As America’s elite increasingly pursue “golden” visas around the world, a growing number of Americans are seeking refugee status closer to home.
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board recently released data showing a noticeable rise in Americans moving north to the Land of the Maple Leaf.
The figures, shared Thursday, indicate that more Americans applied for refugee status in Canada during the first half of 2025 than in all of 2024, Reuters reported.
There have been 245 refugee claims so far this year, compared with 204 claims filed last year. The 245 applicants already surpass the totals of any previous full year since 2019, according to Reuters.
While the data doesn’t specify why Americans are seeking refugee status, reports suggest political disagreements with the Trump administration may be a factor.
Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley told the Financial Times he accepted a position at the University of Toronto, citing concerns about academic freedom.
“I believe in the values of academic freedom and defending democratic institutions … Not the idea that the proper response to authoritarians is to hide and hope you’re not next,” Stanley said.
Historians Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore also accepted roles at the University of Toronto, according to FT.
Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, several celebrities publicly discussed plans to move if President Trump was re-elected. Sharon Stone, Cher, and Barbra Streisand all hinted at relocating. Streisand once said she wouldn’t be able to “live in this country if he becomes president,” while Stone mentioned she was “certainly considering a house in Italy.”
David Lesperance, a lawyer representing ultra-high-net-worth families, told Axios he has observed Americans moving to the U.K.
“A lot of the movement that we’re now seeing of Americans moving … would be people who don’t want to live in Trump’s America,” Lesperance said.
Canada-based Mohamed Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, previously spoke with Fox News Digital about the rise in interest for “golden” visas.
Political divisions, he explained, have led wealthy Americans to explore alternative options. They may not be changing their primary residences, but acquiring the ability to live elsewhere offers flexibility.
Bennis noted that Malta, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Portugal are increasingly popular destinations for Americans seeking residency or citizenship through investment.
