U.S. government teases permanent travel ban, issues another tough warning

The agency warned tourists that they 'could face a permanent ban on traveling.'

May 20, 2025 - 00:44

U.S. government teases permanent travel ban, issues another tough warning

Since the start of the year and the new administration, the Trump-led government has continued its push to crack down on immigration in a way that has been scaring off even tourists planning a brief visit to the U.S.

A report from Tourism Economics predicts that international travel to the U.S. will drop by 15.2% by the time 2025 is over, while border crossings from nearby countries like Canada fell by a respective 12.5% in February and 18% in March.

The situation is not helped by the fact that, amid high-profile stories of their citizens being detained when trying to enter the country legally, a number of Western countries have updated their guidance for U.S.-bound travelers.

“You should comply with all entry, visa, and other conditions of entry,” the United Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry added to its website for the United States in March 2025. “The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.”

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‘You could be deported’: U.S. Embassy puts out post alarming travelers

The U.S. government has also been issuing its own statements that alarm travelers from other countries. On May 17, the U.S. Embassy in India put out a social media post sternly telling visitors from India to respect immigration rules.

“'If you remain in the United States beyond your authorized period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future,” the X post reads.

The post applies to Indian tourists, students at American universities, and anyone entering the country on a visa.

While deportation and an entry ban have always been the risk for anyone entering the country illegally, the new advisory meant to draw attention to a longstanding but previously not well enforced law requiring foreign nationals staying in the country for more than 30 days to register with the federal government.

Because those who come in by plane are automatically registered upon entry and the enforcement push was announced before an official portal was made available, the new rule sowed confusion and fears of accidentally running afoul of the law.

The U.S. Embassy in India sent out an alarmist social media post about traveling to the country.
Image source: Shutterstock

Trump repeatedly shoots down falling travel numbers

The registration portal is now active and required for any foreign national who entered the U.S. by land from a country like Canada and Mexico and intends to stay for more than 30 days.

More on travel:

Amid all these changes and stories of deportations and detentions at the border, foreign travel to the U.S. has continued to fall throughout 2025.

Both President Trump and the White House have continued to shut down any claims that such an atmosphere would deliver a hit to the U.S. economy — a U.S. Travel Association reported estimated that a 10% reduction in Canadian travel alone would cost the U.S. travel industry $2.1 billion in losses — and continued to insist that travel is thriving.

"Tourism is doing very well," Trump said in an April 29 interview after ABC reporter Terry Moran showed him the declining numbers. "We're doing very well. Wait [un]til you see the real numbers come out six months from now."