Kevin and Jessica Cellura, teachers from Asheville, North Carolina, made a big decision in December. They had only 48 hours to decide if they would accept teaching jobs in Morocco. The result of the 2024 U.S. presidential election helped them decide. They said they want to leave the chaos in America. They feel the country is changing fast.
The Celluras are not alone. Many Americans are trying to move abroad or get citizenship in other countries. Tax experts and immigration lawyers say they have seen more Americans asking for help to move since Trump’s election win.
Kevin and Jessica are independent voters. They voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Kevin had voted Republican in the past, but now feels the U.S. government is not based on reality. He believes false claims about election fraud have hurt democracy. The couple will move to Rabat, Morocco, where they will teach in an American-style school. Their flight is planned for August 10.
Data shows a rise in Americans applying for citizenship in other countries. In early 2025, more than 1,900 Americans applied for British passports, the highest number since 2004. About 4,700 Americans applied for Irish citizenship through ancestry, the highest in ten years. Many want a backup plan or a way to leave if needed. Some hope to live in safer or more stable places.
Before the 2024 election, one tax and immigration advisor said he got two calls a week from Americans. Now, he gets five or more calls daily. Many feel targeted because of new laws and political changes. Families with transgender children have sought help after restrictions on gender-affirming care were announced. Others worry that the U.S. is moving toward an autocracy and that their rights could be lost.
Some celebrities have also left the U.S. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland with her non-binary child and is applying for citizenship there. She said she will return only when equal rights are guaranteed for all Americans.
Political division is another reason some are leaving. Screenwriter Erik Lindsay moved to Italy in 2020 during the pandemic. He said the U.S. felt like an ideological civil war. He had long thought about moving after Trump’s first election in 2016 because political arguments divided his friends. Lindsay used his ancestry to get Italian citizenship just before the law changed to make it harder.
Many Americans who leave are looking for peace, better healthcare, or a safer place for their children. Political worries are often part of the decision. Some simply want a backup plan in case the U.S. political or social situation worsens.
The trend of Americans moving abroad or seeking dual citizenship is likely to continue as political tensions rise. Many want to protect their futures and find stability elsewhere. Kevin and Jessica Cellura say they are ready to start their new life abroad and not wait for the situation in the U.S. to improve.
