The AFPICON 2025 Conference is coming up soon (April 27-29) and there’s a growing unease among Canadian and other non-US fundraisers—an anxious undercurrent that’s hard to ignore.

Many who once eagerly crossed the border for conferences and gatherings now find themselves hesitating. It’s not the logistics of travel or the cost. It’s the climate—the political climate—and the sense that simply showing up could carry risks.

In conversations and online, there’s a quiet fear of being singled out, questioned, or worse, detained. These aren’t wild fantasies. They’re grounded in stories—real and recent—of people being stopped, interrogated, or barred from entry based on the work they do or the causes they support.

For fundraisers, especially those working in human rights, reproductive justice, or racial equity, the anxiety cuts even deeper. These are people whose careers are built on relationships and values—on showing up, speaking out, and standing with communities.

The idea that these very commitments might mark them as “suspect” at the border is more than ironic. It’s chilling. So, some are choosing not to go at all, staying home rather than risk becoming the next cautionary tale. The connections they miss, the ideas they won’t share—it’s a loss. Not just for them, but for the nonprofit and fundraising community they’re part of.

What They’re Really Looking For

They’ll say it’s about “security.” They’ll say it’s “routine.” But let’s be honest—what border officials are really looking for is ideological compliance. They’re scanning for signs that you might be a problem, not because you’ve broken any law, but because your work, your values, or your associations challenge Trump and MAGA’s beliefs.

Here’s what raises red flags in today’s climate:

• Connections to activist movements — Support for Ukraine, statements against Russia’s barbarity,  indigenous sovereignty, Palestinian rights, climate justice, reproductive freedom.
• Work with nonprofits that push back — immigration reform, trans rights, prison abolition or reform, anything that looks  “progressive”.
• Travel history to “watchlisted” regions — Whether for personal, humanitarian, or training/educational reasons, this can trigger scrutiny.
• Social media likes, follows, and posts — You don’t have to be posting radical manifestos. Sometimes, just liking or reposting a strong political opinion is enough to get flagged.
• Books, stickers, T-shirts, art — Cultural expression is political, and border agents know it. A slogan on your tote bag might say more to them than your passport ever will.

It’s not about terrorism. It’s about control. About sending a message: You’re being watched. You should stay quiet.

Their Questions, Your Rights?

Border agents know what they’re doing: they ask fast, they ask vague, they ask loud. It’s a performance—one designed to make you doubt yourself, to give away more than you have to. But here’s the truth: you still have rights, even at the border. You just need to know what they are—and how to stand on them.

Can they search your phone or laptop?  Yes, in the U.S., they can ask for your device and search it without a warrant. That’s why you should strip it down before you travel. You can refuse to give a password—but that may delay your entry or get you denied. It’s a calculated risk.

Can they make you hand over social media accounts?  They might ask. You’re not legally required to offer it. But they may say it’s “voluntary” and act like refusal = guilt. Don’t be intimidated. You can always ask, “Is this required by law?”

Can they detain you for refusing to answer questions?  They can delay or deny your entry, especially if you’re not a U.S. citizen. But they can’t force you to talk. You can respond with:
— “I’m happy to answer questions that are relevant to my entry. Are these questions required by law?”
— “Am I being detained, or am I free to go?”

Can they look through your bags and books?  Yes. So assume everything they see will be judged out of context. Don’t bring what you’re not prepared to explain.

Can you ask for a lawyer?  If you’re a U.S. citizen: Yes, absolutely.
If you’re not: No right to counsel at the border. But you can still say:
“I want to remain silent until I speak to a lawyer.”

Bottom line: You don’t have to be rude. But you do have to be ready. The border isn’t about truth—it’s about power. And knowing your rights is how you take some of that power back.

Protect Yourself at the Border: What They Don’t Want You to Know

Let’s be clear: the U.S. border isn’t neutral territory anymore. For those who work in justice, equity, or advocacy—especially non-U.S. citizens—the border has become a flashpoint. Increasingly, students, activists, teachers, writers, professionals of all sorts are being stopped, searched, and sometimes turned away. Not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because of the ideas they carry. Literally.

If you’re crossing into the United States, you need to treat it like entering a surveillance zone.

Here’s how to protect yourself.

1. Strip your phone and laptop. Anything on your device—notes from a campaign, photos from a protest, messages of solidarity—can be twisted to fit a narrative of suspicion. Back up your data and remove anything you don’t want read out loud by a stranger in uniform. Clean device = clean slate.  Easy alternative:  get an inexpensive burner phone.
2. Travel light. Travel smart. If possible, use a secondary or “travel” phone and laptop with only the basics. The less digital footprint you carry, the less they can use against you.
3. Social media is a vulnerability—log out or don’t bring it. Border agents don’t need a warrant to scroll through your apps. Do you want them pulling up posts you liked about Gaza? About abortion? About Indigenous land rights? No? Then log out or go dark.
4. Watch what you carry. That feminist sticker on your water bottle? That zine in your tote bag? That flyer from the last march you went to? Think twice. Political materials, even innocuous ones, can be used to “justify” more aggressive questioning.
5. Don’t be intimidated. Be prepared. You have rights—even at the border. They can ask questions, but you don’t have to offer your life story. Be calm, be firm, and don’t play into their performance of power. Ask: Am I being detained? If not, walk away.

Roger