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 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day 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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[–] fizzle@quokk.au 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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.

[–] unsettlinglymoist@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

OP mentioned they have a criminal record. Canada is notoriously difficult to enter if you have a record (e.g., a single DUI on your record means you're barred for life from entering Canada). Canada also prioritizes skilled migrants and a lot of Americans don't meet the cutoff.

I'll leave for Europe (dual citizen) when things get bad enough. For all the horrible news coming out of Minneapolis, nothing really has changed locally where I live (major metro area, very progressive) and I've seen no ICE/CBP raids. I understand why some want to stay and fight, but taking up arms against our military is a death wish and this country isn't worth dying for.

I agree that for OP the SE Asia route might be the best. They should get a passport ASAP if they don't have one, and get any US university degrees converted to their foreign equivalents.