In 2025, 76 Americans fled to The Netherlands to claim asylum based on fears of persecution due to their gender identity, including those who held professional jobs and resided in progressive jurisdictions like San Francisco and Massachusetts. They are detained in a fenced refugee camp alongside other asylum-seekers, mainly from Africa and the Middle East. So far, The Netherlands has not granted the asylum claim of any American citizen, as Dutch law generally requires a justified fear of imprisonment for no reason other than their gender identity, sexual orientation, or political views. Instead, their claims have been based on hostile political rhetoric, changed gender markers on their passport, or loss of federal medical benefits. But their fear is real: some are convinced that they will be imprisoned if returned to the US or have threatened suicide if deported.
Trans Refugees Flee US to Claim Asylum
