Jan. 28, 2026, 2:44 p.m. ET
- Germany has issued a travel advisory for the United States following fatal clashes with immigration agents.
- The advisory warns German citizens about demonstrations and violent clashes in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities.
- Two people have been killed in Minneapolis in separate incidents involving federal immigration authorities.
Germany is warning citizens traveling to the United States about clashes with immigration agents in the wake of recent demonstrations in Minneapolis that have resulted in fatalities.
The country’s Federal Foreign Office posted updated guidance to its travel information page on Jan. 26 about the recent winter storm, which canceled more than 10,000 flights, as well as tensions between civilians and federal immigration authorities in cities across the U.S.
“In Minneapolis and other cities, demonstrations sometimes lead to violent clashes with immigration and security authorities,” the update states.
There have been two deaths related to the thousands of immigration agents sent to Minneapolis by the Trump administration within the last month to carry out deportations. On Jan. 7, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good in her car. On Jan. 24, Minneapolis-based ICU nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a Border Patrol officer.
The Foreign Office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
In the advisory, Germany urges travelers to “stay away from crowds where violence might occur” and also “remain calm and follow the instructions of the authorities and local security forces.” It also said that people should be aware of the identification requirements in certain states, and the security risks caused by the “domestic political situation,” citing a rise in violent crime and “increased risk of politically motivated violence.”
This isn’t the first time Germany has cautioned people about visiting the U.S. Amid a string of detainments, arrests and denials of foreign nationals into the U.S. last year – including three German nationals – Germany and the United Kingdom issued travel advisories reminding their citizens that a valid visa or ESTA authorization does not guarantee entry.
Last year, Denmark and Finland also updated their U.S. travel advisories for transgender and nonbinary travelers when the U.S. State Department announced it would no longer recognize the “X” gender marker or one that did not align with someone’s gender assigned at birth. The change disrupted more than just international travel for many in the LGBTQ+ community, who feared being stuck abroad or mistreatment if they tried going abroad, but also caused concerns for safety and identity.
