I’ve been hearing this more and more and this article just puts it all together. People with legit visas, conference invites, proper paperwork still getting turned away or hassled at the border. After a few stories like that, it’s not surprising folks just stop trying.
If I were flying 8 to 12 hours for a conference or job interview and there was a real chance I’d get sent straight back, I’d pick Europe or Asia too. Sounds like organizers are already moving events out of the US because attendance from abroad is dropping.
What really stands out is how fast the US went from default tech hub to “too risky to bother.” Once people build new habits and networks elsewhere, it’s hard to undo that.
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