When immigration lawyer Jeremy Bierbach woke up after Trump's shock 2024 election victory, his inbox told a story.
Dozens of messages from Americans flooded in—all asking the same question: How fast can I get out?
"About a fifth of these inquiries came from LGBTQ+ people," he told NBC from his Amsterdam office. "They weren't asking about vacation homes. These were people making escape plans."
Six months into Trump's second term, that trickle has become a torrent.
Trump's rollback of trans rights, civil rights and healthcare protections—along with fresh waves of anti-LGBTQ+ policies and looming Supreme Court decisions—has sparked a modern exodus of Queer Americans seeking safety abroad.
‘Trumpugees’ by the Numbers
The statistics are staggering. A recent reveals that 42% of Americans have considered leaving the country, and that number jumps to 52% among millennials and 63% among Gen Z.
GTFO Tours, a company that helps Americans relocate to the Netherlands, has reported a 200% spike in inquiries after Trump deployed the National Guard in LA.
The Netherlands reports record-breaking applications, and for many, the urgency is existential. This year alone, over 950 anti-trans bills have been introduced across the country.
The same NBC report featured a Trans artist who relocated to Amsterdam and put it bluntly: "For many of us, staying felt like a death sentence."
Why Amsterdam? Safety, Community—and Jockstrap Parties
Europe emerged as a preferred destination, with the Netherlands leading the pack thanks to an obscure Cold War treaty.
The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) lets Americans obtain residency by investing $5,200 in a small business—making it one of the most accessible European visas available.
But it’s about more than just escaping Trump. Amsterdam offers dynamic drag nights, legendary bars, and community spaces modeled on the best of American queer districts. There’s a sense of belonging that’s becoming harder and harder to find at home.
The Netherlands isn’t just legal weed and bike paths. It’s themed underwear parties, open-air art shows, one of the best Pride celebrations anywhere—and a commitment to joy in all its rainbow forms.
Amsterdam's combination of legal protections and vibrant queer culture explains its popularity, but it's not the only destination seeing an influx of Americans. Portugal and Spain offer similar legal frameworks with lower costs of living. Mexico has become the top choice by sheer numbers—now hosting 1.6 million American expats, more than any other country worldwide. Canada remains the most searched destination (searches spiked 1,200% after Trump's win), though stricter immigration policies have actually reduced American relocations there in 2025.
The Privilege Problem
These exit strategies remain out of reach for many. The migration wave exposes stark realities about who has the means to relocate. DAFT visas and international moves demand substantial resources—financial reserves that numerous at-risk LGBTQ+ Americans lack entirely.
Without thousands available for business visa investments, some have pursued asylum applications instead. This influx has led LGBT Asylum Support, a Dutch advocacy organization, to urge their government toward an extraordinary measure: formally designating the United States as dangerous for LGBTQ+ individuals and extending asylum protections to queer American migrants.
Immigration attorneys view such designation as extremely improbable, describing it as "too provocative" from a diplomatic standpoint. Yet the fact that it's even being discussed reflects how dire the situation has become for America's most vulnerable queer communities.