I am stunned senseless. I’ve seen many Australians in my field decline invitations to appear at conferences in the U.S. due to feeling unsafe and wrongly assumed it was out of an abundance of caution.
I’m so sorry. These people in the Trump administration are a piece of work. A lot of these awful policies are designed by Stephen Milller, one of the most awful people to serve in the U.S. government in a long time. The fact that my taxes are paying his salary makes me sick.
It’s getting worse because the cover is blown. The people of the US have seen the truth from the last 20 months. They are desperate to stop the changing tide. This started under Biden, by the way, so it is bipartisan. Again, I’ve heard Australia has censored their journalists and made it a crime to talk badly about Israel. Not making an exact comparison with the US. There is no need to deny the truth, as Australia has the same genocidal, colonial past as the US does.
Just read full account of your ordeal from various news agencies. While I wish you could still visit, I am grateful for your courage and that we get to know what is happening,
Scary but excellent read. Heck, I am traveling to the NW in a couple of weeks and wonder if I should scrub my phone. Not trusting anyone any more. Life in America is not recognizable anymore. But we’re making it great again, right?
It's impossible to make America great again because the debt is far too high to ever be repaid. At some point in the future, the USA must collapse in order to enable the cancelation of the gargantuan debt. Then the whole insane cycle will begin again. These boom & bust cycles have been occurring for thousands of years.
I am shocked and ashamed of my country. Deporting you for exercising your right to free speech goes against everything that has made our country truly great.
Alastair, huge huge huge apologies from all of us who applaud your excellent journalism and are incredibly horrified and terrified by the facist racist Trump regime’s rapid dismantling of the USA’s fragile democratic republic.
THAT is insane! This is not North Korea. Im sorry my country is acting like we are a dictatorship. HOPEFULLY they sane ones are working hard to end this fiasco.
The Israel issue started many years ago. Yes, the suppression of dissent did increase under Genocide Joe. However, I haven't read the new book. I probably won't unless they're really from less biased sources. The big question: Which hawk neocon was ACTUALLY running his administration? 🤔
Biden is/was a neocon. When he was head of the senate floor committee, he was one of the biggest voices pushing for the Iraq invasion, because of the supposed WMD’s. He is one of the biggest recipients of AIPAC money of any politicians and was obviously bought all the way back in 2001. He also had a horribly evil person who cares more about Israel than the US, in Anthony Blinken as his Secretary of State.
Thank you for being brave enough to share your story. Things are getting so out of control here in the US. Be thankful you are a citizen of a wonderful country and not living in the daily shit show that once was called America the Free.
The first thing attorneys tell a U.S. citizen is told to do if under arrest? Is shut the f*ck up.
I don’t know if it would have helped you, but I suspect it wouldn’t have made things any worse. CBP cares less about the truth & more about any weaknesses they can find in your words.
I am gutted about what CBP put you through. DHS used to be honorable.
And don’t worry about anyone in your comment section being targeted. Some of the nutters in law enforcement have already harassed me. Nearly every comment I make is a middle finger at this point.
I’m glad you are safe. Don’t forget to allow yourself to feel the trauma you experienced.
I objected vehemently before to denying you entry, detaining you, and deporting you for your participation in the Columbia protests and your reporting about them. Now I’ve read your account in the New Yorker, and I’m beside myself with fury. Someday when we rid ourselves of Trump, I long for you to be invited back at our expense. And when I think how many people are being treated even worse than you were—not to make little of your horrifying experience—my outrage bursts al bounds.
Read the room. I’m in a room with a bunch of brainwashed conservatives, obviously. What’s fucking funny is a stupid ass liberal, can’t tell the difference between a progressive and a MAGA. You should be embarrassed and ashamed of how fucking dumb you are, but being dumb is precisely what keeps you from being embarrassed.
You’ve shown yourself to be a bigoted, worthless bitch. Read the room and go where you belong!
Liz, you’re the problem with this country. You’re an indoctrinated, brainwashed, sheep. Too fucking stupid to see two inches in front of her face. You’re a useful idiot to the empire. You’re so fucking uneducated, you have no idea what that means. The blue maga cult is just as destructive as the red maga cult. My aim is to rid the world of worthless dunces, like yourself. You should take a step back, and realize you know nothing. Have some self awareness and shut the fuck up!
I'm so ashamed of the US. My deepest apologies for what has happened to you. You deserve better.
So awful. So, freedom of speech is no longer our right!!!
I am stunned senseless. I’ve seen many Australians in my field decline invitations to appear at conferences in the U.S. due to feeling unsafe and wrongly assumed it was out of an abundance of caution.
I’m so so sorry! 😢 Soooooo many things are sooooooo wrong! They want us to be afraid! That’s really why they are doing all of this!!!
US citizen expat here who's had dual citizenship and lived outside of the US for many years. Been back stateside many, many times.
A message to tourists, fellow expats, business people, researchers, students and the idly curious.
Planning a visit to the USA in the foreseeable future? Do yourself a big favor and ask yourself this question:
Is this trip really necessary? Please think twice. They're totally out of control and they answer to no one.
I’m so sorry. These people in the Trump administration are a piece of work. A lot of these awful policies are designed by Stephen Milller, one of the most awful people to serve in the U.S. government in a long time. The fact that my taxes are paying his salary makes me sick.
Ditto
This stuff started under Biden.
I’m so glad we’re Australian. I’m certainly not planning any trips to America in the foreseeable future. I’m glad you’re home safely. All the best.
From what I’ve heard, Australia is following the same road in their unwavering support of Israel.
The US has engaged in unwavering support of Israel for decades without pulling this shit in such a pathetic and petty way.
It’s getting worse because the cover is blown. The people of the US have seen the truth from the last 20 months. They are desperate to stop the changing tide. This started under Biden, by the way, so it is bipartisan. Again, I’ve heard Australia has censored their journalists and made it a crime to talk badly about Israel. Not making an exact comparison with the US. There is no need to deny the truth, as Australia has the same genocidal, colonial past as the US does.
Just read full account of your ordeal from various news agencies. While I wish you could still visit, I am grateful for your courage and that we get to know what is happening,
Scary but excellent read. Heck, I am traveling to the NW in a couple of weeks and wonder if I should scrub my phone. Not trusting anyone any more. Life in America is not recognizable anymore. But we’re making it great again, right?
Advice generally is to bring a burner. Buy a older refurb phone for travel apps. Leave main phone at home. This covers you for a lot of possibilities
Very, very, very good advice.
Got the burner and do plan to use it. Thanks for the refurb for apps advice. Think I will do that
It's impossible to make America great again because the debt is far too high to ever be repaid. At some point in the future, the USA must collapse in order to enable the cancelation of the gargantuan debt. Then the whole insane cycle will begin again. These boom & bust cycles have been occurring for thousands of years.
At the very least disable your face and fingerprint recognition. Only open with number code. Erase history lists, etc and you should be fine.
I am shocked and ashamed of my country. Deporting you for exercising your right to free speech goes against everything that has made our country truly great.
Alastair, huge huge huge apologies from all of us who applaud your excellent journalism and are incredibly horrified and terrified by the facist racist Trump regime’s rapid dismantling of the USA’s fragile democratic republic.
This started under Biden.
Why are you here? This isnt a place for the right. Go to truth social
lol uh no
THAT is insane! This is not North Korea. Im sorry my country is acting like we are a dictatorship. HOPEFULLY they sane ones are working hard to end this fiasco.
Who are the sane ones. This stuff started under Biden? They are all beholden to AIPAC.
No, it started many years ago.
Being arrested for being anti-genocide was a Biden thing.
The Israel issue started many years ago. Yes, the suppression of dissent did increase under Genocide Joe. However, I haven't read the new book. I probably won't unless they're really from less biased sources. The big question: Which hawk neocon was ACTUALLY running his administration? 🤔
Biden is/was a neocon. When he was head of the senate floor committee, he was one of the biggest voices pushing for the Iraq invasion, because of the supposed WMD’s. He is one of the biggest recipients of AIPAC money of any politicians and was obviously bought all the way back in 2001. He also had a horribly evil person who cares more about Israel than the US, in Anthony Blinken as his Secretary of State.
https://youtu.be/SemNT372CIw?si=IMb56m80a-U0PGv4
I'm aware. 😉 I read books.
Thank you for being brave enough to share your story. Things are getting so out of control here in the US. Be thankful you are a citizen of a wonderful country and not living in the daily shit show that once was called America the Free.
Nightmare. This #MustEnd
This is insane. So many parts of it but especially Qantas’ treatment towards you. They are spineless pawns.
Shocking. Thanks for sharing your story.
The first thing attorneys tell a U.S. citizen is told to do if under arrest? Is shut the f*ck up.
I don’t know if it would have helped you, but I suspect it wouldn’t have made things any worse. CBP cares less about the truth & more about any weaknesses they can find in your words.
I am gutted about what CBP put you through. DHS used to be honorable.
And don’t worry about anyone in your comment section being targeted. Some of the nutters in law enforcement have already harassed me. Nearly every comment I make is a middle finger at this point.
I’m glad you are safe. Don’t forget to allow yourself to feel the trauma you experienced.
The right to remain silent doesn’t apply at the border. If you refuse to answer you’ll be detained and charged.
Duh. & the author WAS CHARGED but for more. Did you even read his story? And no he shouldn’t be forced to speak without representation.
Everyone is supposed to get due process here in the USA. Don’t ever comment condescending to me like that.
I objected vehemently before to denying you entry, detaining you, and deporting you for your participation in the Columbia protests and your reporting about them. Now I’ve read your account in the New Yorker, and I’m beside myself with fury. Someday when we rid ourselves of Trump, I long for you to be invited back at our expense. And when I think how many people are being treated even worse than you were—not to make little of your horrifying experience—my outrage bursts al bounds.
This started under Biden.
Stfu 🤫 we heard you the first of four times…so far. Read the room and go where you belong.
Keep showing your ignorance of the topic, please.
Read the room. I’m in a room with a bunch of brainwashed conservatives, obviously. What’s fucking funny is a stupid ass liberal, can’t tell the difference between a progressive and a MAGA. You should be embarrassed and ashamed of how fucking dumb you are, but being dumb is precisely what keeps you from being embarrassed.
You’ve shown yourself to be a bigoted, worthless bitch. Read the room and go where you belong!
Liz, you’re the problem with this country. You’re an indoctrinated, brainwashed, sheep. Too fucking stupid to see two inches in front of her face. You’re a useful idiot to the empire. You’re so fucking uneducated, you have no idea what that means. The blue maga cult is just as destructive as the red maga cult. My aim is to rid the world of worthless dunces, like yourself. You should take a step back, and realize you know nothing. Have some self awareness and shut the fuck up!