Black and Trans Americans Seek Refuge in Canada Amid U.S. Violence

Concerns are growing over the safety of Black and transgender individuals in the United States, prompting some to seek asylum in Canada. This shift follows remarks by conservative commentator Michael Knowles at the 2023 Conservative Political Action Conference, where he called for the “eradication of transgenderism” from public life. For individuals like Zara Sluys X, a biracial Black woman, such rhetoric signals an increasingly dangerous environment.

Sluys X has endured violent racism throughout her life, including a harrowing incident as a child when she was shot in the head with a BB gun. “The doctors say if he had been a step closer, the BB pellet would have penetrated my skull and killed me,” Sluys X told The Tyee. In search of safety, she moved to British Columbia with her husband, who was sponsoring her immigration. However, their relationship deteriorated, leaving her in transitional housing for domestic violence victims.

Now, Sluys X is preparing her application for asylum based on the claim that the United States is unsafe for Black and transgender individuals. Last year alone, 32 trans and gender non-conforming individuals were murdered in the U.S., with over half being Black trans women. A study from the University of California, Los Angeles found that trans individuals are four times more likely to experience violent victimization than their cisgender counterparts.

Advocacy for trans asylum has gained momentum, particularly from Cait Glasson, an Ontario-based LGBTQ2S+ advocate. Anticipating the need for such measures, she launched an online parliamentary petition in 2023, urging the Canadian government to extend asylum rights to trans and non-binary individuals facing persecution in their home countries. The petition highlighted the United States and the United Kingdom as examples of nations enacting trans-exclusionary legislation. It garnered over 160,400 signatures, making it one of the most signed petitions at the time.

Glasson expressed her concerns about the possibility of Canada denying asylum to trans refugees, likening it to the fate of Jewish refugees in 1939 who were sent back to Europe. “They went back to Europe, where a third of them were killed in the Holocaust,” she said.

The Canadian government has not provided specific information on its asylum policies concerning gender or sexual orientation, as highlighted by an email statement from Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The ministry does not collect statistics based on these categories, stating, “We cannot speculate on future policy decisions nor comment on internal U.S. government measures.”

Sluys X believes she may be the first Black trans American to seek asylum in Canada, but she is not the only one. According to Reuters, 245 out of 55,000 asylum claims in the first half of 2025 originated from Americans, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. This figure includes at least two trans individuals. Earlier this summer, a Canadian Federal Court judge granted a stay of deportation for Angel Jenkel, a non-binary American, citing the failure of U.S. immigration officials to consider the current conditions for LGBTQ individuals.

Scholar Victoria E. Thomas, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University, underscores the persistent dangers faced by Black individuals in the U.S. “It has never been safe to be Black, let alone Black and trans,” she stated, pointing to systemic issues such as police brutality and anti-Black racism. In 2023 alone, 43 federal bills and executive orders negatively impacting Black individuals have been introduced in the United States.

The situation is compounded by a wave of anti-trans legislation, with 987 bills proposed across 49 U.S. states since January, 122 of which have already passed. Former President Donald Trump has also endorsed measures that could further marginalize transgender individuals, including banning trans girls from competing in women’s sports.

While Canada is not without its own issues of police brutality, anti-Black racism, and transphobia, Thomas notes key differences, such as laws against hate speech and stricter gun regulations. “Freedom of speech in America covers hate speech,” she explained, highlighting how this contributes to a dangerous environment for marginalized communities.

The path to asylum is fraught with challenges. A. Connie Campbell, a Vancouver-based lawyer specializing in LGBTQ2S+ immigration, highlights the difficulties faced by applicants. They must demonstrate that they face persecution in their home country, which can include denial of public services and political prosecution based on their identity. Claims must exceed mere experiences of discrimination, requiring evidence of harm or systemic failure to protect.

Recent political rhetoric has also complicated the situation. Right-wing commentators have attempted to link the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative pundit, to “transgender ideology,” despite no evidence supporting this claim. The U.S. Department of Justice is even considering actions that could restrict gun ownership for transgender individuals.

While some express concerns about the potential influx of asylum seekers, Campbell remarks that Canadian support for mass asylum programs may be waning. Recent cuts to federal immigration policies and political calls to limit immigration could complicate the landscape for potential asylum seekers.

Despite these hurdles, Sluys X remains hopeful. Canada has a historical precedent for accepting Black asylum seekers, and she reflects on the clandestine journeys of those who previously sought refuge through the Underground Railroad. “Will it always have to be behind closed doors?” she questioned, advocating for recognition of the need for refuge supported by the government and the broader public.