A friend sent me this thread earlier and it’s very useful, especially if you’re nonwhite and live in the US - ThreadSky

jeeyon.bsky.social • 18 days ago

A friend sent me this thread earlier and it’s very useful, especially if you’re nonwhite and live in the US

I've cossed more international borders than most, been through checkpoints and searches and have trained human rights activists, journalists and others in staying safe in repressive regimes. In the past few days I've provided some friends with travel advice for no particular reason; here's a thread:

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jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

“Don’t go” is advice I’ve gotten from multiple people, and — with all love to them — they’re white US citizens who don’t have immigrants in their direct bloodline more recently than 5 generations back. For people like us, who have family abroad who we need to see, that’s not actionable advice.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

I think it’s important to keep things accurate and in perspective, because the uncertainty and fear of detainment and harm is a way of keeping us frozen. And the more loved ones and family ties we have outside the US, the more frozen this administration and its allies want us to be.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

At present, the most vulnerable people are undocumented US residents and anyone here on a visa. As far as I could find, there are not many, if any, documented cases of people with a passport and citizenship getting detained by ICE or other immigration agencies due to this administration’s policies.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

At present, even dramatically hostile executive orders against immigrants and their children, like January’s attempted revocation of the constitutionally protected citizenship given to anyone born on US soil, is aimed at people born to immigrant parents after February of this year, not before.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

We’re all in the crosshairs, make no mistake. But being unspecific about who is in the crosshairs in a given context means it feels like we’re all in equal danger at all times, and that can freeze us up, when what we need is accurate information, sensible guidelines, and action.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

“Don’t go” comes from a place of concern, even love. I get it. But an accurate, timely, and frequently updated “here’s what you need to do and know when you go” is always going to be more helpful for people in my position under this hostile administration, as US citizens with loved ones abroad.

jrodbad.bsky.social•18 days ago

The main thing you have to do in times like this is know what your rights are, protect yourself as best you can, and still try to make the most of your life. This admin wants to sap you of all hope and joy, so don't let them if you can help it. Live your life to the fullest to spite them.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

Totally. And we don’t have to lighten their load by leading with our anxiety. There’s plenty to be anxious about — but that speaks to a need for information and clarification, rather than jumping to assumptions without looking at things more closely

jrodbad.bsky.social•18 days ago

Exactly. I totally get the panic, but the best thing to do in a time like this is to take a breath or two and try to work with what you have to make the experience as seamless as possible. Again, know your rights, protect yourself, and try to make the most of it. We'll find a way through this.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

🤝

caramiaculpa.bsky.social•18 days ago

God, thank you for this. My mom is going to visit family in the Philippines next month and I’m terrified about her being able to get back in, because citizenship and white last name be damned.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

For sure. I’m nervous about traveling too, given that my last name is decidedly not white and my parents were both 1st gen immigrants. That said, I think it’s important to keep things accurate and in perspective, because the uncertainty and fear of detainment and harm is a way of keeping us frozen.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

At present, the most vulnerable people are undocumented US residents and residents here on visa. As far as I could find, there are not many, if any, documented cases of people with a passport and citizenship getting detained by ICE or other immigration agencies due to this administration’s policies.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. It could happen soon, even. But so far it hasn’t, and like the thread said, knowing our rights when we’re traveling and rights under citizenship is an important tool, as is knowing the degree of precaution and type of precaution to take.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

Hell, I haven’t gone back to Korea in six years because of COVID, and I basically can’t do it anymore. I need to see my parents. And it’s a hell of a lot riskier for them to visit me than it is for me to visit them, right now.

bjornih.bsky.social•18 days ago

Citizens have a lot of rights non-citizens do not have. i.e Citizens cannot be denied entry. They can however have digital devices confiscated if they don't comply with requests/orders to unlock them at the borders (declining and having a device confiscated is in some cases a better option).

bjornih.bsky.social•18 days ago

Consulting with a lawyer on the applicable law, practices and your specific rights before crossing might be worthwhile.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

Absolutely, and thank you so much for your thread! It's so helpful and informative, and it really helped me remember that taking things in proportion and perspective is really important right now, when anxiety can spread both misinformation and make people less inclined to action than they might be!

caramiaculpa.bsky.social•18 days ago

Abundance of caution is absolutely warranted (I texted her asking for her travel plans just in case). But being frozen is no good.

jeeyon.bsky.social•18 days ago

Having her travels plans is a REALLY good idea! I hope she has safe and uneventful travels the whole way and back <3 <3 <3

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