Transgender American Returns From Dutch Asylum Camp, Calls Escape “the Dumbest Thing I’ve Ever Done”
Jane-Michelle Arc, a 48-year-old transgender software engineer from San Francisco, left the United States after President Donald Trump’s reelection. She flew to Amsterdam in April 2025 and asked Dutch officials for asylum.
According to reports, officials initially laughed at the “big dumb American” before realizing Arc was serious. She was then sent to Ter Apel, the Netherlands’ largest asylum reception center.
The facility houses thousands of migrants, many from Syria, Eritrea, Somalia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, and other regions. Arc soon found that leaving America had not delivered the safety she expected.
In interviews with the Dutch outlet PowNews and The Guardian, Arc described the camp as frightening. She repeatedly complained about anti-trans hostility from other asylum seekers. The situation became so serious that she said walking to a grocery store felt dangerous.
“This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done,” Arc said while describing her “wildly stupid” decision to leave the United States.
She also said, “The situation I have in the US as a trans person, not good, right? But here, I will be hurt or killed.” Arc pointed to yellow-vested security and frequent stabbings near the center.
Officials had declared the area around Ter Apel a safety risk zone after fights and knife attacks. The Red Cross also raised concerns about conditions at the facility.
Dat het door asielzoekers in Ter Apel voor transpersonen onveiliger is dan in het Amerika van Trump moet flink wat cognitieve dissonantie in het linkse brein veroorzaken. pic.twitter.com/37EONav4WA
Dat het door asielzoekers in Ter Apel voor transpersonen onveiliger is dan in het Amerika van Trump moet flink wat cognitieve dissonantie in het linkse brein veroorzaken. pic.twitter.com/37EONav4WA
— Sander van Dam (@Sandervandam2) July 13, 2026
Before leaving, Arc had portrayed the United States as a dystopia for transgender people. She cited concerns about discrimination protections, passports, and harassment, even while living in liberal San Francisco. Friends warned her against the move, but she insisted there was “no other option.”
Dutch authorities treat the United States as a safe country of origin. After Arc’s asylum request failed, she returned to California last month. Similar asylum claims from Americans have also been rejected.
Back home, Arc resumed criticizing the United States. She called America “really, really loud and overwhelming” and said “everything is so expensive.” She also argued that San Francisco groceries make Dutch prices look reasonable.
Arc still said “transphobia is quite overt” in America. Yet, according to the account, she found the United States more comfortable than the Dutch asylum camp. That is a harsh lesson for anyone who believes political fearmongering is a substitute for reality.
The numbers had already signaled a problem. The Guardian reported that 76 Americans applied for asylum in the Netherlands in 2025, up from nine in 2024. Arc’s experience shows what can happen when people abandon a safe, prosperous country based on exaggerated political warnings.