As we all know, the United States’ political landscape is rapidly changing under former President Donald Trump’s second administration. Consequently, citizens and residents are currently wrestling with a profound state of anxiety regarding their identity and nationality. Recent events highlight the tensions surrounding what it means to be American in an era where the nation’s ideals appear to have eroded.
On February 17, 2025, a surprise demonstration broke out on the streets of Washington, D.C. One protestor flew an American flag upside down—figuratively, and literally, flipping the bird at Trump’s policies. This act of resistance speaks to the level of frustration, anger and discontent felt by millions of Americans. Trump’s administration has openly called for stripping citizenship away from people such as actress Rosie O’Donnell. That’s produced an incredibly fraught moment in which issues of who belongs are more important and urgent than ever.
The present head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has called for a deportation delivery system akin to “Amazon Prime, but with human beings.” This vision is frightening for undocumented immigrants and citizens alike. As of June 1, 2025, data showed that 51,302 individuals were in ICE detention. This dramatic number calls attention to the daily crisis faced by immigrants and those the state deems unworthy of citizenship.
Citizenship insecurity does challenge us to address what being American means. We miss the mark when we pretend that our founding principles somehow evaporated. Millions of people are wondering what it means to be, and where to be, in this new world.
In a international frame, this feeling of unpredictability can be found much further than U.S. borders. European universities are in a battle to attract American researchers. The cumulative effect of this shift would be a massive brain drain away from the United States. At the opening of the “Choose Europe for Science” conference, in Paris on May 5, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron encouraged scientists from around the world to come to Europe. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen followed him in this rallying cry.
Melissa Aronczyk, a media studies professor at Rutgers University and a Canadian by origin, has been watching this phenomenon with particular interest. She points out that Canadian American parents are starting to encourage their children to apply to Canadian universities. What began primarily as a cost-cutting move today speaks to a more existential angst regarding what is best and most stable for American society and ideals.
“The actions of this administration do not align with the country they thought we were. And now they question the logic of becoming a citizen out of fear of how MAGA believes we should treat non-citizens.” – Michele Wucker
The crisis is more than just numbers, policy deadlines, and ride-hailing services. It’s about transforming lives in a deeply personal way. As Juan M. Hincapie-Castillo shared through his poetry, citizenship is especially worrisome when times are so chaotic. His ground-breaking medical research on alternative pain management treatments that was defunded by the Trump administration.
“My anxiety is through the roof right now, but I think it would be worse if I were not a citizen.” – Juan M Hincapie-Castillo
To Hincapie-Castillo’s concerns are joined the fears of all those who, while citizens on paper, have nonetheless been rendered second-class by the law. He goes on, “I remain brown, queer, and with an accent. I personally have tattoos that I make sure to cover up every time I travel and go through TSA. These public proclamations point to the troubling history of the nature of identity tied to citizenship. This dual identity is fraught with challenges, no matter the legal status of the person.
Originally from Bulgaria, Kaneva became a naturalized American citizen just this summer. For her and those like her, the impact of insecurity over their citizenship status comes suddenly and severely. She navigates a complex landscape of identity as she continuously grapples with her new status in a country where her belonging feels tenuous.
Similarly, a Jewish faith leader from Israel, who holds an American passport while pursuing Portuguese citizenship, illustrates the precariousness many face as they seek stability amidst political upheaval. This individual emphasizes the “state of violence” in their home country as they try to find refuge in a new one.
As the global landscape shifts and perceptions of America deteriorate, “have gone negative, by almost every measure,” as Aronczyk observes, individuals are left questioning their allegiance and identity within this framework.
In June 2025, law firms began reaching out regularly to individuals seeking European citizenship, indicating a growing trend among those who feel disenfranchised or insecure about their status in America. The process often starts with simple inquiries about family history—”did your grandparents leave before or after 1951? Do you have their passports or marriage certificate?”—highlighting how deeply personal history intertwines with present circumstances.
“I don’t want to trade one nostalgia for another.” – Cristina Peri Rossi
The emotional cost of these changes is still being felt by countless communities from one side of America to the other. Kazim Ali, poet, memoirist, and co-founder of Nightboat Books, records the sharpest existential test. Now he and many others continuously wrestle with their respective identities as Americans. The erosion of shared values has led many to feel uncertain about their connection to the country they call home.
It is not only individual experiences to which the implications of this citizenship insecurity stretch. Beyond their tales of political dysfunction, they represent the larger identity crisis that threatens the very social contract and fabric of our society. Thousands more are investigating options in Europe and further afield. As this trend continues to increase, the United States puts its profound intellectual and cultural assets at stake in these highly unstable times.