this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2024
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As always, disclaimer that I'm not a US citizen.

You usually see quite a few people mentioning leaving the country if Trump would get elected, but how realistic are those plans?

Not to say it's not justified with the prospect of Project 2025 (see the other thread), but seems like a huge life change that is probably not possible for most of the people.

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[–] lettruthout 51 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

I may not have a choice. My wife is an immigrant. She's fully legal. If Trump carries out his plan to deport all immigrants she's going someplace (yet unknown) and I'll follow. What a nightmare.

[–] graycube 22 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I wonder if they'll send a letter asking your wife to please leave, or if you'll come home one day and she'll just be gone.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Like as in "made to become disappeared"? This turned dark pretty fast.

[–] graycube 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

As in a group of Jack booted thugs come along , load you into a van without warning, without cell phone or anything. Then they drop you off wherever they think your country is with no resources.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Alas, that turned out to be just as dark as I thought it would be.

[–] yrmp 14 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

If you want to really know feasible this is, go read about how Stephen Miller (architect of the Muslim ban) wants to use red state national guardsmen to go to blue states and sanctuary cities to kidnap and deport immigrants.

Hint: It’s bad.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

I was wrong. It was actually much darker than I thought possible.

For posterity, here are a couple of links that talk about this in depth,

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/01/trump-2024-immigration-policy-mass-deportations-stephen-miller/

https://forward.com/opinion/668440/miller-trump-madison-square-garden-immigrants/

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[–] HurlingDurling 4 points 1 week ago

This is my biggest fear

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 weeks ago

I wouldn't wait, if it was me. Maybe not pull the trigger now, but definitely have some plans in place. I'm feeling a little bit nervous that I'm just starting to look at my options now.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Is she a US citizen yet? Was wondering why this is unknown - but if she became a citizen and her birth country didn't allow dual citizenship, then they may not accept her back.

The worst part about this is that he supports remigration - suggesting that even those born in the US without any other citizenship (ironically, being eligible to become US Presidents themselves) will also get kicked out.

[–] lettruthout 12 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

No she's not a US citizen, so she would be accepted by her home country. I could go with her. But that would mean the end of her career. I'd have a tough time because I'm not fluent in that language. In theory I could work remotely but our lives would/will be totally upended. Plus the climate is much different there so she'd be unhappy about that too.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

Well, there's a tiny bit of good news there - at least you have an idea of where you could go and are likely to end up.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it won't come to that for you and her, though.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago

Sorry to hear. That must be very stressful.

[–] shalafi 7 points 2 weeks ago

Same here. May be moving to the Philippines earlier than expected.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I finished renewing my passport just in case but have no plans at the moment. Not sure where I'd go. But now that it's over, I'm leaning towards staying here and fighting. Fuck them. We shouldn't make it easy or comfortable for them to oppress the people here who can't leave.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Having a passport and some friends overseas is a good idea. Maybe even an employment plan or otherwise a stable landing place if it gets very bad.

I agree about staying to fight. But trapping yourself into a battle with no way to retreat, when you know it might get bad, isn't good strategy.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

Good point. It might be a good idea to set up a Plan B anyway just in case.

[–] jaggedrobotpubes 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

This might ultimately get solved with EU boots on American soil.

[–] Mirshe 10 points 2 weeks ago

I doubt it. The EU as a whole, without the UK, lacks force projection capabilities. It's one thing to string a supply line overland through the continent. It is a whole different thing to string supply lines across an entire ocean. Without massive military spending, which is historically deeply unpopular in the EU, I don't see them invading any time soon, and THAT assumes the political will to even consider that as an option exists in the first place.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

Someone free us! Lol

[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 weeks ago

I don’t know where I’d go. Regardless of this particular election, I’d love to live elsewhere, but I’m only fluent in English. Not to mention, there seems to be rising fascism all over the place.

Find me a mid level cybersecurity job in an EU member state and I’ll be right over.

I’m lucky enough to be a white, cis male, but I am bisexual. I’m extremely lucky to live in a very liberal area, but I’m afraid that won’t mean much for long. I fear for myself, my family, and my little sisters especially. And I fear that there’s nowhere to run to because US hegemony shapes the world.

I’ve been proudly out for 10 years now, but half of my family assumes I’m straight because they’re the type of people who assume everyone is straight until proven otherwise. The majority of them likely voted for Trump.

[–] letsgo2themall 19 points 2 weeks ago

no one wants Americans in their country, and I don't blame them. Sadly, most of us can't afford to leave. I have a pretty good tech job but even that isn't enough to move my entire family. Grab some marshmallows and let it burn I guess.

[–] jaggedrobotpubes 18 points 2 weeks ago

You need loads of money, great connections, and/or a really high level of some really particular skill. It's out of reach for most people.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 weeks ago

I am considering leaving, but it pains me to just "run away" from a problem instead of trying to solve it. this is where I live. I want to love it.

[–] neatchee 17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

I'm leaving.

IMPORTANT PSA: most people won't be as fortunate as I am. Look into "digital nomad visa" options. These typically last six months to a year, and many countries have them now including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and more. Requirements will be slightly different for each but it can be an option to escape while you figure out next steps!

That being said...

I'm very fortunate to have family wealth, a high paying, niche tech job, and contacts in various places around the world

Current front-runners are The Netherlands where I could "buy-in" or Japan, where my employer may be able to sponsor me

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Following. How does one "buy-in" into the Netherlands?

[–] neatchee 11 points 2 weeks ago

Make approximately $1.2m USD investment in any combination of property, businesses investment, etc. You still keep the equity. But it's basically "add money to the Dutch economy in this amount"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago
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[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 weeks ago

The Trump Presidency is bad enough, but the American system could survive another one like it survived the last, through Congressional and judicial power and the fundamental checks and balances.

Republicans have won the House, the Senate, and the SC. The Supreme Court already handed the Presidency dictatorial power.

The Experiment is over. If you're not planning to get out you need to be planning to fight, and not with a fucking protest sign.

[–] TropicalDingdong 16 points 2 weeks ago

I'm one-hundred percent considering this. I spent the four years under Trump on the ground, organizing my community and resisting fascist chuds on the ground, and got mostly flack, backlash, doxxing attempts, 30 extra lbs I can't seem to shake, and bullshit from shitlib's who just spent the previous 6 months making the argument "but Trump worse" and cheering on the Chenys.

There are basically two options I see for me and my family right now. We can either stand and fight or we can let this go. My lesson learned from 2016-2020, is that Democrats/ Liberals do not have your back. You can not expect to be able to rely upon them to show up or do the right thing. Democrats have spent orders of magnitude more effort fighting and trying to beat the left than they have the rightward march to fascism. So any kind of fight or resistance you try and muster; you have enemies at both your fore and aft. Liberalism and Democrats haven't shown me that they are worth fighting for.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks ago

Many people will quickly discover that unless you are upper class, got some money type... nobody wants you and really there is no where to go either lol

[–] nzeayn 14 points 2 weeks ago

got a friend with a trans son looking for an out of country transfer under their job. I hope she can get it and keep the kid even a tiny bit safer.

leaving is a privilage though that almost none of us will be able to afford. even if you pull it off, thats a huge risk to take unless you can afford to just not give a shit. and in that case you're probably fine with the election outcome anyway.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

A couple of the more privileged (wealthy) friends with my disability are planning on moving, most others cannot afford it or don’t have the financial capital to be accepted for a residency permit anywhere (our illness prevents us from working).

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

My family is planning on moving to Europe, not exactly sure where. It'll probably largely depend on where we can get residency and jobs. Spain and Austria are our current leaders for various reasons.

We've been unhappy with the way American society functions for a long time and we're tied of swimming upstream to make things better, so this is the load of bricks that broke the camel's back.

I do feel like I'm abandoning the people who are in greater danger than we are and can't afford to leave, but honestly if progressives can't be bothered to do the absolutely bare minimum and vote until their version of Jesus runs for office things are never going to get better. I'm not going to waste my life while people we need to make change do fuck all but whine and wish things were different when they do nothing meaningful to change it.

[–] jordanlund 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I know someone who left last time, does that count?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Definitely! Where did they go?

[–] jordanlund 5 points 2 weeks ago

France! Just up and bailed!

[–] BodePlotHole 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

We have a family member who is special needs, and their family relies on government help to get by...

They may have to leave, and it breaks my heart.

[–] ArtVandelay 7 points 2 weeks ago

Does anyone know what project 2025 says about special needs folks? My brother is special needs

[–] captainlezbian 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I am. My wife and I are trans and it’s better to be twitchy than dead. Current attitude is to try to get me citizenship because my grandpa was an immigrant

[–] ikidd 5 points 2 weeks ago

I think there's about 30 million people that'll be leaving against their will...

[–] yrmp 5 points 2 weeks ago

Of course I know him.

He is me.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Curious OP, if not a US citizen, which country (or countries?) citizen are you, and which country do you live in (if they are different)?

Would these be countries that are easy for USians to immigrate to?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

I live in Europe. The biggest issue for immigration is usually the local language, which varies a lot, with German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, etc.

[–] thebigslime 2 points 1 week ago

My girlfriend and I are considering it. We made a spreadsheet of which counties need our professions, type of visa, etc. Her career is generally valued by more English speaking countries, but some need mine too.

[–] neomachino 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm not even allowed to leave the state for another few years

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How come? And would you leave once you're able to?

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