Deportation Fear Drives Immigrants to Avoid Travel in the US

Deportation Fear: A sharp shift is unfolding in the nation’s travel patterns as fear overshadows the festive spirit. A recent nationwide study has found that immigrants avoiding travel in the United States has become increasingly common, even among those who hold legal status or are naturalised citizens. The survey, released as the holiday season peaks, indicates that immigration anxieties now influence once routine decisions, such as visiting family or travelling for work.

According to the 2025 Survey of Immigrants, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in partnership with The New York Times, 27 per cent of immigrants across the country have cancelled or altered domestic or international travel plans to reduce the risk of interacting with immigration authorities. What was once seen as a concern limited to the undocumented population now stretches far wider.

Deportation: Legal residents are also stepping back

Fear remains most pronounced among undocumented immigrants: the survey shows that 63 per cent avoided travel altogether, worried that increased scrutiny could lead to detention or deportation. But surprisingly, legally present immigrants are now behaving with similar caution.

Among H-1B visa holders — a group widely seen as highly skilled contributors to the U.S. economy — nearly one-third (32 per cent) reported staying put to keep a “low profile.” Even 15 per cent of naturalised U.S. citizens said they avoided travelling to steer clear of any interaction with federal agencies.

What sparked the rise in fear?

Experts point to multiple developments under the Trump administration’s tightened immigration regime. One significant shift highlighted in the survey is new data-sharing measures between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While domestic flight travel data had traditionally remained separate from deportation operations, that wall has begun to crumble.

The survey frames the new travel behaviour as a rational reaction: many immigrants are unsure where enforcement lines begin and end.

Deportation: H-1B crackdown intensifying anxieties

The survey period overlapped with a year of enormous upheaval for H-1B and H-4 visa holders:

• Remote and third-country visa renewals ended, pushing applicants to return home for interviews.

• A $100,000 fee was added to new H-1B filings via a September executive order.

• Social media activity reviews were expanded in December as part of security assessments.

The changes severely jammed consular operations worldwide, with India experiencing some of the worst delays. Interview dates scheduled for late 2025 were abruptly moved 10 to 22 months later, in some cases even into 2027. Many Indian tech professionals remain stranded abroad, separated from their families and livelihoods in the U.S.

Holiday season without movement

The disruption comes during what is normally America’s busiest travel window — from Halloween through New Year’s Eve. Airports and highways often surge with immigrants visiting loved ones or taking vacation trips.

This year, however, thousands stayed home. The dread of additional questioning, visa document checks, or even arrest loomed larger than celebrations.