How to Know it’s Time to Go
The Questions to Consider Before Leaving the States
When my wife and I announced we were leaving the U.S. in 2023, the results were mixed, to say the least. Most people were polite enough not to say anything outright, but there was a look in their face that said, “You’re panicking.” Some told us directly that we were being hasty, that even though things looked bad, we had to believe in our institutions. Afterall, a Democrat is president. Some told us, with a condescending tone, that they thought it was more important for us to stay and fight. And some, mostly other queer and trans people, nodded along in agreement, sharing their plans to get the hell out of dodge should the right time come.
And it appears that, for many, the right time is now. Several of the skeptics last year have now called to ask for immigration advice. Many have said, “I thought you were overreacting. But I think now you made the right decision.”
The urge to move in the face of an upcoming election is not new. How many times have we all heard the “I’m moving to Canada” comments after a bad debate or a particularly bad campaign ad? But this time, perhaps because of the fascist flavor this election has taken on, the conversation around emigration is less general, more pointed, more serious.
