Especially, whem taking into the account of a possible change of regime in their new country that coulds result in deportation back to their former country. Is this a common fear?


I was born in Mainland China, and I immigrated to the USA as a child, and I have Derivative US Citizenship.

Now the US’s own Autocratization is bringing up a lot of fears.

For one, of couse I could end up in a concentration camp, similar to what happened to Japanese Americans during WW2.

But also, I could lose citizenship due to the current administration’s hostility and xenophobia, and end up getting deported.

And I fucking despise the CCP, since they fucking tried to kill me before I was even born (long story short: One Child Policy; I was the second child, they tried to locate my mother when she had the second pregnancy, they didn’t find her so here I am). I have talked so much shit about the CCP while in the US, IRL and online, if the CCP has a competent intelligence agency (which they do), then they already know that I’m a dissident and my life would be miserable if I get deported to China.

So there is few possibilities, if I lose citizenship status.

I could end up stateless. Which is terrible.

I could end up in China. Which is absolutely horrifying.

Or I could end up in Guantanamo, or some other country trump has negotiated with to take deportees, which is just… fucking the worse possible timeline.

I mean, just look at recent news. Anyone deemed “pro-hamas” would get deported.

Honestly, these thoughts is why I have never really attended a protest in the US. I know Lemmy would call me a coward, and I probably am a coward. But I just never feel safe anywhere. You know the saying “when in rome, do as roman do”. So yea, I just never feel like I’m really I can speak out against the injustice in the US, I know the “First Amendment” and all that, but doesn’t mean much when the president actively disrespects the constitution.

I don’t even know if shitposting on Lemmy is safe either, but hopefully this is not on the US government’s top of the list.

So yea, the autocrats won. They’ve already made me too scared to dissent (other than online shitposts that will do absolutely nothing).

(I don’t meet any eligibility to immigrate to the EU, so not an option either)

  • Magister@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Yes, especially China, they have “secret police stations” around the world, lot in Canada, where they track and harass Chinese citizens who have immigrated to Canada. It is well documented.

  • nicgentile@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    In some ways yeah. My country pivoted from semi-dictatorship to dictatorship to democracy to democracy and finally back to dictatorship. I was born under a dictatorship and for the first 21 years of my life, there was only one president, a crazy murderous dictator.

    I just emigrated to the US so it’s crazy seeing the same stuff I run from all over again. My county’s president is aligned with the current US right wing policies, so yeah, though minute, I’m a legit target, so I do not talk about my country’s politics or government.

  • cetaceanprayers@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    regardless of where you’re from originally, you probably SHOULD be worried about what’s going on in the states right now. it’s for real.

  • Delvin4519@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Canada clamped down on immigration several years ago, so that option seems, mostly difficult at best if at all. Not sure about Australia, England, and NZ either.

    By the time the world allows those who want to leave the hellscape for elsewhere, it’s almost certainly going to be too late and much worse off :(.

    I feel so scared and paranoid, and I’ve never been this scared and paranoid for just existing where I’ve lived my entire life. And yet I’ve already blocked dozens of news feeds and whatnot, and it still doesn’t go away with more slop that gets through the ever growing cracks. Can’t hardly focus or do a thing at all.

  • quickenparalysespunk@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 days ago

    I’m right there with you.

    my parents came to USA before i was born and i was born here. i don’t know how cheetoh face would do it, but i have no doubt it would try its best to kick you and i both out, even if it’s obviously illegal.

    unlike some others in the thread, i don’t think this is a trivial worry. I’ve also been silent on certain issues out if concern for my loved ones being targeted for surveillance or worse. i respect you for posting about this. I’m afraid too.

    keep talking to trusted friends and take care of your mental health! touch grass, drink water, get the best quality of sleep you can.

  • Bobr@lemmy.libertarianfellowship.org
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    7 days ago

    Well, it’s definitely the case for me and for some of my friends/family.
    I left Ukraine “legally” (it was before the war, when it was still possible to leave “legally” without paying huge bribes), but some of people I know had to escape “illegally” (some went to the Russia-controlled territories, some escaped through mountains/rivers to Moldova, some were caught…).
    Zelensky has already tried to persuade European leaders to deport us, but so far he failed. Still, every once in a while news appear (usually from Baltics/Poland, but sometimes from other countries aa well) about some politician wanting to deport us, so this is quite scary shit.

  • njm1314@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Of course it is, sometimes authoritarian governments track you down and murder you with an ice ax in Mexico City.

  • doingthestuff@lemy.lol
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    7 days ago

    Left authoritarianism is a scourge just as much as fascism, but I’m an anti-authoritarian centrist. Yes it is normal to fear authoritarians. The proletariat must not be disarmed.

  • ivanafterall ☑️@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Maybe it’s crazy behavior, but 1.) I’ve had similar thoughts for various reasons relating to my past and 2.) it has made me feel better: I came up with a little emergency plan. If shit hits the fan, I’m rounding up the kids and dogs and getting to X location as quickly/cautiously as possible, after which I will take steps Y, Z, etc…

    Hopefully it stays crazy thinking. And if it doesn’t, hopefully it’s not just an asinine and unrealistic thought that proves impossible. But it makes me feel a little better to have thought about what I would actually do, if it came down to it. And what might it look like to prompt such a decision on my part.

  • Fairgreen@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    I think 'n also interesting question is: do they still feel the influence of the indoctrination of their previous country?

  • Nanook@lemm.ee
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    6 days ago

    Yes, and it will get less. Hang in there and don’t be afraid to connect.

  • 21Cabbage@lemmynsfw.com
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    7 days ago

    Can’t think of why one wouldn’t, for how shitty as that is. Same principal as why people with authoritarian parents make for paranoid adults.