NEW YORK- An Australian traveler was deported from the United States (US) after being detained for 8 hours at John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York simply because he arrived via Hong Kong (HKG) on Cathay Pacific (CX) instead of taking a direct flight.
The incident represents one of the growing number of cases where foreign visitors face extreme vetting under recent immigration policies, with the traveler losing his $15,000 Florida cruise because he missed the sailing after being denied entry despite having valid documentation, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Photo: Clément AlloingAustralian deported from the US
The Australian traveler’s experience highlights the intensifying border security measures implemented following a day-one Executive Order mandating “enhanced vetting” procedures.
Border agents questioned his travel route from Sydney (SYD) to New York (JFK) via Hong Kong (HKG), considering it suspicious despite it being a common cost-saving option for many international travelers.
During his 8-hour detention, officials conducted extensive examinations of his electronic devices, including his laptop and iPhone.
The traveler reported that three separate interview teams participated in his interrogation before ultimately deciding to deport him based primarily on his “unusual route” through Asia.
This case isn’t isolated. At New York JFK alone, 194 arriving foreigners were deemed “inadmissible” in March, up from 135 in February, ViewfromtheWing reported.
The impact extends beyond individual travelers, affecting the broader tourism industry. Foreign visits to the U.S. were already down approximately 20% in March, and forward bookings by Europeans traveling to the U.S. have declined 25% for summer travel, according to Accor Hotels.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Cathay Pacific, B-KPL, Boeing 777-367 ER, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72202271International Concerns and Economic Consequences
Multiple countries including the UK, Germany, and Canada have updated their travel advisories regarding trips to the United States. These advisories warn citizens about potentially prolonged interrogations and electronic device searches at U.S. border points.
The consequences of these policies extend beyond diplomatic tensions. The US tourism industry, worth $155 billion in overseas visitor expenditure and employing millions of Americans, faces significant economic threats from declining international arrivals.
Travelers from traditionally “safe” countries like Australia and the UK no longer feel secure visiting the United States.
In another disturbing case, a young British woman endured 19 days of detention in an immigration facility. While U.S. officials deny targeting travelers based on political beliefs or nationalities, the increasing frequency of these incidents suggests systematic changes in border enforcement practices.
Photo: Dallas International Airport (DFW)US Tourism Decline
US tourism faces significant challenges as international visitors encounter increasingly stringent border security measures. In 2024, Australian tourism to the United States reached over 710,000 visitors, marking a nearly 17 percent increase from the previous year, before the Trump administration implemented enhanced vetting procedures.
French hotel conglomerate Accor has reported a 25 percent decrease in bookings from European travelers for the upcoming northern summer season. UK-based airline Virgin Atlantic has similarly alerted investors about declining passenger numbers amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between the United States and European nations.
Travel advisories regarding border treatment have intensified. Major American publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post have published expert recommendations advising international travelers to remove potentially sensitive content from electronic devices before entering the United States.
Some analysts have taken more extreme positions, suggesting visitors completely forego bringing personal laptops and tablets, instead recommending the purchase of disposable “burner phones” for US travel.
The traditionally warm welcome that attracted generations of Australian tourists appears to be fading. If current trends continue, tourism experts warn the United States could experience a tourism decline comparable to the aftermath of September 11, 2001—a period when international goodwill proved essential for the nation’s recovery.
Feature Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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