Australia tells people not to travel to America, warns of potential civil unrest & terrorism

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) is warning folks to avoid traveling to the United States, indicating there is an “ongoing potential for unrest and violence” and terrorism. The international travel ban from Australia remains in place.

The DFAT which is sort of like the US State Department recently updated their travel advisory on US Travel with a stark warning to potential visitors about unrest and violence in the face of the upcoming November 3rd election and continued COVID risk.

They are recommending that people avoid travel to the United States. Notably, they highlight:

• “Widespread protests and demonstrations have occurred across the country since 27 May 2020, and continue in several US cities. Some protests have turned violent.
• The US has a heightened risk of terrorist attacks
• Violent crime is more common than in Australia and gun crime is possible in all areas
• COVID-19 remains a risk in the US.”

Australia is currently under a travel ban where it is restricting all international travel from Australia unless you receive an exemption from the DFAT. Reasons for exemption include:

• You are not a citizen
• Essential COVID support travel (e.g. medical professional actively helping respond to COVID)
• Essential business travel
• Urgent medical treatment
• You are leaving for at least 3 months
• Compassionate / humanitarian travel

Given these restrictions, it is unlikely an Australian would be visiting the United States anyway, but the warning is a stark reminder of how the world views the United States right now in the face of an election and on the heels of a rise in COVID cases. Australia, which has reported no new COVID cases in the last few months, clearly thinks November 3rd could result in violent protests – even terrorism.

See the full travel advisory here

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