Many immigrants in the U.S. are rethinking holiday travel amid concerns over immigration enforcement and visa scrutiny. A KFF–New York Times survey found that 27% avoided travel this year for fear their immigration status could draw attention.
30-year-old Texas-based IT professional Shikha S. had booked her tickets for traveling to India to meet her parents after a gap of two years. But in the past few weeks, with news circulating about H-1B professionals undergoing additional scrutiny as well as delayed appointments, Shikha had to rethink her plans.
Shikha’s dad, based in Mumbai, India, told the American Bazaar, “My daughter is on an H-1B visa, and even though she does not need an extension or stamping currently, we advised her to postpone her travel. There is too much noise around the possibility of increased vetting of Indian visa holders. And while we will miss her during the only time she can manage a few weeks off from her work, we do not want her to face any unnecessary issues.”
Shikha’s decision to cancel her travel plans aligns with an anxiety an increasing number of immigrants are feeling when it comes to international travel, given the current immigration environment.
Typically, the holiday season brings peak travel across the U.S., with millions of Americans taking to the roads and skies. Travel data show that Thanksgiving and the Christmas–New Year period remain among the busiest travel times of the year, often marked by severe congestion nationwide.
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As per data by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Dec. 1, 2024, was the busiest travel day of the year, with the TSA screening over three million passengers, setting a new all-time record.
And while travel agencies expect another busy holiday travel season this year, a recent survey highlights the travel anxiety being felt by immigrants and work-visa holders across the U.S.
A new “2025 Survey of Immigrants” finds many immigrants are avoiding travel due to immigration-related fears. Conducted by KFF in partnership with The New York Times, the report examines immigrant experiences during the first year of President Trump’s second term amid heightened immigration enforcement.
Shannon Schumacher, senior survey analyst at KFF, said in her LinkedIn post, “In our recent KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants, many immigrants already said they were avoiding travel this year due to immigration-related fears. With the latest news that TSA is sharing passenger info with ICE, immigrants’ avoidance of travel will likely continue.”
The nationally representative survey, based on responses from 1,805 immigrant adults, offers a detailed snapshot of immigrant life in the U.S. Respondents span a wide range of immigration statuses, racial and ethnic backgrounds, income levels, and political affiliations, helping reflect the diversity of immigrant communities.
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The findings shed light on how shifting immigration policies are shaping daily life and travel behavior. The report found that 27% of immigrants said they or a family member avoided travel this year out of concern that someone’s immigration status could draw attention. Among immigrants who are likely undocumented, that share rises to nearly two-thirds (63%). Even immigrants with legal status reported similar concerns, including about one-third (32%) of lawful residents and nearly one-fifth (18%) of naturalized citizens.
The survey also shows that immigration-related fears are shaping many aspects of daily life, from healthcare and work to school and community involvement, with the impact most pronounced among those likely undocumented. About one in ten immigrants said they or a family member avoided routine activities this year due to concerns about immigration status.
Specifically, 14% avoided seeking medical care, 14% skipped church or other community events, 13% stayed away from work, and 10% did not take their child to school or attend school-related activities. Overall, nearly three in 10 immigrants (30%) reported avoiding at least one of these activities since January. Among likely undocumented immigrants, that figure rises sharply to nearly three-quarters (74%).
With H-1B visa dates in India stalled and concerns about ICE activity continuing to make headlines, this year’s travel season may be more subdued, particularly among immigrant communities in the U.S.