Aram Sinnreich

I am one of the organizers of a huge annual international academic conference. This year it's in the U.S.

I don't think I can, in good conscience, recommend that any of our international members attend.

https://www.newsweek.com/britain-issues-travel-warning-us-deportations-2047878

Britain Issues Travel Warning for US

The change comes amid President Donald Trump's large-scale crackdown on illegal immigration.

Newsweek
Mar 20, 2025 at 5:59pmWeb
Show threadjimrayMar 20, 2025
@aram my team requires a fair bit of international travel, I’ll no long be asking people to come to the United States.
Show threadGary Mar 20, 2025

@aram @jalefkowit so do your bit for freedom and the environment, and host it online. Just imagine the carbon savings on all the air travel that won’t happen. And people don’t have to go to the USA as a bonus!

Sounds like a win/win situation to me.

(Edit: to point out that I’m not being entirely serious here, and forgot to add appropriate “I am shitposting” emojis 😂)

Show threadD4lt0nMar 20, 2025
@aram Stepping foot on the USA must be avoided
Show threadGrimm Mar 20, 2025
@aram Don't. I know it sucks, but it's not remotely worth it for them to take the risk.
Show threadArtemysiaMar 20, 2025
@aram conferences generally really must relocate. The USA is simply not safe, and people can be barred on a whim. At the very least a substantial online stream should be offered. It's really problematic given how crucial some conferences are for networking and sharing.
Suggestion: offer a parallel European location, with a live stream.
Show threadAlan Langford 🇨🇦🧤🧊摏Mar 20, 2025
@artemis @aram
Come to Canada. For the moment at least we'll even allow people with a US[LN]A passport to enter (and even leave!) without imprisonment.
Show threadBill ZaumenMar 20, 2025
@alan @artemis @aram The feasibility of relocating to Canada may depend on the size of the conference: some years ago I attended some standards meetings and they always seemed to be held in the wrong season. The reason was that there aren't that many venues that can hold a very large group so you have to get the venue several years in advance.
At least that's the reason they gave us.
Show threadAlan Langford 🇨🇦🧤🧊摏Mar 21, 2025
@bzdev @artemis @aram Agreed. That was probably a valid reason, there's only a handful of very large venues, but for the next tier down there should be more options.
Show threadGreg SullivanMar 20, 2025
@aram completely understandable position.
Show threadDr SolobasssteveMar 20, 2025
@aram yeah, I've got a load of things I want to do in the US this year, but I just couldn't risk being wrongly detained 🤷🏽
Show threadMichael BuschMar 20, 2025

@aram As I keep writing lately:

There are reasons why the next several workshops I will be calling into are hybrid; with the in-person portions in Spain, South Africa, Japan, and Finland.

Show threadMark R. StonemanMar 20, 2025
@aram @samlitzinger You're the second person I've seen express concern about an international event. I agree with you. But I also think this is an opportunity to make conferences more accessible by offering video participation too.
Show threadRenéMar 20, 2025
@aram #ice are randomly arrest people to make there quota’s the #fascist Regine has ordered. You better not go to the #us #academics and science are suspected.
Show threadWombatadonMar 21, 2025
@aram so, RedHat One was in the US (only) this year, at Vegas. Instead of the 3 events that have been run annually, previously (US, APAC, EUR).
Apparently will be there for the next few years, I'm guessing due to pre booking the Vegas venue.
Bad timing.
Show thread@[email protected] Has MovedMar 21, 2025

@aram

I’m hearing this from a lot of folks. People coming on holiday, conferences or visits are all changing plans.

Show threadDoug 🌈🇨🇦 Mar 21, 2025
@aram move it to Canada instead.
Show threadSecret SquirrelMar 21, 2025
@aram I have no suggestions for you, but I cannot disagree. Online is a very poor substitute for in person (imo) and you can't move it abroad now. You've my sympathies, for whatever that's worth.