An increasing number of transgender Americans are fleeing to the Netherlands to seek asylum due to restrictive laws and hostile rhetoric in the US. In 2025, 76 Americans applied for asylum in the country, up from just nine in 2024, with many citing hostile environments, verbal abuse, and the erasure of federal recognition of their gender identities as primary reasons for fleeing. Despite their testimonies of persecution, legal experts note that the chances of being granted asylum remain extremely low because the U.S. is still categorized as a “safe country of origin.” For many of these refugees, the alternative to staying in Dutch camps is a forced return to the U.S., which they fear would lead to institutional harm, loss of healthcare access, and physical danger.
Date: January 19, 2026. Source: theguardian.com