this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2026

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166

Should I be trying to leave the USA before it's too late? (lemmy.today)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by someone@lemmy.today to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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

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).

Midterms are still many months away. I am pretty sure Democrats realize that Trump wants conflict and they are trying to just wait for Midterms.

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.

I also have been arrested and held in terrible conditions in a notorious jail, experienced physical and emotional abuse there, and fear being arrested again and experiencing more abuse. Some of the things I experienced meet definitions of torture although not egregious physical torture (iron maiden type stuff). I am also gay and effeminate and worry I could receive worse treatment if involuntarily held for mental health reasons or for poverty because of homophobia by religious people.

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.

I do not know if I am over-reacting. Will I still have time to flee if I wait and the situation gets worse?

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[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I don't have any advice just sharing anecdotes:

As a Chinese American born in China, I don't really have any plans to leave because my family have assets in the US and they don't seem to be concerned so like... eh... I guess we'll just stay here...

This is the only country I really "know", I've been here since I was 8.

I don't have citizenship in China anymore, and I don't live living there either way. Don't exactly have any good memories of where I used to live, it was a very slummy looking place from memory

I'm in Philly, don't think we've seen any actual ICE agents yet, as in, no face to face contact with them. We haven't heard of any of our extended family in NYC being harrassed by ICE (yet)... There are a lot of people entering and exit the country just normally... (not that I'd be crossing borders any time soon, don't feel like it)

And besides, it's not like you can easily move. It took years of USCIS to process our application to be here... I doubt Canada, Australia is easier, besides, we don't have family anywhete else, so family based immigration is not an option as with coming to the US. As for Europe, that means learning another language... ugh it's hell. I no longer have the advantage of being 8 years old and I really don't wanna do immigration TWICE in one life time, I already have enough stress for experiencing this once.

And beside, this has been my home for most of my life, WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I LEAVE just because some dipshit politican said so?

Feel like its making it easier for them.

So I don't really see a future of leaving unless they actualy start doing the "internment" stuff, this ICE thing is not "dangerous enough" of a motivator yet. Keep in mind, my parent probably have gotten so used to chaos and authoritarianism, they lived through 1970s of China and hears stories of Struggle Sessions from their parents. Dad was actually born near the end of the Cutural Revolution, so they have already experienced chaos, so this probably feels normal to them.

[–] paequ2@lemmy.today 1 points 2 months ago

I don’t really see a future of leaving unless they actualy start doing the “internment” stuff, this ICE thing is not “dangerous enough”

That's the point of OP's question. How bad is it gonna get? Should people start preparing to leave now? As you said, the process takes a while. By the time they start going door to door in Philly, dragging non-whites to interment camps, that's a wrap. You waited too long to get out.

I get the allure of American Exceptionalism, thinking "Nah, this can't happen here." On the other hand, shit keeps getting worse and growing.

I can't tell the future. Maybe things start getting better after mid-terms. Maybe Trump peacefully transfers power at the end of his term.

I feel like at least doing a little research into immigrating to another country is a responsible thing to do. IF things get bad enough, I want to have more or less an idea of where to go and how to do it.