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.
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,
Alistair, have courage. Humans have done the most awful things to each other, over and over again. We are like any other over privileged primate on the planet. While not true of all primates, we are in the set that actually enjoys hurting the weakest of us. I’m not entirely sure how to purge this from our DNA 🧬, but perhaps one day we will rise to the occasion and realize the power of loving kindness and compassion ❤️🩹
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
Alistair, have courage. Humans have done the most awful things to each other, over and over again. We are like any other over privileged primate on the planet. While not true of all primates, we are in the set that actually enjoys hurting the weakest of us. I’m not entirely sure how to purge this from our DNA 🧬, but perhaps one day we will rise to the occasion and realize the power of loving kindness and compassion ❤️🩹
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
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.
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.
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.
Nightmare. This #MustEnd
Shocking. Thanks for sharing your story.
This is insane. So many parts of it but especially Qantas’ treatment towards you. They are spineless pawns.
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.
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.