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Measure Announced by DHS Suspended Global Entry Starting at 6 AM EST on February 22 and Deactivated Kiosks, In Addition to Pausing Interviews, Renewals, and New Applications. With the Trump Administration Claiming Resource Containment Due to the Budget Stalemate, Arrival Returns to the Standard, Including for Pre-Approved Travelers, in the U.S.
At arrival, the difference between a quick crossing and a long wait usually depends on details invisible to those just wanting to get to the hotel or appointment. It was this “shortcut” that the Trump administration removed by suspending Global Entry, throwing frequent travelers back into the classic immigration ritual, with lines, booths, and traditional inspection.
The suspension, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), took effect at 6 AM EST on February 22 in the United States and alters the routine in participating airports. Those who were already approved lose access to automated kiosks, and those in the middle of the process are left without interviews, renewals, or new applications, at least for now.
What Was “Expedited Entry” and Why Did So Many People Depend on It
Global Entry is a program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aimed at pre-approved travelers. The path was well-known among those who cross borders frequently: background check, in-person interview, and, after approval, access to automated kiosks at airports to complete entry without the traditional immigration service. In practice, it was an early screening to classify the traveler as low risk and expedite the flow.
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This framework served two objectives at once: reducing lines for the general public and concentrating agents’ work on situations that require more attention. By integrating Global Entry with TSA PreCheck, the system also interacted with the travel experience within the country, facilitating passage through security on domestic flights. The central point, however, was international arrival: the promise of less time stopped and more predictability in immigration.
What Changes Practically in Airports and Immigration Lines
With the suspension, Global Entry kiosks cease operations at participating airports, and the script reverts to the same for almost everyone: line, inspection, and stamp in the conventional flow.
Even those who were pre-approved now depend on the traditional structure, which changes the logic of “arrive and leave” that many frequent travelers had incorporated into their routine.
The Trump administration, according to DHS information, also temporarily halts new applications, renewals, and in-person interviews, which are the final step to granting the benefit.
This creates a cascading effect: those about to conclude the process become frozen, and those counting on renewal to maintain their advantage revert to square one.
Even U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are directed to the standard lines for those groups, while foreign visitors proceed to the regular tourist lines.
Why Did the Trump Administration Suspend Global Entry During the Budget Stalemate
The official justification from DHS is grounded in the partial shutdown of the agency caused by the lack of agreement in Congress on the budget.
In a scenario of limited resources and pressured staff, the Trump administration frames Global Entry as a non-essential service, prioritizing operations related to national security and border control.
The department’s secretary, Kristi Noem, stated in a statement that the suspension of this type of service is necessary to maintain focus on what has been classified as a priority activity.
Within the same emergency package, restrictions were also announced on FEMA activities unrelated to disasters and the suspension of special escorts at airports.
The message is that when the budget stalls, convenience services are often the first to go.
Interviews, Renewals, and New Applications: The Bottleneck That Forms
Global Entry was not just “a kiosk”: it depended on an entire chain of verification and service. The in-person interview acts as a validation step, where the authority confirms data and checks the candidate’s eligibility.
When interviews stop, the approval funnel stops moving, and the volume of pending applications tends to grow, as new processes come to a halt and those already open cannot progress.
The same logic applies to renewals. Those who maintain a travel routine often plan their calendar based on the program’s status, and the suspension removes that predictability.
With the Trump administration holding renewals and new applications, the backlog becomes a recovery problem: when the service returns, it will be necessary to reorganize the schedule, reactivate staff, and clear a backlog of demand, all while immigration lines continue to absorb more people through traditional service.
And for Brazilians: Visa Remains the Same, but the Operational Effect Could Be Greater
An important point for those leaving Brazil is to separate “entry into the country” from “accelerated entry benefit.” The suspension does not affect visa issuance and does not prevent entry for tourists with valid visas, such as B1/B2 category visas. The impact is the loss of the operational shortcut, not a change in visa rules themselves.
Still, there is an additional component mentioned for Brazil: a systems update in the Federal Police temporarily halted the sending of data to CBP, worsening the situation for program participants.
In other words, in addition to the Trump administration’s decision to suspend services during the budget stalemate, there is a technical noise that could hinder the machinery for Brazilians already within the Global Entry ecosystem, making the scenario even less predictable for frequent travelers.
When It May Return and How to Plan Until Then
Restoration depends on the approval of the budget by the U.S. Congress and the normalization of DHS activities. Until then, processing continues under the traditional immigration model, with kiosks out of operation and administrative services of the program paused.
It is not a technology change, but rather an interruption due to political and financial context, which means that the return is conditioned on a decision external to the traveler.
In practice, planning needs to assume the line as the rule and not as an exception. Those who were used to arriving with a few extra minutes of leeway should recalibrate connections, transfer times, and commitments upon arrival.
And for those in the middle of the process, the most realistic expectation is to monitor the normalization of DHS to understand when interviews and renewals will reopen. The scenario has changed, and the best strategy is to reduce dependence on a single “shortcut” until the Trump administration resumes the program.
If you have ever used fast tracks at U.S. airports, what was the biggest difference you felt at arrival: time, stress, predictability, or security?
And for those who travel frequently: does this suspension by the Trump administration change the way you schedule connections and appointments on the day of arrival, or did you already plan as if the traditional line was inevitable?
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