Californians Eyeing Escape Abroad Due to Election Worries

It seems like more and more Californians are looking to move overseas because they're fed up with the political climate in the U. S. A recent report by the Los Angeles Times revealed that there's been a surge in Americans, particularly from California, searching for ways to leave the country. Experts say this trend picked up in 2020 and has only grown since then. The upcoming election is making people especially nervous. Henley & Partners, a global firm that helps people get residency and citizenship in other countries, reported a significant increase in requests from Americans wanting to leave due to political issues. Basil Mohr Elzeki, from Henley & Partners, explained that people are worried about the election results and want an escape plan.Website traffic for companies like Expatsi, which helps Americans move abroad, skyrocketed after the 2024 presidential debates. Jen Barnett, the founder of Expatsi, moved to Mexico earlier this year with her husband because she felt something was broken in the U. S. after Trump's nomination in 2016. Mykel Dicus, a 54-year-old from Hayward, California, is also considering moving to Spain. He's concerned about the political environment and fears another Trump presidency. "If a regime like MAGA wins this election, I’m very scared, " Dicus said. "I just want to enjoy life without American worries. " Interestingly, it's not just liberals thinking about leaving. Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, a migration scholar, noted that people from both sides of the political spectrum are worried about the country's divisiveness. Marco Permunian, from Italian Citizenship Assistance, echoed this sentiment, saying that fear is driving people to look for life abroad, regardless of their political leanings.