Millions of Americans Eligible for Canadian Citizenship Amid Political Turmoil

As concerns grow over President Trump's second term, thousands of Americans are applying for Canadian citizenship 'just in case'.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:04pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fragmented shapes in shades of red, white, and blue, conceptually representing the political upheaval and uncertainty in the United States.As political tensions escalate in the US, a growing number of Americans are seeking Canadian citizenship as a 'Plan B' option.Rochester Today

Due to a change in Canadian law, millions of Americans are now eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent. As political tensions and violence escalate in the US, thousands of Americans are applying for Canadian citizenship as a 'Plan B' option, even if they don't plan to immediately move north. The revised law reverses a 'first-generation' limit imposed in 2009, allowing Americans to claim citizenship going back generations. Immigration consultants have seen a tenfold increase in American citizenship applications since the new bill was passed.

Why it matters

The surge in American interest in Canadian citizenship highlights growing concerns about the political climate in the US, with some fearing escalating violence and unrest. The revised law allows Americans to have a 'backup plan' if the situation in the US deteriorates further, providing them with the option to easily relocate to Canada if needed.

The details

The Canadian courts ruled in 2023 that the law barring Canadians born abroad from passing their citizenship to children if they were also born outside Canada was unconstitutional. This change in eligibility has opened up a pathway to Canadian citizenship for many Americans, especially as concerns grow over President Trump's potential second term. Immigration consultants have seen a tenfold increase in American citizenship applications since the new bill was passed, with some applicants citing political unrest, economic uncertainty, and personal safety as reasons for seeking a Canadian 'Plan B'.

  • The Canadian courts ruled the previous citizenship law unconstitutional in 2023.
  • The changes to eligibility came into effect in December 2023.
  • Since the new bill was passed, Ottawa-based immigration consultant Cassandra Fultz says her American caseload has soared tenfold, from an average of 10 to 100 applications a month.

The players

Ellen Robillard

A 52-year-old New York State resident and outspoken Democratic activist who is applying for Canadian citizenship with her 19-year-old son due to concerns about political violence and unrest in the US.

Rachel Rabb

A 34-year-old biracial American citizen who left the US in 2018 and now divides her time between Costa Rica and Mexico, but is applying for Canadian citizenship due to fears of racial violence and Trump's hardline policies.

Timothy Beaulieu

A 45-year-old New Hampshire resident who is applying for Canadian citizenship to reconnect with his family's French-Canadian heritage, which he traces back to his great-great-grandfather.

Aaron Lowry

An Ann Arbor, Michigan resident who was one of the first Americans to get his Canadian citizenship through a short-lived interim bill that was eventually replaced by Bill C-3.

Cassandra Fultz

An Ottawa-based regulated immigration consultant who says her American caseload has soared tenfold since the new citizenship bill was passed.

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What they’re saying

“I really don't recognize my world anymore.”

— Ellen Robillard

“The experience of being there was so interesting. I felt like a different person there. It was so much less stressful. Everyone was nicer.”

— Ellen Robillard

“It was heaven-sent to discover that I have this Canadian ancestry, given the current political climate.”

— Rachel Rabb

“I don't plan to return to the US at the moment. It's just too dangerous. So many people are targeted, even if you just look Latino, or if you look like you might be an immigrant. They're even arresting US citizens, and allies. It's a very scary time right now because anyone can be targeted.”

— Rachel Rabb

“It really means a lot to me to be able to feel more connected to the place where our family came from.”

— Timothy Beaulieu

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This surge in American interest in Canadian citizenship highlights growing concerns about the political climate in the US, with some fearing escalating violence and unrest. The revised law allows Americans to have a 'backup plan' if the situation in the US deteriorates further, providing them with the option to easily relocate to Canada if needed.