time of or shortly after their appointment). If a Minister is not a Member of Parliament or Senator, in keeping with the principles of responsible government, these Ministers are generally expected to seek a seat within a reasonable period and resign from the Ministry if they are unsuccessful."

                  An example of a prime minister where this has happened before is John Turner in 1984:

                  "When [Turner] was sworn in as prime minister after winning the leadership election, Turner was not an MP or senator — the last time this would occur until Mark Carney in 2025."

                  • tenpercent on 04/08/2025 - 19:43
                    -1

                    @EBC: Good find. The one and only other example of the conventions of the Westminster system being entirely disregarded with a person becoming PM while not elected to sit in parliament throughout the entire history of the Westminster system; also just after a Turdoh resignation.

                    Nevertheless my initial point stands: Canada is now being led by the former head of the Bank of England and former head of the Bank of Canada, a literal money master, Mr Establishment himself, self-described technocrat, Mark Carney, who became PM before ever being elected. Way to stick to the man - so progressive.

                    • EBC on 04/08/2025 - 21:16

                      @tenpercent: See also Sir Alec Douglas-Home (UK) and John Gorton (Australia; Holt's successor following his disappearance).

                      Your opinions of him as a person or his politics doesn't justify all the verifiable false statements of fact. It is not the undemocratic conspiracy you were suggesting.

                      • tenpercent on 05/08/2025 - 10:06
                        -2

                        @EBC:

                        See also Sir Alec Douglas-Home (UK) and John Gorton (Australia; Holt's successor following his disappearance).

                        Douglas-home was in parliament when he became PM.
                        Holt was the duly elected member for Higgins when he became PM.

                        I've made no false statements of fact.

                        My initial point still stands: Canada is now being led by the former head of the Bank of England and former head of the Bank of Canada, a literal money master, Mr Establishment himself, self-described technocrat, Mark Carney, who became PM before ever being elected. Way to stick to the man - so progressive.

                      • Crow K on 07/08/2025 - 12:05

                        @EBC: I admire your optimism in bringing facts to a tenpercent discussion on the off-chance he would either consider them or revise previous statements when shown he wasn't correct

                        • EBC on 07/08/2025 - 18:26
                          +1

                          @Crow K: Haha I never argue thinking I'll change the other person's mind. Just correcting blatant falsehoods for anyone who doesn't follow Canadian politics.

              • R4 on 05/08/2025 - 17:34

                @EBC: Exactly, I don't know what the problem is - the Westminster system at work. I don't particularly like left-wing 'system' politicians like Carney but he totally deserves to be there.

        • awaddell on 04/08/2025 - 13:43
          +1

          Carney won the election earlier this year. Any other misinformation you want to spread?

          • tenpercent on 04/08/2025 - 14:05
            -7

            @awaddell: It's not misinformation just because you have trouble with reading and comprehension. Carney became PM before winning any elections.

    • alexdagr8 on 03/08/2025 - 23:04

      How many chainsaws do you have again?
      And they must be petrol

      When the only person that will give you a hug is Albo it gets lonely

      Have your bikkie (but not a Tim tam, you get an arrowroot sextant)

      alexdagr8 on 03/08/2025 - 23:04 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
      • cfuse on 04/08/2025 - 11:10
        +1

        The Greens still exist, so if you want Real Communism then that's your pick.

    • niknikniknik on 04/08/2025 - 16:00
      -5

      Damn, your US refugee application must have got denied. Don't worry though, welcome back to Australia. I'm sure my tax dollars are feeding you well on your weekly dole.

  • Caped Baldy on 03/08/2025 - 18:38
    +14

    You'll be fine. I think it's overblown just don't be weird and make sure you've got the correct visa.

    I have an Indian colleague go with her family last month and she said everything went smoothly.

    • Jackson on 04/08/2025 - 10:00
      +3

      But did she have a social media history like the OPs?

      Maybe Musk sponsored her? /s

    • nsta8487 on 04/08/2025 - 14:13
      +3

      This is right. My wife and I have been to the states twice this year, the second trip there were half a dozen friends that came too. Nobody had any issues or saw/experienced anything to be concerned about at customs, and a few of them are fairly active on social media or are left-leaning. However, all anyone wanted to know when we were back home was did we get pulled aside and questioned at customs. No, not even close.

  • Kail on 03/08/2025 - 18:44
    +9

    You aren't being paranoid. Twoset Violin had to cancel/reschedule multiple American concerts because one of the two (Australian) violinists had his visa accepted while the other was declined. The reasoning behind the different decisions is unclear. I think they are still trying to sort it out so that they can at least make the second half of their tour. Things are very different than they used to be, I hope you have no issues getting in.

  • Stuj on 03/08/2025 - 18:56
    -4

    Any esta requested would have been investigated already for any flags , so as long as you purged before then you should be good, unless you crossed the bridge today. I think this is a serious concern these days and because of this the US is off the menu for me personally for the next 3 years or revolution entials.

  • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 03/08/2025 - 19:07
    +1

    There’s already stories where people deleted all social media yet they find the records anyway. No point deleting really.

      • zubzub on 04/08/2025 - 05:04
        -7

        Pretty sure you’re just making that up. Pretty sure before Musk bought Twitter there was undeniable cold hard evidence found that they were running illegal election interference for the Democrats and suppressing right wing views…. Pretty sure what I said is true, pretty sure what you said is false.

        • Protractor on 04/08/2025 - 10:19
          -1

          1

          2

          3

          4

          5

          6

          7

          • zubzub on 04/08/2025 - 16:51
            -3

            @Protractor: Do any of these sources have hard facts? Scanning through them they all use the words of ‘could be’ and ‘reports show’ or ‘alleged’. That’s called fear mongering. What I mentioned about the democrats comes from cold hard facts. You somehow managed to post 7 sources without a single one having any of that. Happy to read over one if you find it.

            • Protractor on 04/08/2025 - 16:59
              +2

              @zubzub: That's the exact denial I'd expect from someone who played the rigged election BS card . You are shown a tiny tip of the proof of the iceberg and according to you, you 'scan' it. not enough proof. The tried and true Trump tragic model. If it shines a light on their toxic motives or behaviour, it's fake news. 3 words old bean. Jeffrey Edward Epstein.

              Have some more facts that will embarrass you even more>
              https://time.com/7288311/trump-transparency-white-house-tran…

              and >
              Supporters of President Donald Trump expressed anger and disbelief online following reports that his administration had advanced plans to create a national citizen database with technology firm Palantir. from>
              https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-palantir-maga-database…

              LOL
              And at the same time he's purging all his dodgy history and words as we speak. Also in the articles linked.

              EDIT
              More

              • alexdagr8 on 04/08/2025 - 19:37
                +2

                @Protractor: Can we save your conspiracy theories for Reddit?

              • zubzub on 04/08/2025 - 22:22
                +1

                @Protractor: These articles are clearly trying to frame normal political behavior in the most dramatic way possible. Redacting transcripts but leaving videos? That’s not suppression. And being protective over financial records as a billionaire? I would do the same thing.

                If you’re saying this all adds up to some authoritarian master plan to seize power… you are reaching buddy. We heard the same shit in 2016 and again in 2020. It didn’t happen then, and hyping it now feels like the political version of yelling “wolf” every election cycle.

                • Protractor on 05/08/2025 - 09:41

                  @zubzub: OK, Hulk.

                • tenpercent on 05/08/2025 - 19:02

                  @zubzub: And yet the totalitarian tiptoe just keeps marching forward.
                  Left! Right! Left! Right!…

                • Autonomic on 06/08/2025 - 13:11

                  @zubzub: You mean the guy who wanted to find 11,000 votes and then sent a slate of fake electors to try to steal the vote is normal political behaviour? The guy actively talking about running for a 3rd term and firing people publishing labour stats isn't authoritarian? That's some serious cope.

                  Also he's a paedophile.

                  • zubzub on 06/08/2025 - 13:55

                    @Autonomic: Amazing, all those illegal things to nab him on and they just let him walk free. Must be a scary fella.

            • Caped Baldy on 04/08/2025 - 17:54
              +1

              @zubzub: Where are your sources?

              You're awfully quiet on acknowledging any influence by social media companies promoting Donald Trump during the election. Zuckerburg appearing at the inauguration is pretty suspicious don't you think?

        • Autonomic on 06/08/2025 - 15:48
          +1

          undeniable cold hard evidence found that they were running illegal election interference for the Democrats and suppressing right wing views

          All that evidence and yet they let them walk free. Crazy.

          • Protractor on 06/08/2025 - 16:03
            +1

            @Autonomic: When a MAGAnaut says 'undeniable evidence', you know it's code for utter bullshit.With origins from and for fellow MAGAnauts.

            Musk was running a million dollar bribe lottery.I'd call that electoral interference in broad daylight. If any election was rigged, it was this one. Every single tech billionaire with control of the worlds data stream was in Trumps fold. They NEVER do things without a dividend demand.

            The good news is, Karma doesn't do deals with gangsters.

            • Muppet Detector on 06/08/2025 - 22:57

              @Protractor: I'm not sure how anybody is still surprised about their online activity being tracked at some level.

              I have NFI how it all works, but if law enforcement can track international pedophile rings, identify and locate victims, perpetrators and fifth cousins, then I'm pretty sure they can pretty much track anybody they put their mind to.

              That zoo dude from Darwin got busted because someone on the other side of the world saw a dog leash issued by Darwin council somewhere in one of the sickos photographs.

  • Yummy on 03/08/2025 - 19:50
    +7

    I have been supportive of non US talking points on social media…. for not agreeing with US policy

    100% perma ban. Don't do it bruh, stay home!

    • skillet on 05/08/2025 - 01:31

      What did OP talked about? CCP?

      • Yummy on 05/08/2025 - 21:52

        Corn syrup Coke.

  • ForkSnorter on 03/08/2025 - 20:10
    +5

    Just invade the Capitol building brandishing weapons and intending to kidnap US politicians.

    POTUS will love you for it. He will treat you like a hero, and will sign an executive order overriding the entire US government and the rule of law to get you pardoned and released from jail.

    • ForkSnorter on 04/08/2025 - 06:18
      +3

      He'll probably make you an honorary US citizen.

    • ForkSnorter on 04/08/2025 - 13:54
      +1

      Unliked by MAGA nuts who think it's OK for an ex-president to undermine democracy, encourage his followers to violently attempt to take over the government, then reward the ones who did.

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