What happens when the place you call home no longer feels safe or welcoming? For a growing number of Americans—especially those in the LGBTQ+ community—this question has become deeply personal. The past year has seen a surge in Americans, often dubbed “Trumpugees,” actively seeking new beginnings overseas as political unrest and legal setbacks mount at home.
Grover Wehman-Brown, a transgender writer and consultant, found themselves packing for Europe just days before the Supreme Court’s June rulings that allowed Tennessee to bar trans youth from puberty blockers and hormone therapy, and tossed out favorable decisions for transgender rights in four other states. As Wehman-Brown told Newsweek, “I found myself becoming more and more isolated again as I was assessing increased risk.” Even after years of moving between LGBTQ+-friendly cities like San Francisco and western Massachusetts, the sense of safety kept slipping away. “That kind of constant threat and vigilance is what I came out into, and it feels like we’ve returned to a time where some of those tensions are present again in my life,” they shared.
This feeling isn’t isolated. A recent Harris Poll found that 42 percent of U.S. adults have considered or plan to relocate outside the country for a better quality of life or financial security. Among Gen Z and millennials, those numbers jump to 63 and 52 percent, respectively. The reasons are complex—political polarization, threats to LGBTQ+ rights, economic pressures, and the desire for a more stable environment. Three-quarters of Americans now say democracy is under serious threat, and nearly as many see politically motivated violence as a major problem.
For LGBTQ+ families, recent Supreme Court decisions have hit especially hard. The June 18 ruling, as Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, determined that Tennessee’s law “does not violate” the Equal Protection Clause, leaving questions of policy to “the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent was blunt: “By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the Court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims.” The legal landscape for trans rights is shifting fast, and many are deciding they can’t wait for things to improve.
That’s where countries like the Netherlands come in. For Wehman-Brown’s family, the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa was a game-changer. As Bethany Quinn, co-founder of GTFO Tours, explained to Newsweek, “It is one of the easiest ways for Americans to move to Europe… in the Netherlands, you can really do pretty much any kind of freelancing.” The DAFT visa stands out for its low capital requirements and flexibility for freelancers and entrepreneurs—even those with unconventional businesses, like selling brownies at a local market, can qualify.
But the Netherlands isn’t the only option. Other countries are rolling out the welcome mat with accessible expat visa programs. France’s Talent Passport, Portugal’s Golden Visa, Greece’s real estate residency, and Italy’s citizenship by ancestry all offer Americans a shot at residency or even citizenship. For those with means, New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa and Switzerland’s Lump Sum Taxation program provide unique routes to a new life. And for many, Canada remains a top pick, especially with its Startup Visa program for entrepreneurs.
Official data backs up this migration wave. More than 1,900 Americans applied for British passports in early 2025, a record high, while Ireland saw 4,700 U.S.-based applicants for citizenship by ancestry in the same period. Immigration advisers report a spike in LGBTQ+ families and others seeking “insurance” in the form of dual citizenship or residency abroad, as a hedge against growing instability.
While the decision to leave isn’t easy—“Emotionally, it’s just been very hard to unwind the connections and community relationships we’ve built here,” Wehman-Brown said—the pull of free health insurance for children, well-funded schools, and a sense of safety can outweigh the heartbreak of leaving home. For many, it’s about ensuring their families don’t have to “shrink” or live in fear again.
The landscape for Americans considering emigration is evolving quickly, with more pathways and support than ever before. For those seeking a fresh start, there’s a growing global community—and a sense that, at least somewhere, a peaceful and affirming life is still possible.
