Record Number of Americans Seek UK Citizenship Amid Political and Social Concerns

Recent figures indicate a remarkably high number of Americans applying for UK citizenship, with over 6,100 applications recorded in 2024. This represents a 26% rise compared to the previous year and sets a new record since data began to be collected two decades ago. The increase is particularly noticeable during the last quarter of 2024, coinciding with Donald Trump's return to the presidency, prompting a notable 40% year-over-year surge in applications.

Interviews conducted by The Guardian with three individual Americans living in the UK shed light on the personal drivers for this growing trend. Health concerns, political dissatisfaction, and fears regarding gun violence were cited as common reasons for leaving the United States.

One interviewee, who moved with his wife in 2023 to Shrewsbury, cited their growing distress over high healthcare expenses, the continuation of gun violence, and a sense of political hopelessness as decisive reasons for relocating. Having always considered themselves politically engaged and hopeful for change, eventually, they recognized the US was unlikely to improve significantly. Since moving, they have appreciated the sense of community and collective responsibility in the UK, contrasting it sharply with the competitive and self-centered culture they experienced in America. They now plan to secure permanent settlement through citizenship.

Another American, who initially arrived in the UK in 2010 for a temporary visit, experienced a transformative shift in perspective over the years. The revelations from Edward Snowden about NSA surveillance highlighted troubling aspects of American governance, making it impossible to return permanently. After returning to study musical psychology in 2020, the individual's experience protesting for Black Lives Matter—where armed militias intimidated demonstrators while authorities did little—served as further confirmation that the US was becoming unsafe. This individual now anticipates receiving full British citizenship by 2030.

A third individual, originally from New York and resident in the UK since 2009, initially felt secure about her immigration status due to her settled family life and European ancestry. However, occurrences like Brexit and Trump's second inauguration—alongside his administration's contemplation of removing birthright citizenship—served as stark reminders that immigration and citizenship laws can change quickly and unpredictably. Prompted by her own father's experience as an immigrant and his insistence on securing official status, she now plans on obtaining British citizenship despite its high cost, ensuring stability for herself and her daughters.