A growing number of countries are cautioning their citizens about potential difficulties when traveling to the United States, as the Trump administration enforces stricter immigration policies.
Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland and Canada have all recently updated their travel advisories, warning of the challenges travelers may face at U.S. borders. These warnings follow reports of European nationals being detained upon arrival or while attempting to re-enter the country.
Germany’s advisory emphasizes that holding a U.S. visa does not guarantee entry, as border control officers have full discretion to deny admission. The U.K.’s updated guidance similarly urges British passport holders to “comply with all entry, visa, and other conditions” to avoid complications.
Denmark and Finland have issued specific warnings for transgender and nonbinary travelers, noting that recent policy changes in the U.S. could cause issues at border checkpoints.
“If your passport includes an ‘X’ gender marker or you have legally changed gender, it is recommended to contact the U.S. embassy in advance for guidance,” Denmark’s foreign ministry states.
While none of these advisories directly name President Trump, they come just two months into his second term and appear to reflect policy shifts enacted since his return to office. Trump campaigned on stricter border enforcement and rolled back protections for transgender individuals soon after his inauguration. One executive order signed by Trump mandated that federal agencies recognize only male and female sex classifications, leading the State Department to revoke gender-neutral passport options.
Tighter visa policies have also resulted in travel disruptions for some European citizens. The U.K. foreign office recently confirmed that it was assisting a British national who was reportedly detained at the U.S. border for two weeks after encountering visa issues while returning from Canada.
In another case, two German nationals living in the U.S. were detained when re-entering the country following visits to Mexico. A separate report described a German citizen, who legally resides in the U.S., being questioned by immigration officials after a trip to Luxembourg.
As border enforcement tightens, European governments are advising their citizens to take extra precautions when traveling to the United States.
On Friday, Canada updated its travel guidelines for entering the U.S. The government’s website now states that Canadians and foreign nationals staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days “must be registered with the United States Government.” Failure to comply could result in “penalties, fines, and misdemeanor prosecution.”
