Since a Canadian court ruled in 2023 that a law restricting the overseas transmission of citizenship was unconstitutional, and after the new rules took effect in December of that year, millions of Americans have suddenly become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. This change stems from Canada’s repeal of the “first-generation limit” imposed by the Conservative government in 2009, and the passage of Bill C-3, which restores citizenship to so-called “Lost Canadians” who had been disqualified under the old rules.
For many Americans, this is not just a legal amendment, but an escape valve in the face of political turmoil, violence, and uncertainty in the United States. Ellen Robillard, a 52-year-old Democratic activist in New York State, has been threatened for her outspoken political involvement, followed home, and has suffered from insomnia, burnout, and estrangement from friends and family. After learning she could claim citizenship through her mother, who was born in Nova Scotia, she is now preparing documents with her 19-year-old son as part of her “Plan B.” “If things start deteriorating here with our economy,” she says, “I know that I can just get in the car and go.”
A similar story is playing out for Rachel Rabb, 34. A biracial American, she left the U.S. i loko 2018, fearing racial violence, but found she could not escape the shadow of Trump’s re-election. When she discovered she had Canadian ancestry, she felt it was heaven-sent. She says the U.S. has become too dangerous, where anyone can be targeted under current immigration policies.
Cassandra Fultz, an immigration consultant based in Ottawa, says her American caseload has increased tenfold since the new law took effect, from an average of 10 applications per month to 100. She notes that this wave of interest is unprecedented — unlike the short-lived spikes following previous elections. Many applicants are not looking to move immediately, she says, but are seeking proof of citizenship “just in case,” keeping a back door open for themselves.