Ask HN: Are you afraid to travel to US to tech conferences?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall Sentiment

  • Many non‑US commenters say they are now unwilling or very hesitant to travel to the US, especially under the current administration.
  • Several explicitly frame non‑travel as a boycott or moral stance, not just a personal safety decision.
  • A minority say fears are overblown and would still attend US conferences, especially if paperwork is clean.

Gun Violence vs Actual Risk

  • Multiple Americans emphasize that, while US gun violence is high by global standards, the absolute risk to a short‑term visitor at a conference is extremely low and highly localized to specific neighborhoods and social contexts.
  • Others argue concern is still rational given stark differences vs Europe and frequent news of mass shootings, even if risk is smaller than media implies.
  • Several try to reframe risk: car travel, lightning, or crime in other regions may be statistically comparable or worse.

Border, Detention, and Device Search

  • This is the dominant concrete fear, more than guns.
  • Commenters cite recent cases of foreign visitors and residents detained for days or weeks, sometimes allegedly over social media posts, political views, or visa irregularities.
  • Experiences include aggressive questioning, long detentions, humiliation, and unpredictability even for frequent travelers with clean records.
  • Some now avoid even transiting through US airports; a few US residents avoid leaving the country to not risk trouble on re‑entry.

Political Climate and Free Speech

  • Many fear that criticism of the US government, its leaders, or Middle East policy on social media could be treated as “terroristic” or grounds for denial of entry.
  • Suggested precautions: scrub devices and accounts, travel with “burner” hardware, remove political content and activist links, or simply not come if politically active.

Impact on Conferences and Business

  • Several companies have already stopped holding or attending US conferences due to visa refusals, ESTA revocations, or staff anxiety.
  • Some are moving events to Canada or Europe or planning new non‑US conferences despite the cost.
  • US‑based participants worry this will hollow out the US conference ecosystem.

Risk Perception and Psychology

  • Thread repeatedly returns to emotional vs statistical risk: people acknowledge probabilities are low but prioritize feeling safe and respected at the border.
  • Many describe the mental cost—stress, dread, sense of being unwelcome—as reason enough to stay away, even if physical danger is objectively small.