Ahead of the Nov. 5 election, a number of celebrities vowed to pack their bags and leave the United States if former President Donald Trump was re-elected. Among the most prominent names are actresses Barbra Streisand, America Ferrera and Eva Longoria.
As you probably already know, Trump declared his election victory just hours after the polls closed. In a speech from Florida, the president-elect hailed the victory as “a political victory the likes of which our country has never seen before.” His victory led to gains among blacks and Hispanics, helping him win more than 75.8 million votes.
But not everyone was happy, and some famous faces will now consider their options and perhaps seek pastures new. It’s not just about celebrities, as Briany Yamilet Lopez Rodas, 26, said. News week via email that the outcome “was very heartbreaking” and that she plans to leave the United States immediately.
Having lived in the country since 2006, calling Bay Area, California his home, Rodas feels the country has forever changed and no longer offers him the same opportunities. Generation Zer, made up of people born between 1997 and 2012, plans to leave before the inauguration on January 20, 2025 and plans to settle somewhere in Europe, notably in Norway or Ireland.
@briany.r / Instagram
Rodas said: “Before I opened my eyes the day after the election, I promised myself that if Donald Trump had won, I would leave.
“I don’t feel safe in a country where racism and violence are celebrated. I’m afraid there will be an increase in violent hate crimes against my community. I feel exploited and exhausted from working too much to bring so much to this country, and then to be told that I should go back to my country,” she continued.
Rodas, whose family is originally from Guatemala, is a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA applicants, also known as Dreamers, must have entered the United States before turning 16, have lived in the country continuously since June 15, 2007, have completed high school or GED, and have not have no previous convictions.
The program gives people a temporary reprieve from being deported, giving them access to a work permit, education, health care and a driver’s license. As of March 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said there are approximately 578,000 active DACA recipients.
One of Trump’s policies involves mass deportations of illegal immigrants, potentially targeting between 11 and 14 million people, including those who have lived in the United States for decades. News week contacted a spokesperson for President-elect Trump via email.
“To me, being a DACA recipient means being a well-rounded person. We are one of the most disciplined and hardworking groups of people. That means doing everything in your power to make people proud by getting an education higher education and advancing in your career,” Rodas said. News week.
While it was a lifeline for Rodas, it was also “emotionally draining” to never really know if his status was safe. For a time, she considered becoming a U.S. citizen to gain permanent legal status and freedom to travel (since the DACA recipient cannot leave the United States).
That changed when Trump was first elected in 2016, and she felt compelled to consider other options. The fear has stayed with her ever since, and now that he has been elected to a second term, she is too afraid to think about what might happen if she stays.
“I could see that people’s hatred started to rise and become more evident during his last presidency,” Rodas said. “We are demoralized and called criminals to justify people’s hatred towards us. It is important for me to give my knowledge, skills and money to a country that values my work and instead sees me as an equal human being. “
@briany.r / Instagram
Alex Ingrim, financial advisor at Chase Buchanan USA, previously said News week that Trump’s return to power could cause an increase in the number of Americans wanting to leave the country. But perhaps only a small percentage will take the plunge.
Ingrim said: “It takes more than political reasons to move, including a better quality of life, a sense of adventure, proximity to family. Sacrificing time with friends and family or hobbies solely for political reasons is a difficult choice. And there are far fewer job opportunities abroad than in the United States.”
Rodas began selling his goods on Facebook Marketplace and donated many items to charity. Luckily, she’s not moving alone because she’ll be taking her nine-year-old chihuahua along for the ride.
Of course, Rodas can’t say for sure that she would have stayed if Kamala Harris had won, but she thinks it would have given her more time to decide whether the United States could offer her “a better future.”
How did social networks react?
Rodas took to social media (@briany.r on Instagram and @brianylopez3 on TikTok) to reveal that she was “running away from America” and had been flooded with support. She is even in contact with others who are considering emigrating to Europe or Mexico.
@briany.r / Instagram
She was delighted with the response to her video, which has over 27,000 views on TikTok. Many people encouraged her to keep going and keep her head held high. Although some people said she was overreacting and wouldn’t be kicked out.
Rodas said: “I would love to move to Norway or Ireland because I would feel safer in those countries. I am also looking at Spain, because they will grant citizenship after two years of legal residence to nationals of the countries ‘Latin America.
“Wherever I go, I hope to feel safe and appreciated for all my work and efforts in this country. I hope to have autonomy, freedom and no men carrying signs saying women are their property,” she continued.
