Last year, David Koranyi attended his mother's 70th birthday party in Hungary, but the roundabout route he took to reach his homeland underscores the oppressive atmosphere created by the autocratic rule in Hungary. Rather than taking a direct flight, Koranyi opted to fly into neighboring Austria. Once there, he turned off his phone and drove across the border, avoiding passport control to enter Hungary undetected. This decision reflects the fear and caution many feel under the regime of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been accused of manipulating the electoral landscape to favor his ruling party.
Koranyi leads an organization called Action for Democracy, which aims to mobilize Hungarians living abroad to vote in their home country. His efforts have drawn the ire of the Hungarian government, which claims he poses a threat to the nation's sovereignty. As a result, pro-government media outlets frequently label him as an "enemy of the state." Friends and even embassy officials in Hungary cautioned Koranyi about returning, fearing that Orbán's government might attempt to detain him. This atmosphere of intimidation is part of the reason he sought refuge in the United States, where he became a citizen in 2022.
Having fled an authoritarian regime, Koranyi was shocked to witness U.S. government agents stopping and aggressively questioning individuals—citizens, tourists, and green-card holders—upon their return to America. One such case involved Michigan lawyer Amir Makled, who was halted at Detroit Metro Airport after returning from a family vacation. Makled believes he was targeted due to his representation of a pro-Palestinian protester at the University of Michigan. "I never in a million years would have imagined that atmosphere of fear and random searches at border crossings... is something that I would live through in my life in the United States," Koranyi reflected.
Many individuals have left authoritarian countries seeking the promise of freedom and safety in the United States. NPR sought insights from Koranyi and a dozen other immigrants to gauge their views on the early months of the Trump administration. While not all expressed concern, many noted that some government tactics reminded them of the oppressive regimes they fled. A survey conducted in February revealed that numerous U.S.-based scholars believe the United States is rapidly shifting from a liberal democracy toward authoritarianism.
According to Steven Levitsky, a government professor at Harvard University and co-author of "How Democracies Die," the current administration operates like an authoritarian regime. He noted the systematic weaponization of government machinery to punish political rivals, protect allies, and intimidate media outlets. This alarming trend resonates with immigrants like Koranyi, who fled oppressive governments only to witness similar tactics in their newfound home.
While some immigrants assert that Trump has not acted as an autocrat, others, like Lily Tang Williams, a Republican congressional candidate from New Hampshire, argue that it is the Biden administration that mirrors the authoritarian leaders of their past, specifically regarding censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams claims that Biden pressured social media platforms to suppress specific posts, which she views as a violation of free speech. In response, the Biden administration stated it aimed to promote responsible actions for public health.
The political climate has also instilled fear in academic circles. Fulya Pinar, a professor at Middlebury College who grew up in Turkey, has observed parallels between the current U.S. administration and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After moving to the U.S. in 2016, Pinar sought academic freedom but now feels constrained. Since Trump's inauguration, she has altered her teaching methods to avoid accusations of bias, such as refraining from citing specific death tolls in lectures. "I'm trying to be more careful," she admitted, concerned about how student feedback might impact her career.
This sentiment is echoed in findings from the Middle East Scholar Barometer, indicating that 57% of U.S. professors feel increased pressure to self-censor when discussing sensitive topics like Israeli-Palestinian issues. Pinar, who sought refuge from Turkey's autocracy, never anticipated feeling constrained in the United States. "It just feels like I'm stuck," she lamented.
In addition to targeting universities, the Trump administration has scrutinized news organizations that provide critical coverage of the President. The Federal Communications Commission is investigating major broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS, and NBC, for allegedly favoring Democrats. Trump has also made disparaging remarks about public broadcasters, labeling NPR and PBS as "radical left monsters."
Journalist Maria Ressa, who faced similar challenges in the Philippines under former President Duterte, noted that the repercussions of such tactics can be long-lasting. After Duterte's government denied the renewal of her broadcaster's license, Ressa emphasized that the damage inflicted on the media persists beyond a single administration. "What is damaged in this time period, what is destroyed, stays destroyed," she stated.
Ressa, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her resistance against Duterte's regime, is now teaching at Columbia University. She urges Americans to remain vigilant, stating, "Don't let fear paralyze you because you are at your strongest now." Her message resonates with many immigrants who have experienced the consequences of authoritarianism firsthand.
