Today in Focus The transgender refugees fleeing the US
19 snips
Jan 19, 2026 
Jane Michelle Ark, a former software engineer and US citizen, shares her harrowing experience seeking asylum in the Netherlands as a transgender refugee. She details the threats and hostility she faced in the US, illustrating the urgent need for safety. Marlou Shrover, a professor of migration studies, provides insights into the legal complexities of asylum claims for US citizens. Together, they explore the harsh realities of asylum processes, the challenges of identity, and the hope for a safer future in a welcoming country.
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Leaving After Direct Threats
- Jane left the US after threats and growing hostility, fearing for her life despite living openly as a woman for years.
- She fled quickly, deciding months of job-searching in Europe wasn’t safe enough and sought asylum in the Netherlands.
Choose A Country With Legal Protections
- Consider asylum in countries that recognise gender identity persecution and are signatories to the Refugee Convention, like the Netherlands.
- Avoid destinations that offer social acceptance but no formal asylum pathway, such as Thailand, if you need legal protection.
First Impressions Of Ter Apel
- Jane described arriving in Ter Apel shocked by camp conditions and hostility from other residents who questioned why an American was there.
- She spent sleepless days adapting to cold, cramped rooms covered in graffiti and bodily stains before moving to queer housing.