Cancellation due to increased ICE surveillance of Airports

[+ purplekow]

I had plans for a nice weekend for my birthday.  The escort contacted me today, three weeks before, to say that he was cancelling because of the increase of ICE surveillance at airports in the US.  He is foreign born but has work papers but he is so anxious about the possibility of being held by ICE that he has curtailed all US travel by plane until things appear somewhat safer.

In his position, I would probably do the same.  

Without discussion not allowed on this site, a simple yes or no, has anyone else run into the obstacle for travel within the States.  It certainly has been the case for escorts trying to enter the country from outside.  

[Luv2play]

I know escorts who have told me they no longer will go to the US from Canada.

[BaronArtz]

If his working papers are in order, he has nothing to worry about.  If he can, he should get Global Entry.  You breeze right through with GE.

The only issue is that facial recognition software may be used.  If he is flagged as an escort, he is not likely to get in.

Edited Thursday at 12:26 AM by BaronArtz

[Wanderoz]

Nearly all international airports visual set-up entry points use facial recognition  now.  You stand in front of the machine & it scans you. They did not even look at my passport last time with Global Entry. 

[BaronArtz]

3 minutes ago, Wanderoz said:

Nearly all international airports visual set-up entry points use facial recognition  now.  You stand in front of the machine & it scans you. They did not even look at my passport last time with Global Entry. 

Exactly!  My experience as well.  And the lines are very short.  Last time I landed at JFK, there were only 3 people ahead of me.  It was a breeze.

 

[Wanderoz]

11 minutes ago, BaronArtz said:

Exactly!  My experience as well.  And the lines are very short.  Last time I landed at JFK, there were only 3 people ahead of me.  It was a breeze.

 

I waited 3 minutes!!!

[+ glutes]

2 hours ago, purplekow said:

 

Without discussion not allowed on this site, a simple yes or no, has anyone else run into the obstacle for travel within the States.  

Yes. And this person was not a escort.

[+ PhileasFogg]

2 hours ago, purplekow said:

Without discussion not allowed on this site, a simple yes or no, has anyone else run into the obstacle for travel within the States.  It certainly has been the case for escorts trying to enter the country from outside

Yes. Twice 

[DMonDude]

1 hour ago, purplekow said:

has anyone else run into the obstacle for travel within the States.

I've known one escort who travelers within the States regularly that as of last time i asked him about it hadn't had any issues. I've also heard multiple anecdotes of some non-sex workers who on paper should have had no issues, but did.

As others said. From my understanding, on paper, ICE is mostly at the big airports and the main thing they're looking for are foreign nationals on expired visas (whether flying domestically or coming/going internationally). TSA is sharing passenger info with ICE. So that's how they then know who to target. On paper, theoretically, escorts traveling within and maybe even coming in from outside the country should be ok long as all their papers/visas/permits are correct and current (i can't speak to the facial recognition and possible escort database flagging aspect of this that BaronArtz smartly brought up but i think is a valid concern too). But that said...

1 hour ago, purplekow said:

He is foreign born but has work papers but he is so anxious about the possibility of being held by ICE that he has curtailed all US travel by plane until things appear somewhat safer.

In his position, I would probably do the same. 

I'd also definitely still feel nervous and would think hard about traveling to the U.S. now if i were in those shoes. Other than just having hosted the World Cup, we've seen huge multi-billion dollars worth of tourism decline across the board here. Specifically tied to how ICE has made a pattern of being heavy handed and casting an overly wide net in regards to all this, since they're currently trying to meet quotas first and foremost. Which has resulted in some notable instances of even people who do have their papers in order, being hassled or held, among other things, by ICE. Which has rightfully got locals and foreign travelers alike, spooked.

[Nue2thegame]

No, not for travel but yes for other issues. 

[robberbaron4u]

Well..."Alfie"will not be back for five years. As by a prior post, travelling from London, he was detained at the Orlando, Florida airport and, suspected of being a sex worker, he was deported with a five year ban on entry to the US. He is now coded as amber and subject to secondary review.

[BuffaloKyle]

I hope you can get a replacement lined up in time for your birthday @purplekow

I don't blame him either. Not worth the risk. I'm glad he told you well in advance.

[DMICS]

6 hours ago, Luv2play said:

I know escorts who have told me they no longer will go to the US from Canada.

 

A couple of my regular go-tos have been to the U.S. this summer and I mentioned to them some additional tips to avoid potentially being detained. 

 

5 hours ago, Wanderoz said:

Nearly all international airports visual set-up entry points use facial recognition  now.  You stand in front of the machine & it scans you. They did not even look at my passport last time with Global Entry. 

 

Yep, I just got back from the USA recently. After getting facial and finger scanned as U.S. Immigration, I was questioned for about 20 minutes about an incident 11 years ago when I was denied at the border on the way to Miami. Mind you, since that traumatic experience I've been to the U.S. multiple times each year since then (not including the pandemic) and never got questioned or stopped before. Anyways, I just answered everything in detail and eventually I was allowed to continue on my trip. 

 

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

 There is an entire thread about Milo Miles, a Colombian-Canadian porn star/escort. He had the NEXUS pass, but was still pulled over for secondary screening by DHS at Pearson Airport en route to Las Vegas. They went thru his phone, discovered evidence that he is a sex worker and hit him with a 10-year ban.

https://www.companyofmen.org/topic/168796-another-escort-detained-at-the-border/

Any escort with plans to enter the US and engage in sex work, or any other type of work, without work papers is risking a long ban.

BTC
🤡

[+ PhileasFogg]

11 hours ago, BaronArtz said:

If his working papers are in order, he has nothing to worry about.  If he can, he should get Global Entry.  You breeze right through with GE.

The only issue is that facial recognition software may be used.  If he is flagged as an escort, he is not likely to get in.

I don’t think this is completely true based on recent press.

One guy in Atlanta has had his visa stuck in renewal hell.  So he’s her in a good paying job, on an expired visa, unable to renew his license tags or drivers license….they are creating the loopholes that make detention more justifiable.

Hes been here since he was 5

[DenverDad]

Probably easier to fly to Canada vs having the escort come here

[+ KensingtonHomo]

We haven't had this happen directly. However, when we were in Puerto Vallarta in May, we met many escorts who used to travel to the US regularly and no longer do. The majority of them said they feared being detained by ICE. 

This not just an escort issue. I work regularly with extremely successful doctors, scientists, and policy people who are either naturalized or were born here to immigrant parents. They're all minimizing travel outside the country if they live here or visiting if they do not. ICE and CPB have created such a sense of fear that they do not want to risk it. This is terrible for our country, as entire industries are moving their conferences and meetings away from us. Students aren't applying to learn here. And for what? 

[marylander1940]

13 hours ago, purplekow said:

I had plans for a nice weekend for my birthday.  The escort contacted me today, three weeks before, to say that he was cancelling because of the increase of ICE surveillance at airports in the US.  He is foreign born but has work papers but he is so anxious about the possibility of being held by ICE that he has curtailed all US travel by plane until things appear somewhat safer.

In his position, I would probably do the same.  

Without discussion not allowed on this site, a simple yes or no, has anyone else run into the obstacle for travel within the States.  It certainly has been the case for escorts trying to enter the country from outside.  

Thank you posting this thread, I'm glad we can talk about this subject in this forum. 

12 hours ago, BaronArtz said:

If his working papers are in order, he has nothing to worry about.  If he can, he should get Global Entry.  You breeze right through with GE.

The only issue is that facial recognition software may be used.  If he is flagged as an escort, he is not likely to get in.

Unfortunately, even if his "papers" are up to date because of quotas he might still endure extra scrutiny. Folks who are asylum seekers or even married to a US citizen, have legal US documents to travel and are trying to change or update their status have also been detained by ICE while trying to fly within USA. Some are green card holders. 

I know an escort who has been overstaying his visa for over 20 years, he's very cautious not to go to certain neighborhood and suburbs with a high Hispanic population because he might be "scooped up". As far as he knows because he overstayed his visa waiver a long time ago and he never tried to change his status, pay taxes, etc. he's not in the system and there's a lot of people in front on him specially now folks from Haiti, Syria, etc. 

[marylander1940]

5 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

We haven't had this happen directly. However, when we were in Puerto Vallarta in May, we met many escorts who used to travel to the US regularly and no longer do. The majority of them said they feared being detained by ICE. 

This not just an escort issue. I work regularly with extremely successful doctors, scientists, and policy people who are either naturalized or were born here to immigrant parents. They're all minimizing travel outside the country if they live here or visiting if they do not. ICE and CPB have created such a sense of fear that they do not want to risk it. This is terrible for our country, as entire industries are moving their conferences and meetings away from us. Students aren't applying to learn here. And for what? 

This not only affecting healthcare but IT, new requirement for H1B visas is a 100,000 application fee. 

[BaronArtz]

9 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

I know an escort who has been overstaying his visa for over 20 years, he's very cautious not to go to certain neighborhood and suburbs with a high Hispanic population because he might be "scooped up". As far as he knows because he overstayed his visa waiver a long time ago and he never tried to change his status, pay taxes, etc. he's not in the system and there's a lot of people in front on him specially now folks from Haiti, Syria, etc. 

That is sad.  How can he live like that?  How does he rent an apartment without ID?  How do you get a driver's license? How do you get on a plane?  I would say, how do you get a job, but he is an independent contractor.  More importantly, he must live in continuous fear of being picked up by ICE.  Each time someone knocks at his front door it could be them.  

[marylander1940]

16 minutes ago, BaronArtz said:

That is sad.  How can he live like that?  How does he rent an apartment without ID?  How do you get a driver's license? How do you get on a plane?  I would say, how do you get a job, but he is an independent contractor.  More importantly, he must live in continuous fear of being picked up by ICE.  Each time someone knocks at his front door it could be them.  

He was able to get his apartment a long time ago when he had an ID and with and an unused (virgin) SS number, he renews his lease online, and to travel he uses his passport. He's a bit concerned when he travels to conservative places, but I doubt ICE is going after escorts knocking at their doors, they would rather go to a Home Depot, or certain neighborhoods knowing even if they're going to arrest one person, they could kidnap others. ..

So far, the only cases of sexual workers stopped by ICE have been folks who were in the system or were trying to come into the country to work. 

Life is all about choices. He's worth 2 million dollars because he invested his money in real estate in his home country!

Edited Thursday at 01:38 PM by marylander1940

[BaronArtz]

1 hour ago, marylander1940 said:

 to travel he uses his passport.

If he is your friend, tell him to avoid airports at this time  He has a passport, but based on what you are saying, his visa expired,  Picking up people with expired visas at airports is a huge ICE priority right now.

I wish him well.

Edited Thursday at 03:12 PM by BaronArtz

[Frequentflier]

Anyone's personal experience has no relation to what could happen to a non citizen in today's United States. Certainly if I was a non citizen practicing in this hobby I'd avoid any U.S. travel that runs my name through a government database (like airline) unless it was a health issue. Why take chances when its not absolutely unnecessary? As a U.S. citizen I've had zero issues crossing the U.S. border, have sped through customs & immigration etc. but I'll compare that experience to a non citizen regardless of whether they are a member of this hobby community. Even with no paperwork issues haven't we read about foreigners being arrested and held pending deportation? Any amount of time in custody can't be fun. Ok, to clarify given some here may like some forms of custody🤣, I'm referring to custody by a government agency

If my post needs to get moved to another forum, I'll not complain. Just seems from the previous posts above that this comment wouldn't break the rules which I am not trying to do. 

Have a nice day.

[+ purplekow]

The escort in question just got a driver's license and is awaiting a hearing on asylum.  He was beaten and his home burned down by drug cartel and they want him to work for them, which he has refused to do for years.  He has sisters and a mother back home and his goal is to make enough money to move them out of the slums and away from the cartel.  He has a friend who is cleaning supermarkets at night and who is in the same position in regard to his status back in his home country.  

It is easy for some to say they should just try to come here legally, but the legal immigration without asylum is very difficult and can take years.  Years that people do not have when their homes are being burned to the ground.  Asylum also takes years and often, people awaiting asylum are in the category of "undocumented" while they wait for the system to get to them.   

I was in charge of medical residency and we had about 30 medical residents from many different countries.  Recently, a female doctor who wears a hajib was harassed here and then when she went home for vacation, she was not allowed back into the country.  After two years of a three year medical training, she is now in limbo.  The university is trying to help her, but it is likely  she will lose a full year of training, if no more time.  This with appropriate visas and two years of training already accomplished.   

There are many foreign born medical doctors in the US because there are not enough students willing to go into primary care and the number of US graduates each year is about 10000 short of the number of physicians needed to staff hospitals across the country.  Nearly 25 % of training positions in the US are filled by FMGs (foreign medical graduates) and many of those stay in the US after completion of training practicing in locations that are desperate for doctors.  Even with nurse practitioners and physician assistants, many areas, ironically places which are not usually friendly toward immigrants, have to recruit FMG physicians.  They pay amazing well and give all kinds of benefits. 

[Luv2play]

7 hours ago, marylander1940 said:

He was able to get his apartment a long time ago when he had an ID and with and an unused (virgin) SS number, he renews his lease online, and to travel he uses his passport. He's a bit concerned when he travels to conservative places, but I doubt ICE is going after escorts knocking at their doors, they would rather go to a Home Depot, or certain neighborhoods knowing even if they're going to arrest one person, they could kidnap others. ..

So far, the only cases of sexual workers stopped by ICE have been folks who were in the system or were trying to come into the country to work. 

Life is all about choices. He's worth 2 million dollars because he invested his money in real estate in his home country!

As per your last paragraph at least he has a choice. He could go back to his country of origin and access his millions.  Not many in that position.