The Foreign Affairs Ministry has updated its travel advice for New Zealanders travelling to the United States for the first time since Donald Trump became president, saying they could be detained, deported or banned from re-entering the country if they don't meet strict requirements.
In a statement released to Nine to Noon, MFAT says 17 New Zealand passport holders have sought assistance in the three months since November 2024 because they have experienced immigration difficulties in the US. MFAT says it was a routine review of the US travel advisory which was last fully reviewed in 2023.
While the travel advice level for kiwis travelling to the US remains at Level 2, 'Exercise increased caution' - the advisory now includes more cautionary wording about the potential for detention at the border. It also cautions travellers about laptops, mobile phones and other electronic devices potentially being subject to border security inspection. Otago and Auckland Universities have already alerted academic staff to the issues they may face if travelling to the US.
Otago University Professor of international relations Robert Patman says he would not travel to the US at present, and he thinks the MFAT travel advice is cautionary for anyone who may have criticised the Trump administration in any way.
A United Airlines plane takes off as another taxis at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following the Thanksgiving holiday on 2 December, 2024. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Mario Tama
