A growing number of American citizens, many of them transgender, are attempting to claim asylum in the Netherlands, fleeing what they describe as an increasingly hostile and dangerous environment in the United States.
"Who do I talk to about asylum?": A Life-Changing Decision
Jane-Michelle Arc, a 47-year-old transgender woman from San Francisco, arrived at Dutch customs in a state of distress. "I got to customs and I was just crying, and I said, 'Who do I talk to about asylum?'" she recounts to presenter Helen Pidd. The initial reaction from officials was disbelief. "They kind of laughed because what's this big dumb American doing here asking about asylum," Jane says. "And then they realised I was serious."
Her decision was triggered by a direct and terrifying threat. While crossing the road outside her apartment, a woman in a truck threatened to kill her. Jane explains that while verbal abuse was not new, this incident was profoundly different. "That was the first time that I was faced with someone who said they were going to do it with the means to do it in the moment that they felt it," she said, describing it as a life-changing experience.
From San Francisco to Ter Apel: The Journey to a Refugee Camp
In April last year, Jane travelled to Ter Apel, the location of the Netherlands' largest refugee reception centre. This camp typically houses people fleeing war zones across the globe. However, in recent years, a small but notable contingent of arrivals has come from the United States.
Helen Pidd and producer Eli Block visited the camp to investigate this trend. Their reporting indicates that many of these American refugees are transgender, and their flight is a direct response to the wave of anti-trans legislation and rhetoric emerging in various US states.
An Uphill Battle for Recognition
The journey does not end upon arrival. The podcast speaks with Marlou Schrover, a professor of economic and social history at Leiden University, to understand the legal hurdles these Americans face. Successfully claiming asylum from a country not officially recognised as being in a state of war or widespread persecution is notoriously difficult. The applicants must prove a well-founded fear of persecution based on their gender identity, a complex legal challenge.
This movement underscores a stark reality: individuals are now seeking international protection from a nation long considered a safe haven for others. Their stories highlight the intense personal risks and legal complexities involved in fleeing a climate of fear for an uncertain future in Europe.
