Talisman Philanthropy

Wave of Immigration

November 24, 2016 at 9:17 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment

Just finished listening to latest This American Life post election podcast  The Sun Comes Up.

You may know I am less than a year into my expat life of an American citizen living and working in Australia. If we know there has been a wave of refugee movement like we’ve never seen before – I believe, after this US election, there will be a second big wave of people moving from country to country – legally and illegally.

I have spoken to US expats in Australia who are happy to stay here and others who feel like they need to go back to the US.  I have heard from African Americans and Muslim Americans who feel safer here than to return “home”.

Listening to This American Life there was a discussion about immigrants in America holding EB1 visas or green cards. This visa equals permanent residency but requires renewal or application for US citizenship. The US President-elect has stated his government won’t renew them.

But the other side of their conversation is: do they want to stay in a country (the US) that doesn’t want them or won’t protect them? And of course this discussion is amongst the privileged green card holders who have options and choices. And they wonder,

“Will “home” be any better than the US?”

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the next wave of “immigration” either back to their homeland or elsewhere. Interesting Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Finland keep coming up in conversation. Are they ready?

Entry filed under: Public Radio, Travel, US Election. Tags: immigration, US Election results, US President Elect, visa applications and permanent residency.