Trump's Self-Deportation Campaign Is Even Leading U.S. Citizens To Seek Refuge Abroad: Report

The Trump administration's efforts to pressure undocumented immigrants to self-deport have increasingly affected people who are not in that category, prompting some to consider leaving the country anyway, according to new a report.

The administration's campaign, launched in March, offered $1,000 and a free flight to undocumented individuals who voluntarily left the country. Initially targeting immigrants with criminal records, the effort has expanded to anyone without legal authorization, including those protected under DACA and known as Dreamers.

The campaign has prompted some U.S.-born Latinos to explore dual citizenship or residence abroad, particularly in Mexico, as The LA Times explains. Data shows a wider trend: 1,931 Americans applied for British citizenship between January and March—a 12% increase over the previous quarter—while Canadian lawyers have noted rising interest in Canadian citizenship, often citing political uncertainty as a motivating factor.

The uncertainty is amplified by Trump's efforts to curtail birthright citizenship. As reported by Slate, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services memo outlines plans to revoke citizenship from children born to immigrants who are unlawfully present in the country, as well as some lawful residents, including visa holders, Dreamers, and asylum-seekers. The memo envisions federal review of parents' legal status at or shortly after birth and would treat affected infants as noncitizens, subject to deportation.

The proposed policy would also affect children of parents with temporary lawful status, potentially requiring them to inherit their parents' immigration classification. According to Slate, the plan "would put ICE agents in maternity wards and babies on deportation flights" and fundamentally change the U.S. system established under the 14th Amendment, which has guaranteed birthright citizenship since 1868.

The combined effect of self-deportation campaigns and threats to birthright citizenship is fostering anxiety among immigrant families and U.S.-born citizens alike, motivating some to pursue dual nationality or emigrate entirely.

Nicole Macias, a longtime resident of Los Angeles whose family owns a legacy business on the Olvera Street strip, told the LA Times that he applied for dual Mexican citizenship last year through Doble Nacionalidad Express, a law firm specializing in helping individuals obtain dual citizenship.

"The political climate right now in Los Angeles is really crazy. A lot of people just feel unsafe," Macias explained. "A lot of people are turning back to this idea of being able to go back to Mexico and have an easier lifestyle."

The Times report cites a survery conducted by Expatsi, a travel company for expats, which found that of the 116,000 Americans surveyed, more than half were motivated by political divisions in the country. " I think a lot of people are turning [to] dual citizenship and leaving the States because it's probably a safer option," says Macias. "This [is] people's plan B for their future and for their safety and the safety of their families."