Germany has issued a fresh warning to its citizens traveling to the United States after a fatal shooting by federal officers in Minneapolis, sharpening long running concerns about violent clashes linked to immigration enforcement and domestic political tensions in major American cities.

The updated advisory, published by the German Foreign Ministry on January 27, urges visitors to be vigilant, avoid crowds where unrest could erupt, and closely follow instructions from local authorities while in the US.

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The latest warning from Berlin is explicitly tied to the death of 37 year old Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed during a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minneapolis. According to German officials, the incident, which occurred during January in the Twin Cities area, was the second fatal confrontation involving federal officers and protesters in the city this month. The Foreign Ministry’s move marks one of the clearest examples to date of a European government linking travel guidance to a specific use of force incident on US soil.

On its travel information portal, the German government cautions that in Minneapolis and other American cities, demonstrations have at times led to violent clashes with immigration and security authorities. Travelers are urged to stay informed through local media, be vigilant and stay away from crowds where violence could potentially break out. The advisory also reiterates that visitors should remain calm and follow the instructions of local police and federal agents if they encounter operations or protests during their stay.

While Germany had already tightened some aspects of its US travel guidance over the past year, the Minneapolis shooting prompted what officials describe as a fresh alert framed around public order risks, rather than border control issues alone. The language reflects a growing concern in Berlin that domestic US tensions can spill over without warning into areas frequented by foreign visitors, including busy downtown districts and transport hubs.

Chancellor Merz calls US “level of violence” worrying

The updated warning comes as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken unusually bluntly about the situation in the United States. Speaking in Hamburg on Monday, January 26, Merz described the current level of violence as worrying, following news that federal officers had fatally shot a second protester in Minneapolis. He said he expected American authorities to investigate thoroughly whether the use of lethal force had been necessary and whether officers were genuinely under threat at the time.

Merz’s comments underline the degree to which the Minneapolis cases have resonated in Germany, a major source market for US tourism and a close transatlantic partner. For a German chancellor to publicly question the necessity of American security operations is rare, and his remarks signal a deeper anxiety inside the government about the safety of German nationals amid intensifying clashes between protesters and federal agents.

The chancellor also suggested that the troubling reports from the US in recent days appeared concentrated in specific regions or cities, yet still serious enough to merit heightened attention. By pairing his criticism with the Foreign Ministry’s strengthened guidance, Berlin has effectively drawn a line between domestic American political unrest and practical implications for European travelers on the ground.

From border concerns to street level security risks

Germany’s latest message builds on a series of adjustments to its US travel advice over the past year that initially focused on stricter border controls and the risk of detention at ports of entry. Earlier updates warned that even travelers with valid visas or electronic authorizations could be refused entry without legal recourse, and that relatively minor infractions, such as overstaying by a day or misrepresenting the purpose of a visit, might lead to arrest or deportation.

Those cautions coincided with a documented rise in high profile detentions of foreign visitors at US airports and land borders, including cases involving German tourists. Travel industry data from 2025 showed a noticeable decline in bookings from Germany to popular American destinations, as reports of unpredictable treatment at the frontier circulated in European media and on social platforms.

The new alert, however, shifts the emphasis from what happens at passport control to what travelers might encounter once they are inside the United States. By referencing demonstrations, violent confrontations with immigration and security forces, and the need to avoid potentially volatile crowds, Berlin is effectively warning that risks are no longer confined to the border. Instead, they extend into urban environments where protests against immigration enforcement and broader political grievances have periodically turned confrontational.

Minneapolis at the center of a broader security narrative

Minneapolis, long associated internationally with the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the massive protests that followed, is once again at the center of global headlines about US policing and protest. In the weeks leading up to Germany’s alert, demonstrations in the city had grown in intensity following earlier incidents involving federal officers and local activists critical of immigration raids and detention practices.

American media reports describe a pattern of protests near federal buildings and neighborhoods targeted for immigration operations, with some gatherings remaining peaceful while others escalated into clashes, property damage and arrests. For foreign travelers, particularly those unfamiliar with the city’s geography or local politics, stumbling into such situations can be disorienting and potentially dangerous, especially when law enforcement deploys crowd control tactics or makes rapid arrests.

German officials are not advising citizens to avoid Minneapolis altogether, but they are urging a more cautious approach to urban exploration at a time when tensions remain high. That includes steering clear of large gatherings, staying updated on protest hotspots through local news and hotel briefings, and heeding warnings from authorities about areas to avoid at night or during major demonstrations.

What the warning means for German travelers and tour operators

For German tourists already in the US or preparing to travel in the coming weeks, the updated advisory does not prohibit trips, nor does it change insurance or legal obligations by itself. Instead, it serves as a strong recommendation to adapt behavior: staying away from protest sites, not filming or approaching active law enforcement operations, and carrying identification at all times in case authorities conduct checks near demonstration areas or federal facilities.

Tour operators and travel agencies, however, are likely to feel more immediate effects. Industry representatives have already reported a dip in demand for US vacations since early 2025, linked to concerns over both border inspections and the wider political climate. A high profile warning that explicitly cites a fatal shooting and violent clashes could prompt further cancellations or postponements, particularly for city break packages that include stops in Minneapolis or other Midwest hubs.

Some German tour companies are responding by revising itineraries, advising clients to focus on national parks, coastal regions and smaller cities perceived as calmer, or building in more detailed safety briefings during pre departure consultations. For group tours, operators may adjust schedules to avoid downtown areas during evenings or weekends when demonstrations are more likely to occur, and they are urging travelers to register their contact details with the German embassy or consulates once in the US.

US travel industry faces renewed questions over safety messaging

The warning from Germany adds to the pressure on US officials and tourism boards to reassure international visitors, even as political and social tensions remain elevated in an election year environment. American tourism agencies have long emphasized that the vast majority of visits pass without incident and that most cities remain safe for common sense travel, but the accumulation of foreign government advisories is increasingly difficult to ignore.

Major US destinations that depend heavily on European arrivals, including New York, Los Angeles and major theme park regions, have been working to rebuild international visitor numbers after the pandemic and subsequent economic uncertainty. Germany is among the most valuable source markets in Europe, with roughly two million German travelers visiting the United States in 2024. Any sustained perception of heightened risk could complicate efforts to fully restore pre pandemic traffic levels.

Industry analysts note that while isolated shootings or protests have not historically deterred European travelers on a large scale, the difference now lies in the cumulative effect of security concerns. These range from gun violence and mass shootings to political demonstrations, immigration raids and shifting border practices. When these issues are formally acknowledged in the travel advice of close allies such as Germany and the United Kingdom, they take on added weight in the minds of potential visitors.

Transatlantic political context and diplomatic sensitivities

Germany’s sharper language on US safety risks surfaces at a delicate moment in transatlantic relations. Berlin and Washington remain tightly aligned on a range of strategic issues, from support for Ukraine to coordination within NATO, yet domestic developments in the United States often spark unease among European leaders who must balance alliance solidarity with accountability to their own citizens.

By framing its latest travel message in practical terms and avoiding overt political commentary, the German Foreign Ministry is signaling that its primary concern is citizen safety rather than diplomatic point scoring. At the same time, the fact that the travel warning followed closely on Chancellor Merz’s public remarks about the worrying level of violence underlines that European governments are watching US internal stability more closely than at any time in recent memory.

American authorities have so far stressed that investigations into the Minneapolis shootings are ongoing and that officers involved will be subject to the standard review processes applied to federal use of force incidents. However, the visibility of the cases abroad means that both the outcome of those investigations and the conduct of security forces at future demonstrations will be scrutinized not only by domestic watchdogs but also by foreign governments recalibrating their advice to travelers.

Practical guidance for travelers navigating a tense environment

For individual German travelers, as well as visitors from other countries watching Berlin’s move closely, the implications of the new advisory are primarily practical. Travel experts recommend mapping out city routes in advance, checking local news and transit alerts each day, and asking hotel staff about any planned protests or security operations nearby. If large gatherings are expected, travelers are advised to adjust their schedules to spend time in other neighborhoods, museums or indoor attractions away from potential flashpoints.

Visitors are also encouraged to keep digital copies of passports, insurance documents and emergency contact numbers, including those of the nearest German diplomatic mission. In the event of an unexpected lockdown, curfew or transport disruption linked to demonstrations, having quick access to airline and tour operator contact details can help reorganize itineraries without panic.

For now, Germany continues to describe most travel to the United States as possible with heightened awareness rather than as something to be avoided. Yet the latest warning, triggered by events in Minneapolis, serves as a reminder that shifting political and security dynamics in host countries can have immediate consequences for international mobility. For the global travel community, it is another sign that safety assessments of once familiar destinations are becoming more fluid, and that both travelers and industry leaders must stay alert to fast moving developments on both sides of the Atlantic.