Canadian here. I know several people from the U.S. who have moved here. First of all, it’s not easy. Canada immigration doesn’t see Americans as any more desirable than other similar countries. It’s a system of points. Some things that increase points are: skills, education, knowledge of English, probability that you will stay. Let me also say that the people I know find Canada a mixed bag. You probably don’t realize it, but you probably have a huge American identity. Being in a place with a different culture and mindset brings out those sentiments, especially when the people around you are trash talking the way the U.S. is treating us. Realize that we legally have a lot less personal rights and more group rights. Realize we have systems that you would consider socialist and probably have different interest in sports, politeness, and the world. Having said that, most peoplewho have moved here enjoy the more easy-going style, the greater social safety net, and the reduction in fear. Some I’ve talked to have said this was the biggest thing that hit them. In the U.S., they unconsciously carried an inner fear that was not apparent in Canada. I’m not trying to encourage or discourage you. Just know, it’s probably gonna be different than you expect it.

I am someone born in the USA and white and male, so I am less at risk of harassment and brutality than others.

Depends on your wealth. When you’re poor, you’re going to suffer as much as anyone else.

My take on things is that Trump is probably a Russian asset and Russian leadership probably wants a US civil war (but I don’t have proof).

Objection: Speculation. No need to find plots and conspiracies, no matter whether they are right or wrong, shit is bad AF already. Focus on that.

I am scared and feel like civil war could still happen. I have no children, few ties to any area, and only work remotely. I live in a very liberal area. I am mostly a poor person and have less than $25,000 saved.

Dude, people who fled nazi Germany or any of the invaded countries evaded so much horror, suffering, fear, etc. Get the fuck out.

Should I be trying to flee the USA now? If so, would Canada be safe? Is there anywhere else I could go to? I could claim asylum in a Northern European country but am concerned about the Russian War of Aggression.

Canada is safe, until Trump wants it. Other options are Europe, lots of work for American expats, a lot of support for them. Like tax benefits etc. Other options are Asia, Africa, south America or Australia. In Australia everything tries to kill you, but New Zealand is nice. And English speaking too. Africa has some nice places, but salaries and benefits suck. Maybe south Africa, a friend of mine just moved there but he’s a digital nomad and has a job in Europe.

Most Asian countries have poor salaries too, but the people are super nice in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia.

I don’t know much from South America, but right now I think anything is better than the US.

Best of luck!

You could try Alaska for a few years. Theres very few law enforcement in general, and the culture is one of people sort of minding their own business. Any law enforcement effort there will be deemed not worth the cost when theres so few people. Jobs might be scarce.

Northern Europe is much more likely to experience a surge of poverty because of global financial meltdown than a hot war with Russia.

If you are living and working in a liberal area you might be better off looking for work in northern Europe than claiming refugee status. Refugees from the US are extremely likely to be returned here. I read Ireland is going to start accepting trans Americans but even that doesn’t guarantee good treatment.

Do get your passport. There are low cost options for stringing tourist visas together in South America and South East Asia. 25 grand could keep you comfortable for years. That’s a long time to find steady remote work.

Fuck, I’m over here wondering whether it isn’t ALREADY too late 🙁

I was already out of the country during… the last time bad event happened… and I decided to stick it out and build a new life and get a permanent residence in case things did not improve. And then they didn’t. I just managed to get my permanent residence right before… the current time bad event happened (2024).

The simplest thing I can say is, I don’t regret the decision. I gave up a lot on the journey to my new life, but what I gained is knowledge and understanding of just how much crap you don’t actually have to put up with… how much you SHOULDN’T have to put up with. Some things are worse, sure, but so much has been better for me as well… but one of the big problems I didn’t think about is, the survivor’s guilt is real. For what it’s worth, I don’t think in absolute terms there’s any shame in fleeing. A nation is a societal construct in the first place, and I don’t think you particularly owe anything to the nation you happen to be born in, especially one that shows such utter contempt for its citizens on a daily basis. But the people you know and care about… and the innocent people that don’t have the opportunity you do to do the same… leaving them there leaves a wound, even when you KNOW deep down there is very little you can do personally by virtue of suffering through it with them. I know ultimately, my being here means I no longer pay taxes to support a US government that does heinous things… I no longer work for a company that actively makes the world worse… and I still vote from here, still support those that I believe in to help see change in the system… and I use that as a salve, but the simple reality is I don’t get to be here with a clear conscience. It’s a weakness, and I feel selfish for the choice I made. I don’t know anything about you - perhaps none of this is an issue for you, and I’m not saying it should be, but if you know your own conscience to be prone to this kind of thinking, it is something you should also consider.

The comments here are ridiculous, in the grand scheme of things our lives are but insignificant blips in time, our borders and laws are made up constructs, and you have free will. Stay and rebel, use your life to help others and fight this injustice, or cherish and protect the time you have and flee. There is no right answer.

If you stay arm yourself and start coming to terms with the fact that you might have to fight and you might die, if you go understand it’s not gonna be easy, you are gonna have to learn to navigate a lot of bureaucracy that is unknown to you with no guarantees but 25k is enough to start a life a new, possibly even pay someone to marry you for citizenship in certain places.

That being said, the world is coming to a breaking point, we are destroying the planet, most of the world operates off of this concept of endless growth and consumption and above all rewarding greed and taking advantage of others, society needs to find a way to reward the altruistic and ways to live sustainably, we need to severely limit the amount of wealth, power, and resources any one person can have. Our resources like fresh water, oil, and food are bound too become more scarce and this fight is coming for everyone, everywhere.

I wish you the best of luck, I’m also at this crossroads and don’t know what I’m going to do, luckily I love life, love learning, and I’m always having fun, I also have high demand skills but also I’ve lived a good and full life and if I die fighting for the world I want, maybe that’s not so bad of a way to go. Once again, there is no right answer, do what you think is best.

I don’t really have a “solution” for you I’m sorry.

FWIW, I’m absolutely sympathetic to your situation. I just can’t imagine how this would feel.

To me, Canada sounds like a quick and easy option, but I don’t know what the migration options there are like.

$25k USD is probably enough money to outlive Trump living a modest lifestyle in South East Asia.

It’s interesting that the comments here are somewhat split between “leave” and “stay and fight”. I honestly don’t know which way I’d go. Basically I try to have courage to change the things I can, and acceptance to live with the things I can’t. It seems like the US is really cooked. I’m sorry to sound like an ass but from where I’m standing, the current protests are just pitiful, no where near what it will take to change trajectory. Like “the people” could maybe change things but one person can’t, and there aren’t enough others.

If you have somewhere you can go, go, as fast as you can

As an American-born white male, I’m staying. If all the sane people flee the country, what does that leave behind? A bunch of right wing whack jobs with the biggest military in the world. You think our domestic problems are going to stay domestic? If we don’t stay and stand up to this, it’s going to spread worldwide anyway.

Not saying to not get your ducks in a row just in case, but I don’t think running is going to save you for very long. If there’s going to be a civil war, I’d rather our side actually have soldiers.

I don’t think you’re overreacting given that a white male was just shot, as a protester, in cold blood just minutes ago.

I’m a white disabled trans woman, and I’m fuckin’ staying. Although it’s only a matter of time before the federal ungovernment turns its attention to my city, Portland, to leave would be to give up my home, and the only place I have known for an incredibly long time.

I will die eventually. That much is the only thing that’s true for me. My wave will move on to being just water somewhere else. Ideally, under peaceful circumstances. But it will happen here most likely.

I have friends to defend and friends to help, and they need help here.

I’m not a US citizen but I thought it might be worth writing some of my rationale for leaving the US incase it helps you.

As far as I could tell, anyone that could spell democratic backslide thought it would happen in the US. Many in Trump’s orbit even seemed to be targeting it. The main thing in dispute seemed to be how much it would happen. In my understanding slipping down the scale from democracy towards autocracy tends to come with a government ideology, demonising science/experts, persecution of minorities, erratic aggressive foreign policy, targeting of political enemies, removing checks on overreach/corruption/fraud, state controlled Fed, and federal officers harassing the population.

I was worried I might be overreacting and wanted to have some idea of the odds so I basically read every executive order that they sent out. It was only a few weeks until I put in my resignation & made plans to leave. I encourage everyone to read their executive orders. Personally, I don’t think it’s easy to reassess the US for another 8 years (two into the second term post Trump 2.0). This is mostly given the mass government firings, partisan heads of agencies, mass resignations over perceived corruption, partisanship of the supreme court (measured by differences of rulings compared to the lower courts), removal (some still in progress) of institutions and removal of personnel that target corruption/fraud. There are a lot of ways this could improve but I’d ague it’s pretty risky over that timeline and just really tough to access a short term swing compared to a long term one. That amount of time is a decent portion of someone’s life.

I’d also argue that the commentary about people running is a bit misplaced in this situation because this is arguably the most powerful country in the world. For me, not being a citizen, that meant I should minimise my contribution to it succeeding and that meant removing my taxes and contribution to the workforce. I think that rationale can hold for citizens but also agree that there need to be people in the country fighting more against Trump 2.0 or it’s going to get worse for most of the globe.

For me, I then thought through what entities seemed best placed to resist a potential rogue state (and definite erratic state) as large as the US. For me, that seemed to have one line item: the EU.