In a dramatic move fueled by fear, a family from Illinois has fled the United States and is seeking asylum in Canada, citing former president Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on transgender rights. Caitlin and Ted Berg, both military veterans, packed up their lives and crossed the border with their two children—one transgender, the other gender-fluid—determined to escape an America they say is becoming increasingly hostile to LGBTQ+ people.
For Caitlin, the alarm bells started ringing back in 2016 when Trump was first elected. “When I saw what happened, my gut started turning,” she told CBC from their temporary shelter in Ontario. But after Trump returned to the White House in January and wasted no time erasing trans rights with executive orders, the Bergs felt they had no choice but to leave.
A President on a Mission Against Trans People
Trump’s second presidency has been marked by an aggressive rollback of LGBTQ+ protections. Within hours of taking office, he declared there were only “two sexes,” effectively erasing transgender and intersex people in government policy. His administration has pushed for restrictions on gender-affirming care, blocked trans people from serving in the military, and greenlit discrimination in healthcare.
For the Bergs, the tipping point was Trump’s executive order that revoked Biden’s prescription price caps. Ted, who has diabetes, saw the cost of his insulin skyrocket from $35 to $900 overnight. That, combined with growing threats to their children’s rights, pushed them into action. They pulled their kids out of school the day after Trump’s inauguration, fearing for their safety and mental health.
A Risky Escape With Uncertain Odds
The family’s journey to Canada wasn’t easy. With little money for documentation, they crossed the border without passports, relying on Canada’s asylum process for protection. However, their future remains uncertain. Canadian officials have warned them that U.S. citizens rarely receive asylum, but they pushed ahead regardless.
It’s not just the Bergs who are looking north for refuge. After Trump’s re-election, Google searches for LGBTQ+ asylum Canada spiked. Immigration experts report a surge in applications from Americans citing political persecution—though Canada’s strict asylum criteria make approvals rare. To qualify, the family must prove they face real persecution, a high bar given that the U.S. is considered a “safe” country by international standards.
Still, the Bergs remain hopeful. “We just want to raise our kids in a place where they can be safe and loved,” Caitlin said.
LGBTQ+ Americans Weigh Their Options
For many LGBTQ+ people in the U.S., the Bergs’ story is a chilling reflection of the growing threats under Trump. As state legislatures across the country push anti-trans laws, healthcare protections are stripped away, and hate crimes rise, more families are wondering whether it’s time to leave.
While Canada’s doors aren’t wide open, immigration lawyers note an increase in other pathways to move, such as work visas and residency programs. With Trump promising more hardline policies, the question remains: How many more LGBTQ+ families will be forced to seek safety abroad?
For now, the Bergs are waiting—hoping that Canada will give them the future they no longer believe is possible in the United States.