A major nationwide survey has uncovered a climate of fear affecting the daily lives of immigrants across the United States, with travel emerging as a primary concern. The study found that apprehension about immigration enforcement is causing significant numbers of immigrants, including those with legal status, to alter their lives and avoid movement.
Survey Reveals Widespread Travel Anxiety
About 27 per cent of all immigrants surveyed admitted they had deliberately avoided trips, either within the US or overseas. This strategic choice is aimed solely at reducing the risk of unwanted encounters with immigration authorities. The survey, a collaborative effort between the Kaiser Family Foundation and The New York Times, was conducted from August to October 2025.
It detailed that nearly three out of every ten immigrants had changed or cancelled travel plans specifically to avoid drawing official attention. Notably, this fear extends far beyond undocumented individuals. Many immigrants holding legal status, such as H-1B visa holders, and even some who have become naturalised US citizens, reported choosing to stay put.
Policy Shifts Create Logjams, Especially for Indians
The data points directly to the impact of recent stringent policy changes. Among H-1B visa holders, approximately one-third confirmed they had decided against travel due to immigration worries. This follows a series of administrative moves that have complicated the visa process.
In July 2025, the US State Department halted the remote and third-country renewal options for H-1B and H-4 visas. This move forced applicants to return to their home countries to complete renewal procedures. Subsequently, in September 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a substantial $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications. The administration also widened social media screening, scrutinising applicants' digital footprints during vetting.
These measures have placed immense strain on US consulates and embassies worldwide, with facilities in India facing particularly severe backlogs. Interview schedules and visa appointments have been pushed back by nearly a year, with some slots reportedly scheduled as far out as 2027. Consequently, hundreds of skilled Indian professionals have found themselves stranded in India after travelling for mandatory interviews, separated from their jobs and families in the United States.
Fear Permeates All Levels of Immigration Status
The travel anxiety documented by the survey is not confined to high-skilled visa holders. The report states that nearly two-thirds of undocumented immigrants have also avoided travel, both domestically and internationally.
This pervasive fear has been amplified by reports that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has shared domestic travel information, including passenger manifests, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Previously, immigration authorities largely lacked access to this data. Many immigrants now say they are actively trying to stay under the radar due to increased scrutiny at airports, borders, and other transit points.
Despite these challenges and anxieties, the survey offered a glimpse of enduring aspiration. Most immigrants said they would still choose to come to the United States if given the chance to decide again. These findings are grounded in a nationally representative survey of 1,805 immigrant adults currently residing in the US.
