Jay, thank you for taking care of yourself & family by making contingency plans. I also appreciate your pointing out we must not act out of fear. I have a niece by marriage traveling back home to Mexico with her American born daughter next month. I also have a Dutch son-in-law traveling to Europe with his 3 children this summer. I am going to try to stop worrying about them, but also encourage them to make contingency plans. Thank you for your writing!@
I am planning to travel soon and I’ve been contemplating traveling with a burner phone. It feels so wrong, but what’s going on is not right. I don’t want to live in fear, but I also don’t wanna be prevented from traveling.
It is happening right now and people are being warned to get everything off their phone and I do mean any reference to Trump. People say to use a burner phone. They are asking for phones and people are getting arrested and deported even if they are American citizens.
You suggested "we're not there yet", but actually we are. A Canadian citizen was just held for 2 weeks by ICE for no good reason (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/us/mooney-canadian-american-pie-actress-ice.html), and a French scientist was just turned back at the border because his phone's social media records showed he was critical of Trump (https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/03/20/french-researcher-denied-access-us/). So yeah, we're there. I've been recommending to friends that they store copies of their passport, driver's license, health insurance, and other vital documents before trying to enter or re-enter the U.S. (You can store them in DropBox too, but under the Patriot Act, ICE can force DropBox to surrender your files. Probably the same for other American-owned cloud services.) If you're disappeared, like the Canadian actress, and your records are "accidentally lost", you'll have a way to establish proof of identity much more easily -- and friends and family will have a much easier time finding you.
I would also suggest sending copies of your important documents to friends along with a code or phrase for your lawyers to use to let people know if you are unable to communicate directly.
Good thought. There are increasing numbers of deep-fake voice scams, in which you appear to be talking to a friend or family member but it's actually just someone trying to scam you into sending them money. Your suggestion of a code word or phrase is also excellent for thwarting such scams. At least for now.
We should have defunded and taken down ICE and the Patriot Act while we had a chance. But nope, the American people never would have stood for it.
Sometimes I want to bang my head against the wall. When I was young, I saw someone do that at a train station, very hard, so it has sort of stuck with me through these turbulent times.
I think I saw this young woman's story on Medium (written by her). The horrific thing is that the Medium story could have been someone else.
Good point made about preplanning, having informed friends and lawyers ready, in case, etc. People need to stop having their fear prohibit meaningful planning. Undraw your curtains and connect to those you can trust. This is preliminary planning for the inevitable, it is not going away, it is going to get worse. Hope is not a tactic.
Safe travels Jay. Like you, I firmly believe we should not live in fear. That said, since travel guidelines for Canadians visiting the U.S., we used to be able to stay up to 6 months without visas, it is important for travellers to follow the new guidelines. As of this past Friday, as a Canadian, I can only stay 30 days with a valid passport only. If I wished to stay longer then I have to apply for a special visa and I must also rigorously follow the guidelines. I haven’t seen any of these guidelines but, I’m sure, one really needs to check the fine print. All the people that were detained somehow failed to follow the requirements to the letter. Also the guidelines might be written in such a way, that one can easily misinterpret them.
The new administration needs money, after all they are sending the people they arrest to private jails, then the slightest mishap even made in all innocence, will be the excuse for ICE to detain someone.
Plus anyone standing up and defying DJT, is an easy target.
I will be travelling to Southern California early June to meet and welcome my first grandchild. I will not be staying longer than 3 weeks so I will not need a visa. I haven’t decided what I will do about my phone and or my laptop yet.
Here’s a cautionary tale- a few weeks ago, our son, (46, Minnesota-born white guy, a “Descendent of the Mayflower”, FFS! 😉) was returning to his home in Philadelphia from a four-day vacation at a Cancun resort with his partner. When they arrived in Philly, he was whisked off to a room and interrogated (he had no idea what happened to her)—“what was the purpose of your trip?” “Was it paid for by an international organization?” etc. They shut up when he played the “I’m a lawyer” card and released him. He’s a member of the Socialist party and, with his partner, (a US born, Muslim Indian, university professor, and author of “Islamophobia, Race and Geopolitics”—well, you get the picture) have been active in the pro-Palestinian Gaza protests. Obviously, HE is on a watch list. In an ironic twist, after his release and a panicked search, he found his beloved patiently waiting at the baggage carrousel for their luggage.
I hope your reentry to the US is uneventful. After all, what would I do without your Saturday “Skeets and Giggles”?
These are dark times. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you quickly accomplish what your task and get thru US Customs hassle-free. We’re all waiting to see your homecoming photo with Riley!
By saying you don't think they are singling out people based on their beliefs yet, I assume you mean they won't have a watch on your name at the airport, but they do in fact have "random" gate checks which even if completely random, now seem to include looking at the Content of people's electronics - including phones. You might consider going through with a burner phone or none at all and mailing your phone to yourself if you have carried it out of the US. A burner could tide you over until it gets to you again.
Be safe Jay. Riley needs you. Your family and friends need you. We need you. Based on what is happening (French researcher, Canadian citizen), I suggested to a friend who will travel to Europe soon to take a burner phone and leave her main phone here. Please take care.
Travel safe. I just can't express strongly enough how much I value and appreciate your wisdom and your writing. I've recommended your Substack to many people and will continue to do so. Thank you for all you do! I'll be traveling overseas in May and am thinking about precautions I'll take, like deleting social media and some email accounts from my phone before I return, and temporarily changing my social media handles.
We’ll be watching, and screaming if anything happens to you!
Me, too. We have his back, now and/or in the future.
Jay, thank you for taking care of yourself & family by making contingency plans. I also appreciate your pointing out we must not act out of fear. I have a niece by marriage traveling back home to Mexico with her American born daughter next month. I also have a Dutch son-in-law traveling to Europe with his 3 children this summer. I am going to try to stop worrying about them, but also encourage them to make contingency plans. Thank you for your writing!@
We all travel with burner phones these days...let the Gestapo wannabes at Customs search through them at their pleasure.
I am planning to travel soon and I’ve been contemplating traveling with a burner phone. It feels so wrong, but what’s going on is not right. I don’t want to live in fear, but I also don’t wanna be prevented from traveling.
That's absolutely correct. You have to delete everything that comes through on it that references Teump in a negative way.
Use Signal, DuckDuckGo browser, and NO blogging...just prudent online behavior whilst out of country in these times.
It is happening right now and people are being warned to get everything off their phone and I do mean any reference to Trump. People say to use a burner phone. They are asking for phones and people are getting arrested and deported even if they are American citizens.
I’m not sure to where they would deport me, since I was born in the US, to US born parents. But I’m taking the threat seriously.
Lee, I really feel they are only checking people who are not born here. I don't think you need to be concerned in any way.
You suggested "we're not there yet", but actually we are. A Canadian citizen was just held for 2 weeks by ICE for no good reason (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/us/mooney-canadian-american-pie-actress-ice.html), and a French scientist was just turned back at the border because his phone's social media records showed he was critical of Trump (https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/03/20/french-researcher-denied-access-us/). So yeah, we're there. I've been recommending to friends that they store copies of their passport, driver's license, health insurance, and other vital documents before trying to enter or re-enter the U.S. (You can store them in DropBox too, but under the Patriot Act, ICE can force DropBox to surrender your files. Probably the same for other American-owned cloud services.) If you're disappeared, like the Canadian actress, and your records are "accidentally lost", you'll have a way to establish proof of identity much more easily -- and friends and family will have a much easier time finding you.
I would also suggest sending copies of your important documents to friends along with a code or phrase for your lawyers to use to let people know if you are unable to communicate directly.
Good thought. There are increasing numbers of deep-fake voice scams, in which you appear to be talking to a friend or family member but it's actually just someone trying to scam you into sending them money. Your suggestion of a code word or phrase is also excellent for thwarting such scams. At least for now.
We should have defunded and taken down ICE and the Patriot Act while we had a chance. But nope, the American people never would have stood for it.
Sometimes I want to bang my head against the wall. When I was young, I saw someone do that at a train station, very hard, so it has sort of stuck with me through these turbulent times.
I think I saw this young woman's story on Medium (written by her). The horrific thing is that the Medium story could have been someone else.
Anyway, good advice on precautionary steps.
Be well! be safe! To quote Desmond Tutu: Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness
Jay -does 'Sois Sage' translate into Chinese? I never see it translated (from French) with the connotations the French have for it.
Be safe. I'm sure you must miss Riley fiercely!
Thank you for your courage and for your leadership in sharing your story and ideas. I appreciate and look to you.
Good point made about preplanning, having informed friends and lawyers ready, in case, etc. People need to stop having their fear prohibit meaningful planning. Undraw your curtains and connect to those you can trust. This is preliminary planning for the inevitable, it is not going away, it is going to get worse. Hope is not a tactic.
Exactly. I need that reminder. Preparing doesn’t negate fear but it’s worth reminding ourselves that we’re ready to do the things.
You are a good example to all of us about how to live with honesty and integrity. You are loved and valued.
Safe travels Jay. Like you, I firmly believe we should not live in fear. That said, since travel guidelines for Canadians visiting the U.S., we used to be able to stay up to 6 months without visas, it is important for travellers to follow the new guidelines. As of this past Friday, as a Canadian, I can only stay 30 days with a valid passport only. If I wished to stay longer then I have to apply for a special visa and I must also rigorously follow the guidelines. I haven’t seen any of these guidelines but, I’m sure, one really needs to check the fine print. All the people that were detained somehow failed to follow the requirements to the letter. Also the guidelines might be written in such a way, that one can easily misinterpret them.
The new administration needs money, after all they are sending the people they arrest to private jails, then the slightest mishap even made in all innocence, will be the excuse for ICE to detain someone.
Plus anyone standing up and defying DJT, is an easy target.
I will be travelling to Southern California early June to meet and welcome my first grandchild. I will not be staying longer than 3 weeks so I will not need a visa. I haven’t decided what I will do about my phone and or my laptop yet.
Bon séjour. From a duo citizen from 🇨🇦 and 🇫🇷
Catherine …Safe travels , and congratulations on the upcoming birth of your grandchild!
Thank you! I’m looking forward to being back in Los Angeles, where I grew up.
Do you mean child?
Jay is expecting a new bundle of joy in April.
I was responding to the woman traveling to So Ca next month to see her grandchild! And congratulations to Jay! On his new bundle of joy!
Safe travels, Jay! China appears to be a safer, freer place than fascist America.
Be careful, Jay!
Here’s a cautionary tale- a few weeks ago, our son, (46, Minnesota-born white guy, a “Descendent of the Mayflower”, FFS! 😉) was returning to his home in Philadelphia from a four-day vacation at a Cancun resort with his partner. When they arrived in Philly, he was whisked off to a room and interrogated (he had no idea what happened to her)—“what was the purpose of your trip?” “Was it paid for by an international organization?” etc. They shut up when he played the “I’m a lawyer” card and released him. He’s a member of the Socialist party and, with his partner, (a US born, Muslim Indian, university professor, and author of “Islamophobia, Race and Geopolitics”—well, you get the picture) have been active in the pro-Palestinian Gaza protests. Obviously, HE is on a watch list. In an ironic twist, after his release and a panicked search, he found his beloved patiently waiting at the baggage carrousel for their luggage.
I hope your reentry to the US is uneventful. After all, what would I do without your Saturday “Skeets and Giggles”?
These are dark times. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you quickly accomplish what your task and get thru US Customs hassle-free. We’re all waiting to see your homecoming photo with Riley!
By saying you don't think they are singling out people based on their beliefs yet, I assume you mean they won't have a watch on your name at the airport, but they do in fact have "random" gate checks which even if completely random, now seem to include looking at the Content of people's electronics - including phones. You might consider going through with a burner phone or none at all and mailing your phone to yourself if you have carried it out of the US. A burner could tide you over until it gets to you again.
Your voice is important to so many. Be safe.
Be safe Jay. Riley needs you. Your family and friends need you. We need you. Based on what is happening (French researcher, Canadian citizen), I suggested to a friend who will travel to Europe soon to take a burner phone and leave her main phone here. Please take care.
Travel safe. I just can't express strongly enough how much I value and appreciate your wisdom and your writing. I've recommended your Substack to many people and will continue to do so. Thank you for all you do! I'll be traveling overseas in May and am thinking about precautions I'll take, like deleting social media and some email accounts from my phone before I return, and temporarily changing my social media handles.