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US presidential candidate <keyword id="19918985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump" source="keywords">Donald Trump</keyword> has gone from suggesting that immigrants were poisoning the blood of the country to saying that he would welcome immigrants from “nice” countries like Denmark, Switzerland and Norway to his most recent plans of automatically granting green cards to <keyword id="22128571" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-graduates" source="keywords">foreign graduates</keyword> of US colleges in a rather short duration of time. Feeling a little whiplashed, anyone? Securing a green card in the US is a Herculean task whose difficulty is probably comparable to capturing and bringing back Cerberus. And this legal permanent residence, which can sometimes take decades, is only the first step to becoming a US citizen. Many Indians have tried, whether it’s through residing and working for decades, navigating rather lengthy paperwork or marrying someone who is already a US citizen. Sadly, many have failed too. However, should Donald Trump become the President of the United States again (and decide to keep his word), Indian students might actually have an easier time getting a green card. In a surprising shift from his previous stance on immigration, former President Donald Trump has unveiled a bold plan to automatically grant green cards to foreign graduates of US colleges if re-elected. This announcement, made during a podcast interview with Silicon Valley investors, marks a departure from Trump's traditionally tough rhetoric on immigration. During the podcast hosted by Chamath Palihapitiya and others, Trump expressed his commitment to retaining talent educated in American universities. He argued passionately for granting green cards as a standard benefit for graduates, regardless of the institution they attended. Trump emphasised that this policy should encompass graduates from renowned institutions like Harvard and MIT as well as from junior colleges across the country. “It’s so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, the greatest schools, and lesser schools that are phenomenal schools also,” Trump lamented on the All-In Podcast. “I think you should get, automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country and that includes junior colleges, too.” A green card affords its holder permanent residency rights in the United States and represents a crucial step towards citizenship. Trump's proposal, if enacted, could potentially introduce hundreds of thousands of new applicants for citizenship annually. Adding to the exodus of Indians who have already migrated to the US, over 200,000 Indian nationals are enrolled in institutes across the US in 2024, setting a new record. In fact, the significant surge in Indian students seeking education in the country between 2022-23 represented an unprecedented 35% increase from the year before that. The former US president specifically mentioned India and China, highlighting how talented individuals were unable to stay in the US because of current <keyword id="22151110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="visa-policies" source="keywords">visa policies</keyword>. We can see how this may show him in a favourable light for green card aspirants. And while we’re not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, it is important to remember that Trump has made his discriminatory nature very public in several instances. Immigration has been a hot topic in the US political arena for decades. However, in recent years, the political right and others have been more divided than ever on this issue. Republicans have been calling for stringent immigration policies and strict border protections. Therefore, even if Trump does deliver what he promises, the packaging will most likely have fine print that might continue to make it difficult for students to attain green cards. In fact, the presidential candidate’s campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has already clarified that Trump's proposal would only apply to thoroughly vetted college graduates who can “make significant contributions” to America and would not undercut American wages or workers. She emphasised that Trump has outlined the most aggressive vetting process in US history to exclude "all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges." Anyhow, Trump’s proposal starkly contrasts with Trump's previous hardline stance on immigration, which had been a cornerstone of his political platform. During his presidency, Trump advocated for stringent immigration policies, including the largest deportation campaign in US history, aimed at undocumented migrants, and building a wall on the southern borders of the country. Trump intensified restrictions on legal immigration amid the pandemic and his final year in office. He proposed halting all immigration to the US and deporting foreign students who didn't attend some in-person classes. A month before the 2020 election, Trump once more moved to tighten regulations on the <keyword id="20773661" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="H-1B-visa" source="keywords">H-1B visa</keyword> program. He has also criticised the H-1B visa program, which tech companies favour for hiring foreign skilled workers, as detrimental to American prosperity. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa allowing US firms to employ foreigners in specialised occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise. At a recent campaign event in Wisconsin, Trump criticised Biden's immigration policies, particularly lambasting a new program allowing undocumented spouses of US citizens to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country. Trump characterised immigration under Biden as an "invasion" and argued against discussing amnesty, urging instead for measures to halt what he perceives as an influx of unauthorised migrants. Estimates from the Department of Homeland Security suggest that approximately 11 million migrants currently reside in the US without authorization, a statistic that has been central to Trump's arguments against leniency in immigration policy.

Donald Trump strikes again: Ex-President proposes automatic green cards for foreign graduates of US colleges

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/became-american-citizen-to-could-vote-2024-11">born in the US</a> but have ancestral ties to both Poland and Portugal.</li><li>Gathering all the necessary documents to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-more-americans-applying-for-second-passports-2024-7">apply for dual citizenship</a> took time and effort.</li></ul>I was born in the United States but travel widely and often think about moving abroad. I also want my <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mom-lists-the-benefits-of-giving-her-kids-dual-citizenship-2022-6">children to have the option</a> if they ever want to leave the US.In more recent years, as I became increasingly concerned about the political landscape in America and the impact it could have on my family's lives, I got serious about looking for ways to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/second-passport-application-steps-to-consider-2024-7">gain citizenship in another country</a>.This process isn't possible for everyone. Among other obstacles, some people are unable to trace their roots because their ancestors were brought to the US as slaves.However, after doing a lot of research and submitting so much paperwork, I was granted <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/emily-in-paris-wrong-krakow-better-than-rome-european-travel-2024-9">citizenship in Poland</a> and Portugal before ever setting foot in either country.Here are the steps I took.<h2 id="abd813cd-f03d-4be1-97d8-ef04b07e230f">I started by creating a detailed family tree</h2>To build my tree, I did research on where each of my ancestors was born and the date they immigrated to the US.Then, I filled in the gaps by asking relatives and conducting research online. US government databases and Ancestry.com were my main sources for verifying things I'd already been told and looking into further <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-economy-prediction-immigration-population-growth-housing-market-gdp-cbo-2024-2">immigration information</a>.In my experience, details as small as the exact year someone immigrated or where they were buried were critical.<h2 id="df385453-4ee0-489a-a991-05381a1ef5de">After looking into immigration laws, I found the documents I needed</h2>Once I had my tree, I researched immigration laws.Through my research, I found a few potential paths to citizenship but focused on Poland. My grandfather was Polish, and I had his Polish passport, so the process was straightforward.Most countries require original documents issued in that country, such as a birth certificate or baptismal certificate, to successfully apply for citizenship. In some cases, immigration attorneys can help track down these types of documents.<h2 id="8631757a-1b47-4b14-9dfb-f4aaef97b3f2">It was worth it for me to look into alternative paths to citizenship, too</h2><div type="image" title="view of Belem Tower in portugal" height="3456" width="4608" msid="115063144" hostid="261" sizebytes="1349042"></div>Although a common path to citizenship is through descent, several countries offer alternate avenues. It's worth looking into different immigration laws, especially if tracing exact roots and finding original documents isn't possible.I was able to get Portuguese citizenship by proving I am a descendant of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th Century. Although the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.lvpadvogados.com/nationality-for-descendants-of-sephardic-jews-to-end-in-december">deadline to apply for nationality</a> under that specific Portuguese law was January 1, 2024, similar laws may exist in other countries.For example, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spain-is-betting-on-immigrants-to-boost-its-economy-2024-10">Spain grants citizenship</a> to those who fled the Franco dictatorship during the Spanish Civil War and their descendants. Austria and Germany also offer it to the descendants of Jews who fled the Nazis.In some cases, countries will even give you citizenship in exchange for a sizable investment, like real estate.<h2 id="72ec9f94-49aa-4a80-8e9b-41337a1f10ee">Connecting with others going through the same process helped a lot</h2>One of the best decisions I made was joining social-media groups for Americans looking to gain dual citizenship.I regularly received tips and swift answers to questions from people who were experiencing the same thing as me. It was also a great way to connect with people with similar heritage.<h2 id="de72d8fc-7b74-450f-b0db-7b591e59483c">Hiring a local immigration attorney gave me a lot of peace</h2>Before investing a lot of time and money in the citizenship process, I wanted to get an honest assessment of my chances.To ease my mind, I had free consultations with an attorney in Poland and one in Portugal. From there, I hired them to help me troubleshoot problems.Although hiring an attorney isn't always required, I thought it was time and money well spent. I was also very glad I used local attorneys who are experts in their country's process.<h2 id="db066f00-4f42-4142-b7dd-7fac176e1218">I had to gather a lot of documents before submitting my applications</h2>Poland and Portugal required a ton of documents to apply for citizenship.In both cases, my local attorney filled out the necessary forms, but I was responsible for obtaining everything else. I needed to submit my birth certificate and marriage certificate, among others.Because my Polish citizenship is based on descent, I also needed to submit documents proving that I was descended from my grandfather, including my grandparent's marriage certificate and my parents' birth certificates.For my Portuguese citizenship, I was able to submit a letter from a rabbi about cultural practices and proof that my grandfather was buried in a Sephardic section of a cemetery. I also needed to submit an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-application-background-checks-employment-history-drug-screening-2023-6">FBI background check</a>.Once I gathered all the documents, my attornies submitted my applications for me.<h2 id="263e23e6-7a65-4b1b-9613-d1ba421004f9">It took a long time to get citizenship</h2><div type="image" title="jamie's kids posing in a town square in krakow poland" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115063148" hostid="261" sizebytes="529724"></div>After submitting, there was nothing to do but wait.My application for Polish citizenship was granted in about a year. I didn't get Portuguese citizenship until nearly three years after I applied.Waiting was the most frustrating part of the process. However, once I held my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-powerful-passports-world-ranked-2023-1">new passports</a> in my hand, I forgot about it.I love having the freedom to move abroad. Now that my children also have dual citizenship, I rest easy knowing that they have the same opportunity.

I'm an American who got citizenship in 2 European countries without setting foot in either one. Here's how I did it.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian influence actors created a fake Georgia voter fraud video, according to US intel officials.</li><li>The video falsely shows Haitian nationals illegally voting for Kamala Harris in Georgia.</li></ul>Russian influence actors were behind the fake Georgia voter fraud video that's been circulating online, US intelligence officials said.In a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2024/4014-pr-28-24">joint statement released</a> on Friday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said Russia made a false video purporting to show non-US citizens from Haiti illegally voting in multiple counties in Georgia.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/DominicScali/status/1852267380334039440">In the video</a>, a man claims that he and an unknown number of other people came to the US from Haiti six months ago, obtained US citizenship and licenses, and voted for Kamala Harris in Georgia's Gwinnett County and Fulton County. He holds up what appears to be fake licenses — all with the same ID picture — and invites "all Haitians to come to America and bring families."The video spread across multiple social media sites, including X, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/DominicScali/status/1852267380334039440">users calling out voter fraud in favor of Harris</a>.But it's all fake, and the result of Russian interference, the US intel group says."This Russian activity is part of Moscow's broader effort to raise unfounded questions about the integrity of the US election and stoke divisions among Americans, as detailed in prior ODNI election updates," the ODNI, FBI, and CISA said in their joint statement.The intelligence group said they made their judgement based on "information available" to them and on "prior activities of other Russian influence actors, including videos and other disinformation activities."Prior to the statement, Georgia's Secretary of State <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/GaSecofState/status/1852140776882315763">Brad Raffensperger posted on X</a> on Thursday calling out the video as "obviously fake" and likely "a production of Russian troll farms."In a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/GaSecofState/status/1852159394382786789">statement posted on X</a>, Raffensperger urges "Elon Musk and the leadership of other social media platforms to take this down."More disinformation is likely to crop up before Election Day and beyond, the US intel group warned."In the lead up to election day and in the weeks and months after, the IC expects Russia to create and release additional media content that seeks to undermine trust in the integrity of the election and divide Americans," the group said in its statement, referring to itself as the "intelligence community" or "IC."Russia has a long history of running disinformation campaigns in the US.A NewsGuard audit over the summer found that leading <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-chatbots-russian-propaganda-fuel-conspiracy-theories-ahead-election-2024-6">AI chatbots were falsely citing Moscow-funded</a> fake news sources as fact more than 30% of the time. And a 2023 US intelligence assessment found that Russia uses spies, social media, and state-sanctioned media to denigrate and sow distrust in democratic elections around the world, Business Insider previously reported.Meta wrote in a recent report that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-russia-misinformation-ai-generated-news-stories-us-election-2024-8">Russia is the top source of misinformation</a> in the world, warning that the country will focus on influencing the US election and gaining support for its widely criticized war in Ukraine.

US intel says Russian actors made the fake Georgia voter fraud video — and expects more to come

As the final five phases of polls draw closer, rift among <keyword id="20101713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA-bloc-partners" source="keywords">INDIA bloc partners</keyword>, <keyword id="21533469" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress-Left-combine" source="keywords">Congress-Left combine</keyword> and the <keyword id="19942089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TMC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="TMC" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="TMC">TMC</keyword>, which are fighting separately has intensified, triggering a fierce contest across half of the remaining 36 constituencies in West Bengal driven by local issues such as <keyword id="20074422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sandeshkhali" source="keywords">Sandeshkhali</keyword> and the SSC scam. TMC's decision to contest independently in the state, rather than as part of the bloc, has led to a three-way contest, with the other contenders being the BJP and the Congress-Left alliance. Nevertheless, both TMC and Congress have asserted that they are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level and are authentic representatives of the opposition front in Bengal. Political analysts suggest that without a dominant national narrative like national security after the 2019 Pulwama attacks, local concerns such as corruption allegations, the cancellation of School Service Commission (SSC) jobs, incidents in Sandeshkhali and implementation of the <keyword id="19965573" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citizenship-Amendment-Act" source="keywords">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA) are altering election dynamics. Maidul Islam, a political scientist at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, remarked, "Till a few months ago, it seemed the elections in Bengal will be a bipolar contest between the TMC and BJP. But with issues like corruption and Sandeshkhali gaining prominence, the Left-Congress alliance is fast gaining traction in several seats and turning the polls into a three-cornered contest in at least 18-20 LS segments." He said besides the two and three seats in Malda and Murshidabad districts, where TMC and Congress secured two each and the BJP one in 2019, there are 13 seats spread across South Bengal, where the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance are engaging in intense competition. "It's not that the Left-Congress will win many seats, but in segments where their vote share is above 10 per cent, there is a likelihood that they might influence the outcome, to the disadvantage of either the TMC or the BJP, if they manage to secure two per cent more votes," Islam added. According to sources in TMC and CPI(M), the electoral battleground extends beyond Malda and Murshidabad, encompassing Lok Sabha segments like Dum Dum, Srerampore, Arambagh, Hooghly, Howrah, Barrackpore, Bardhaman-Purba, Bardhaman-Durgapur, Bankura, Purulia, Tamluk, Kolkata North, and Jadavpur, all poised for a three-cornered fight. Notably, eight of these seats were won by TMC and the remaining by BJP in the 2019 parliamentary polls. "The shift in dynamics presents the Congress-Left alliance as a significant player, and its emergence complicates the electoral narrative, transcending the conventional TMC versus BJP dichotomy," political analyst Subhomoy Moitra said. While the Left Front is contesting 30 seats, the Congress has fielded candidates in 12 out of 42 seats. "We wanted an alliance with the Congress, but they were delaying the seat-sharing arrangements, so we decided to go alone. Now the Left-Congress alliance is helping the BJP by trying to eat into our votes," remarked TMC leader Santanu Sen. According to TMC leaders, the breakup of INDIA alliance in Bengal has both electoral advantages and disadvantages. "After the Left and Congress alliance fell apart in West Bengal in 2019, it had led to a four-cornered contest with BJP bagging the entire chunk of the anti-TMC votes in the state," they said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP bagged 18 seats and its vote share rose from 17 to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, despite a 3 per cent rise in vote share, the TMC lost 12 seats, dropping from 34 to 22. The Left drew a blank with a vote share decline from 24 per cent to 6 per cent, and the Congress lost two seats, shrinking its vote share from 9.5 per cent to 5 per cent and bagging just two seats. "Local issues such as corruption and SSC scam are helping the Left-Congress in the state as there is anger among a section of people against the TMC and also against the BJP over the perception of a tacit understanding," a TMC leader said. Analysts observe that <keyword id="43868" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mamata-banerjee" source="Orion">Mamata Banerjee</keyword>'s intensified criticism of Left and Congress, accusing them of aiding BJP, and the ensuing sharp responses from CPI(M) and Congress, alleging a secret pact between TMC and BJP, as indicative of the growing significance of Left-Congress alliance. Data from various local elections and by-polls conducted after 2021 assembly elections indicate a shift in anti-TMC votes as there has been a resurgence of Left-Congress combine. Incidentally, the BJP had witnessed a decline in its vote share as compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha and 38 per cent in 2021 assembly polls. In 2023, violence scarred panchayat polls which covered nearly 70 per cent of the state's electorate, the TMC had bagged 51 per cent of votes whereas the BJP had bagged 22 per cent. The Left-Congress-ISF alliance had, however, bagged 23 per cent votes. The ISF this time, however, has decided to contest alone in 17 seats. Congress leader Suvankar Sarkar emphasized, "People are disenchanted with the TMC and the BJP, as they are both sides of the same coin. People are coming out in large numbers to support the Left-Congress candidates." CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty expressed confidence in the Left-Congress alliance's potential to deliver surprising results in the elections, claiming initial success in breaking bipolar politics in Bengal. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar downplayed the significance of the rift in opposition alliance and the three-cornered fight in various seats. "People know that BJP is only fighting TMC's misrule in Bengal. Those who want to vote against TMC, will vote for us only just like in the 2019 and 2021 polls," he said. Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty suggested that TMC stands to gain the most from the three-cornered contest. In minority pockets, the Left-Congress alliance could dent TMC's vote base, potentially aiding BJP's prospects, he noted.

West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests

<ul class="summary-list"><li>If Congress doesn't pass a stopgap bill by September 30, there will be a partial government shutdown.</li><li>East Coast and Gulf Coast ports will also shut down if a union contract isn't renegotiated by the same date.</li></ul>September 30 could be a consequential day for the US economy if two <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-government-shutdown-looms-ahead-harris-trump-presidential-election-2024-9">major negotiations</a> don't get hammered out in time.Congress must pass a stopgap spending bill by the last day of this month to avoid a partial government shutdown. September 30 is also the deadline for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/port-la-dock-workers-longshoremen-make-100k-salary-overtime-2021-9">International Longshoremen's Association</a> and several East Coast and Gulf Coast ports to strike a contract.If a government shutdown happens and/or a strike is not averted, substantial chunks of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-jobs-report-sentiment-consumers-elections-recession-inflation-mortgage-rates-2024-9">US economy</a> could impacted a little more than a month before the 2024 presidential election.Of course, there's still time for members of Congress to negotiate a stopgap spending bill. On Wednesday, September 18, the House of Representatives rejected a bill brought by GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson that would have funded the government for another six months. On Thursday, Johnson and other GOP leaders signaled that they were interested in keeping the government open.There's also time for the International Longshoremen's Association to hash out a contract with the United States Maritime Alliance — though, as of Wednesday, there had been no negotiations thus far, nor are any on the books, The Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-importers-are-pulling-in-goods-early-as-possible-port-strike-draws-closer-fff1930b">reported</a> this week.The two potential crises are unrelated beyond sharing an ominous deadline. Here's what's happening with each.<h2 id="83f582ee-541a-4bfa-871e-733af4d870b8">A government shutdown</h2>The rejection of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mike-johnson-trump-rally-shooting-political-rhetoric-election-2024-7">Johnson's</a> plan on Wednesday ratcheted up tensions in Congress as the September 30 deadline draws ever nearer.The 220-202 vote saw fourteen Republicans join with Democrats to block the bill, which is opposed by both the White House and Democrats in the Senate.While the bill had been expected to fail for days, former President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/immigration-border-security-biden-trump-2024-election">Donald Trump</a> likely didn't help Johnson's cause by pushing Republicans to include the entirety of a voting registration bill that requires proof of citizenship to vote in national elections or move forward with a shutdown.As Johnson is now forced to work across the aisle, Democrats will likely propose a three-month continuing resolution, The Washington Post <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/09/18/house-bill-government-shutdown-funding/">reported</a>. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that GOP leaders were in discussions over a bill that would keep the government open until mid-December.The fallout of a pre-presidential election government shutdown would be bad for both parties, but Senate Minority Leader <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mitch-mcconnell-trump-relationship-now-endorsement-senate-gop-2024-6">Mitch McConnell</a> told reporters on Wednesday that he thinks Republicans would bear the brunt of the blame.Should Congress fail to pass a bill by September 30, the government would be partially<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-affected-by-government-shutdown-parks-social-security-tsa-2023-9"> shut down</a> on October 1, meaning federal agencies that were not funded would discontinue all non-essential work until new funding legislation is passed and signed into law.During a shutdown, nonessential government workers are furloughed, social services programs like Social Security, Medicare, and veteran's benefits may experience disruptions, and national parks close to the public.The 2018-2019 shutdown that lasted 35 days reduced GDP by $11 billion, according to an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/54937">estimate</a> from the Congressional Budget Office.The previous three shutdowns, which occurred in 2013, 2018, and again in 2018-2019, cost taxpayers nearly $4 billion, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/senator-murray-details-harms-of-a-needless-and-costly-shutdown-as-she-pushes-to-get-final-funding-bills-across-finish-line#:~:text=Shutdowns%20cost%20taxpayers.&amp;text=The%20last%20three%20shutdowns%20cost,late%20fees%20on%20interest%20payments.">according</a> to the Senate Appropriations Committee.<h2 id="82e4510d-0e5a-4c3f-a3b2-c6aad708ad11">A shutdown of the docks</h2>Meanwhile, the likelihood that 45,000 dockworkers at ports spanning Maine to Texas grows likelier with each day.The dockworkers' contract expires at the end of this month, and the International Longshoremen's Association has said its members will strike if a deal is not met.The union is asking for a 77% wage increase over six years, The Journal reported.The looming economic threat is prompting US importers to get a jump-start on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supply-chain-crisis-holiday-products-arriving-late-what-happens-2021-12">holiday shipping</a>, with millions of dollars worth of items being rushed to try to avoid the possible walkout, according to the outlet.A strike would likely lead to mass cargo diversions to West Coast ports, which could clog up gateways, per The Journal.Should these high-traffic ports cease operations ahead of the peak holiday season, the economic consequences for retailers and consumers could be dire.A walkout could result in mass delays, increased shipping costs, and potential shortages, all of which could affect the broader economy, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association.Some analysts have predicted that every day of a strike would require five days to deal with the backlog, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.rila.org/blog/2024/09/looming-port-strike-what-means-us-economy">according</a> to the industry group.The government could step in to help the two sides reach a deal, though the Longshoremen have said they don't want government intervention. President Joe Biden could also "request a court order for an 80-day cooling-off period under the Taft-Hartley Act," according to RILA. This would pause the strike while negotiations continued.

The US economy could get hit by a double whammy on September 30, if 2 major negotiations are not hammered out

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rosanna Guadagno, an academic from California, has lived in five states, moving for work.</li><li>She struggled living in Alabama and Texas and returned to California, but it wasn't the same.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Rosanna Guadagno, an academic in Finland, about her experience moving within the US and to Finland. It has been edited for length and clarity.I'm a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-x-dont-think-will-ever-retire-2024-8">Gen X child</a> from the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-san-francisco-worth-it-cost-of-living-negativity-2024-2">San Francisco Bay Area</a>. Growing up, I was always interested in people.I graduated with a psychology degree from Santa Clara University in 1994. I thought the life of a professor looked pretty sweet. In 1995, I moved from California to Phoenix for grad school.Since that first move, I've lived in Alabama, Virginia, and Texas and returned to the Bay Area. I left the US and moved to Finland with my two kids. I finally found everything I'd hoped for here.<h2 id="488acfc1-0303-4e7e-83c2-3fca9f8c59fe">My community in Alabama was like a family</h2>Arizona is very similar to California, so my first out-of-state move wasn't a culture shock. The main difference was that the Bay Area was more diverse than Phoenix at that time. Once I'd finished my Ph. D., I applied for jobs all over the country.In 2006, I was offered a job as an assistant professor at the University of Alabama straight out of grad school.People I knew in California warned me about what Alabama would be like. But when I visited the university in Tuscaloosa, my colleagues were wonderful. I thought it would be a great community, plus the cost of living was much cheaper than in California.I'd just got married, and my husband and I felt that, with our combined incomes, we'd have a really nice life there, starting a family. We bought a big house in a neighborhood where other professors lived.It was a great community. When my twins were born in 2008, my colleagues organized meals, so we had a new casserole every three days for the first six weeks. It was like a family.<h2 id="5f936b4b-d544-4cbd-97f2-ecf8b34e7a4c">But I was also an outsider in Alabama</h2>My students called me a "Yankee" in my class. I was an outsider.As a new teacher at the University of Alabama, I remember teaching a class about racism and stereotyping in the early 2000s.It went horribly wrong when some of the students made racist comments. During the interaction, I initially froze and didn't know how to shut it down. After it happened a few times, I learned to challenge students if they said racist things. But it was tiresome and made me angry.Once, the police pulled me over for speeding in a construction zone near my house. I felt they were treating me differently because of my Latin heritage, and I found the experience terrifying. I'd never thought about my privilege until it was taken away.Over time, incidents kept adding up. The final straw was when one of my kids came home from preschool and said something racist. I was really upset. My children's father and I decided it was time to leave.<h2 id="e84bb4d1-9010-4938-9aef-87581b63d2de">Texas was a hard place to live</h2>I quit my job, and our family left Alabama in 2012 after nearly 10 years. We moved to Virginia for my new job at the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC. That was great. But my contract was only three years before you were meant to return to your university.Two years later, in 2014, I got another job at the University of Texas at Dallas. I'd spent time in Austin before and thought Dallas would be similar.It wasn't — I found Dallas a very hard place to live, and the culture shocked me.The politics was really in your face in Dallas. I also found people I was meeting were friendly but not welcoming. I felt some moms didn't want to hang out with me because I didn't go to their church. I was also shocked by the amount of gun ownership.The traffic was as bad as LA, and I had a wretched commute. Some days, I wouldn't get home until 10 p.m., which meant I couldn't be present for my children.Dallas is a much larger city than Tuscaloosa, so I didn't have a tight-knit group of colleagues to buffer the problems I had there.I was up for tenure, which meant I'd finally have job security, and I was getting paid decently. But I wasn't happy. My husband at the time, now my ex-husband, was a software engineer. He got a job working for Big Tech in Silicon Valley. We decided to leave Texas and move back to California in 2016.<h2 id="470ba363-5f99-4a24-bb74-bfa41b11b16e">The Bay Area had changed so much</h2>We moved to Half Moon Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in 2017, I got a job at UC Berkeley. I was initially happy to be in California, but the reality started to set in quickly.My husband was expected to work long hours. Commuting from university and picking my kids up from school on the way could take me three hours.California wasn't the same as it was when I was there in my 20s. The cost of living was much higher, and everything was expensive. People moved in and out of the Bay Area a lot, so it was hard to make lasting social connections.I was struggling personally. My brother and I became estranged because of politics, and my mother died in 2020. When the pandemic hit, I fell apart. My marriage fell apart. I felt upside-down and untethered from the world because of so much loss.<h2 id="54498a1e-f8ea-448c-ad03-0a48b5935e4f">I needed to leave the US</h2>By the end of 2021, I was getting divorced and worried about being able to afford to send my twins to college in the States. At the time, I was working in disinformation research for Stanford.I was concerned about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-scotus-overturning-roe-v-wade-bad-for-republicans-report-2022-6">women's reproductive rights</a> and a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-supreme-court-lgtbq-discrimination-decision-trump-administration-rollbacks2020-6">rollback of LGBTQ+ rights</a>. Both of my children are LGBTQ+, and I worried they wouldn't be safe. I wanted to move to a country where my kids might have a better life.I said to my kids: "I think we need a change. How do you feel about moving outside of the country?" They were up for it.<h2 id="5e7ba631-932e-4e81-8f5e-fc7363a3a4c7">I moved my family to Finland</h2>I started an international job search in 2021 and was offered a job at the University of Oulu in Finland. I moved to Oulu with my kids in August 2022 on a specialist visa, and when that expires, I plan to apply for citizenship.My kids have had a positive experience with the education system. They go to a free international school that focuses on well-being as well as academic success. My commute is 10 minutes, and it takes my kids five minutes to walk to school.The government pays for public college, even for a master's degree, for students from EU countries and Switzerland. If our application for citizenship is approved, my fears about paying for college are gone.<h2 id="db14092a-e0d3-486f-b773-fac369bf91c4">Finland is everything we hoped for</h2>As residents, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/life-in-finland-happiest-country-2019-6">healthcare in Finland</a> universal, and is free or very cheap. The quality is much better than I expected. In 2022, I slipped on ice and had a bad fall. Not having to worry about medical bills was a relief.I make slightly more than what I did at Stanford, but my money goes much further here than it did in California.I don't mind it when it's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-through-long-dark-winter-according-to-scandinavians-2021-2">dark for most of the day in winter</a>. We use lamps and take Vitamin D tablets. But I struggle to sleep, even with blackout curtains, when it is light most of the night. I miss my friends in the US and my partner's family. It's sad that it's difficult to travel home.But it has been everything we'd hoped for. It was the right choice for us.If you've moved across the US or relocated to another country and would like to share your story, email <a target="_blank" href="mailto:ehopkins@businessinsider.com">ehopkins@businessinsider.com</a>.

I lived in 5 different US states. None of them had what I was looking for, so I moved my family to Finland, and I have no regrets.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Aleksandra Skochilenko, a Russian artist, was released in the huge prisoner swap last week.</li><li>Skochilenko, unlike most captives, did not have foreign citizenship or a high profile.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-skochilenko-anti-war-price-tags-jail-abuse-girlfriend-2022-5">Aleksandra "Sasha" Skochilenko</a>, a Russian artist who was sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2022 for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-artist-faces-jail-replacing-price-tags-anti-war-slogans-2022-4">replacing supermarket price tags with anti-war slogans</a>.She was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-deal-frees-russian-prisoner-wrote-anti-war-messages-supermarket-2024-8">released last week</a> as part of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-frees-political-prisoners-including-massive-exchange-2024-7">prisoner swap</a> between the US, Russia, and other countries.The following has been edited for length and clarity.On Thursday, an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/videos-evan-gershkovich-paul-whelan-russia-prisoner-swap-turkey-2024-8">FSB officer</a> told us we were going to be freed as part of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-warns-freed-dissidents-adopt-new-names-veiled-threat-2024-8#:~:text=Dmitry%20Medvedev%20warned%20freed%20Russian,of%20targeting%20dissidents%20and%20defectors.">a prisoner swap</a> — the miracle we had been waiting and hoping for.At first I didn't believe it — for two and a half years, I'd been lied to every single day.I thought that I would be serving the rest of my sentence — seven years. Russian political prisoners don't have the privilege of early release.I didn't want to be fooled by my hope; the disappointment would be too hurtful.On the morning of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-americans-released-historic-prisoner-swap-russia-touch-down-us-2024-8">the exchange</a>, as we were being moved around, I didn't know the prisoner swap was happening. I was scared. I felt like a hostage, and I feared we might die.The release was an extremely complicated process.Eventually, I got to Ankara, Turkey. There, we were allowed to call our relatives and loved ones.I called Sonia, my girlfriend, and found out that she was in Istanbul. My girlfriend and I were in the same country.It was a fantastic feeling. In the morning, I was staying in a dark, cold cell. By that evening, I was standing on a soft carpet with air conditioning.It was like going from zero to hero.<div type="image" title="Russian artist Aleksandra Skochilenko, also known as Sasha, left, with her girlfriend, Sonia Subbotina, right, after the prisoner swap." height="1280" width="960" msid="112324594" hostid="261" sizebytes="96342"></div>I was moved from Turkey to a hospital not far from Frankfurt. There, I video-called Sonia. It was… wow.She told me she was coming to Germany, and I told the guards to let her in when she came.When I was eventually reunited with Sonia, it was as if she hadn't changed. She was the same as she was before I was imprisoned, and it was as if we had never been separated by the system.When we kissed, I felt like the luckiest person in the world.About an hour later, my mom and sister came. I didn't know they were coming to meet me that day — I was very surprised.They all knew that the only thing I wanted to do was walk, walk, walk.Use my legs, and not with my hands behind my back.There was a small yard in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inmates-at-russia-jail-forced-listen-bon-jovi-acdc-repeat-2023-11">the detention center where Russia held me.</a> I would run around and around, but it wasn't enough to be a healthy person.What I wanted was to walk along the streets, to see the sun and the sky. The first evening I arrived, I walked to the yard and touched the flowers, grass, and trees. I just wanted to feel them.On a bus, I saw the streets through the windows — the sky was pretty.Three years ago, I could look at the sky and see it as plain. Now, when I look at it, I notice how bright, blue, and sunny it is, and I see all the beauty in the world.When I was detained, those people who imprisoned me wanted me to live badly. I said, screw this, I'm going to have a very good life.I tried to focus on the simple, good things, like seeing the sun or having a coffee — the very small things you cling to in order to live.In jail, I didn't want to cry. I like to cry, and I know it can be helpful, but in jail, I didn't want to because there were cameras, other cellmates, guards.If they found out I was broken, they would break me more. But when they see a person is strong and stable, they begin to respect this person.On the day we were exchanged, however, I cried for all those two and a half years, drowning in tears that I hadn't been able to shed before.I am still severely traumatized. I can't sleep without the light on, and I'm afraid of loud noises. I think I will spend years dealing with this trauma.It was, after all, a sequence of traumatic experiences — my arrest, starving in the detention center, and so on.But after my release, although I was lacking sleep, had lost my appetite, and had gone through trauma, I still feel euphoric.I'm still amazed that I can eat with a fork, open and close a door, and shower whenever I want. These are the real privileges of free people.It's like air. When you're breathing, you don't notice it. But when you're deprived of it, you feel its absence. This is freedom — a freedom you can only appreciate when freed.<div type="image" title="Skochilenko was sentenced to seven years in prison." height="1280" width="964" msid="112324596" hostid="261" sizebytes="197388"></div>The main message I want the world to hear is that I'm not some kind of a special person. The only reason I ended up on that plane with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-warns-freed-dissidents-adopt-new-names-veiled-threat-2024-8#:~:text=Dmitry%20Medvedev%20warned%20freed%20Russian,of%20targeting%20dissidents%20and%20defectors.">politicians and foreign citizens</a> is because of the support and media campaign to save me.This was thanks to my loved ones, friends, and those friends I have yet to meet.That was the entire point of the performance that got me arrested: for the world to see a story of real love.

I was part of Russia's prisoner swap with the US. Here's how it feels to finally, suddenly be free.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>George, an American, works in Germany but will move back to the US to retire and collect Medicare.</li><li>He wants to retire in the US because he believes the healthcare options are better for him.</li></ul>After a decade of working abroad, George said he'll return to the US to retire.George, 65, is an American living in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-living-in-germany-difficult-place-to-live-perks-2024-6">Munich</a>. He plans on working two or three more years before returning to Seattle, where he lived before moving abroad.George is a "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-retirement-of-peak-boomers-could-affect-economy-social-security-2024-4">peak boomer</a>," meaning he's part of the "largest and final cohort" of baby boomers to turn 65 this year and enter retirement age, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.protectedincome.org/peak65-economic-impact-forum/">report</a> from the Alliance for Lifetime Income's Retirement Income Institute. Many peak boomers are getting strategic about their retirement strategies and when they would <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomer-waiting-collect-social-security-higher-benefit-retirement-no-savings-2024-7">start collecting Social Security benefits</a> in the hopes of getting more bang for their buck. George is one of those individuals: he plans on retiring when he's 67 or 68 to get his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html">full Social Security benefits</a>, which for him, will start when he's 66 and 10 months.Additionally, America's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-cutting-medicare-social-security-benefits-2024-3">Medicare benefits</a> and being near family are factors driving his decision to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reverse-culture-shock-moving-back-to-america-asia-singapore-2023-12">retire in the US.</a>"I don't see myself staying here permanently when I have family back home," said George, who asked to use his middle name due to privacy concerns. "Even outside of Medicare, I just feel that healthcare is better," he said.George hasn't given up his American citizenship, and his wife, who lives in Germany with him, is a citizen of the Philippines. He's on a work visa and files with insurance to access Germany's national healthcare services.While he said the healthcare system is great on average, it's becoming more difficult to manage the bureaucracy of insurance filings as an American abroad. That headache could grow even more tedious as he gets older and will likely need more care.George had surgery on one knee in 2015 and is trying to schedule surgery on his other knee for this fall. But, he said he is facing hurdles, such as certain rehabilitation hospitals opting not to treat US citizens for insurance concerns. It makes him even more eager to return to the US."You spend a lot of spare time working things out that are so much easier in the US, especially if you're on Medicare," he said. "You just want to go back home so you don't have to deal with it all."George shared the differences between living in America and Germany, and which aspects he's not ready to give up as he prepares to move back.<h2 id="2676068a-b627-4fa0-a3b6-cf4eccd4301a">The ease of traveling through Europe makes up for the healthcare headaches</h2>George has worked as an engineer at the same company for over 30 years and began taking small work trips overseas in the 2000s. For privacy reasons, he asked not to disclose the company's name.He moved to Saudi Arabia in 2014 to work on overseas projects for a US company. In 2017, he transferred to Munich for a new project, where he's been living ever since.George said many aspects of life in Munich are preferable to the US, including less <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/insights-blog/acting-data/gun-violence-united-states-outlier">gun violence</a> and the beauty of the Alps in his backyard. He also said the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/german-vs-american-work-life-differences-according-to-us-mom-2024-4">quality of life</a> is better for him, particularly because it's a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.timeout.com/news/this-european-city-has-been-named-the-worlds-most-walkable-041224">walkable</a>, cycle-friendly city.He lives in a rented apartment with his wife near the English Garden, a 375-hectare public park packed with architectural sights and a beer garden. He said it's one of the aspects of the city he'll miss the most.Germany's infrastructure is also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/well-developed-infrastructure">better</a> compared to the US, George said, including the transportation system. "You can pretty much get anywhere by train or bus within Germany," George said.However, one of his favorite trips is driving south of Germany through the Dolomite Mountains in Italy."There is nothing, in my opinion, like a drive from Germany to Italy," George said. "Those kinds of things I'll miss the most."George said he's enjoyed learning about the cultural quirks of Germany, like Steckerlfisch, a roasted fish often served as a street food. He said he enjoys people-watching and drinking German beer — hefeweizen in warmer and pilsner in cooler seasons.He also enjoys working with people from around the world and appreciates the international atmosphere in the office.<h2 id="80fc0376-1e4a-4898-bc84-a4f6c384325c">Cost of living in Munich</h2>George said German consumers are still managing the effects of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/german-inflation-confirmed-28-may-2024-06-12/">cooling inflation</a>, similar to Americans. Additionally, the main cost of living concern in Munich is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-19/berlin-and-munich-face-rent-surge-as-buying-becomes-costlier">housing</a>.He said utilities are particularly expensive, and he's seen an uptick in electricity and gas <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/selected-issues-papers/Issues/2023/07/24/Impact-of-High-Energy-Prices-on-Germanys-Potential-Output-536837">prices</a> since the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.However, day-to-day food at the grocery store is relatively cheaper than what he'd buy in the US.George said he does miss things about the US, like the quality of red meat he'd buy at the supermarket. He said the US has more variety and more goods imported from countries around the world, particularly when it comes to seasonal produce.One of the best aspects of Munich is the ease of flying internationally, George said."Living here, it's easy to travel to these other places because it's as if you're traveling from New York to Chicago," George said. "I can go for a weekend to Mallorca or Sicily or Dubai."Before he retires to the US, he said he'll try to appreciate all the perks of living abroad."I'm able to travel and enjoy that right now," George said. "I am not ready to give that up yet."Are you an American living or working abroad and considering retiring in the US? Have healthcare concerns influenced your decision to move abroad? This reporter wants to hear from you. Please reach out at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:jtowfighi@businessinsider.com">jtowfighi@businessinsider.com</a>

A 'peak boomer' working in Germany plans to retire in the US because he believes the healthcare is better 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Both the Supreme Court and the Constitution guarantee citizenship for people born in the US. </li><li>Republican presidential candidate and Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants to end birthright citizenship.</li></ul>On Monday, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged to end birthright citizenship if elected president in 2024, a position shared by former President Donald Trump. Neither are likely to succeed, however, without the help of the courts.At a press conference in Texas, DeSantis said he would "take action to end the idea that the children of illegal aliens are entitled to birthright citizenship if they are born in the United States."While president, Trump promised to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants via executive order, though he never followed through with the promise. DeSantis, however, did not detail how, exactly, he planned to address the issue and simply said that it would be up to "the courts and Congress." "Dangling the prize of citizenship to the future offspring of illegal immigrants is a major driver of illegal migration," DeSantis said. "It is also inconsistent with the original understanding of 14th Amendment, and we will force the courts and Congress to finally address this failed policy."As granted by the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868, anybody born in the United States is guaranteed citizenship. The right was affirmed thirty years later by the <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/169us649">Supreme Court</a>, which ruled that Wong Kim Ark was legally an American citizen after being born in the US, despite having Chinese-born parents who were barred from becoming citizens due to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/30/us/politics/birthright-citizenship-executive-order-trump.html">Chinese Exclusion Act</a>.Whether the original decision comes via executive order or legislation, any action restricting US citizenship will almost certainly be tested in the federal court system, likely even the Supreme Court given its previous ruling on the issue.

Birthright citizenship is guaranteed in the US Constitution. Both Trump and DeSantis want it gone, and they'll need the court's help to do it.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Former Americans filed a class action lawsuit to recover fees they paid when renouncing their citizenship. </li><li>The State Department announced that the fee would be reduced from $2,350 to $450.</li></ul>A group of former Americans filed a class-action lawsuit against the United States to recover $1,900 paid through the process of renouncing their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/passport-wait-times-delays-3-months-summer-travel-2023-4">citizenship</a>, arguing that the fee is too costly.The lawsuit comes after the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/top-countries-you-shouldnt-travel-to-us-state-department-2023-1">State Department</a> announced that the renunciation fee for people looking to no longer be American — which has cost $2,350 since 2014 — will now be a relative bargain at $450.Basically, plaintiffs are asking to recover the difference."Since 2014, the US government has been wrongfully profiting from charging this exorbitant fee and has been unjustly enriched at the expense of the Plaintiffs and those similarly situated," the <a target="_blank" href=" https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24023301-american-citizen-renunciation-fee-lawsuit?responsive=1&amp;title=1">complaint</a>, obtained by Insider, reads.The plaintiffs describe the fees as "arbitrary, capricious and illegal" because the money is used to " fund governmental functions completely unrelated to renunciation services." They also point out that the process to renounce <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banks-credit-unions-for-immigrants-non-us-citizens">US citizenship</a> has been free for most of the country's history.The complaint also argues that the State Department's proposal to reduce the fee to $450 is "a direct and proximate result" of a similar lawsuit brought in 2020 by 20 different ex-citizens who also argued that the $2,350 is too costly.The State Department increased its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2014/08/28/u-s-hikes-fee-to-renounce-citizenship-by-422/?sh=3dc3ed3dd37c">renunciation fee</a> to $2,350 in 2014, arguing it was more costly to process the applications.As a result of the <a target="_blank" href="https://casetext.com/case/lassociation-des-americains-accidentels-v-united-states-dept-of-state-1">2020 lawsuit</a>, however, the State Department revisited the fee.In its new proposal, the agency said that processing requests for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality is still "extremely costly," but believed that the change would "alleviate at least the cost burden" for outside nationals looking to renounce their citizenship.Two plaintiffs who spoke with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/06/us/american-citizenship-fee-lawsuit.html">The New York Times</a> said they decided to renounce their citizenship because of the strict <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ultrawealthy-us-citizens-are-denouncing-citizenship-in-droves-2021-8">financial reporting requirements</a> that come with being a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthy-americans-buy-second-passports-amid-covid-politics-climate-change-2022-5">US citizen</a> abroad.Nina Nelson, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, told the Times that renouncing her US citizenship was "painful" but did so because she felt she experienced "permanent stress."Esther Jenke also told the Times that finances played a role in her decision to renounce her citizenship."My husband and I bought a house. If we sell the house, even though it is our primary residence, because from a US perspective it's foreign property, we would have to pay capital gains tax on it," Jenke told the Times.The State Department and attorneys for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside of regular business hours.

Ex-Americans are suing America to get back some of the money they paid to renounce their citizenship 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Cepee Tabibian, 44, wasn't interested in marriage, motherhood, or climbing the career ladder.</li><li>In 2015, Tabibian moved from Houston to Spain to have greater control over her future.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/shehitrefresh/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1723057732557000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3gdW1tHvZURiOhjybO2zEG">Cepee Tabibian</a>, a 44-year-old from Houston who moved to Spain in 2015, later founding <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://shehitrefresh.com/">She Hit Refresh</a>, a company that helps women move to Europe. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.I'm originally from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eric-johnson-mayor-says-californians-moving-texas-big-reasons-2024-1">Texas</a>. I lived in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/houston-building-cheap-new-starter-homes-real-estate-construction-lots-2024-1">Houston</a> through college, up until I was 26, and then bounced around a bit.My first international trip was when I was 17. For my birthday, I begged my parents to send me to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moved-from-japan-to-netherlands-happier-less-lonely-2024-7">Netherlands</a> to visit my best friend. I got bit by the travel bug.Every year after that, I worked year-round to pay my way to Europe for the summer.I first visited Madrid in 2001 when I was 21. Madrid is a city that never sleeps, so it felt like the first time I really had a taste of freedom.It was really fun to go out, meet people, enjoy the nightlife, and experience the city's vibrancy.I always say that that trip to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-spain-from-us-better-work-life-balance-2024-1">Spain</a> was my Goldilocks moment: I finally found where I belonged. And once I had seen the world, I never really wanted to return to the US.<h2 id="a8d13415-9d11-45e2-80ab-71e3f0a768d9">It took years before I moved to Spain</h2>In my 20s, I didn't see a clear path to living in Spain. I was in college, and back then, there weren't many options for Americans who wanted to move abroad.At 26, I moved to Spain to teach English for a year but then returned to Texas. When I was 29, I moved back and received my master's, but eventually had to return to the States.In America, I struggled to follow the traditional path of success. I never felt like I fit into the box — climbing the career ladder, getting married, having kids, working until retirement, and keeping up with the Joneses.<div type="image" title="Tabibian in front of a wall of flower pots." height="3072" width="4096" msid="112385130" hostid="261" sizebytes="804186"></div>For a while, I lived in Austin. As a child-free woman in my mid-30s, I sometimes felt like the oldest person in the room when I went out.I never felt that way when I was in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-things-about-living-in-spain-as-american-2023-2">Madrid</a>. I noticed it was quite normal to be a single, child-free woman. In fact, many of the people I met when I went out were my age or older. I knew it was in Spain where I truly belonged.At 35, I decided to give it one more shot. I felt that if I didn't, I might regret it. In 2015, I moved there for the last time.Nine years later, I'm still here and am now a citizen.<h2 id="7fb987ed-8278-4cdc-81eb-4baeb85f9820">There are many reasons to live in Spain</h2>I received my citizenship at 42, so it took just over 20 years from when I first visited Spain.It was a two-year process in total, from the time I started gathering the paperwork to the moment I finally had the passport in my hand.Becoming a citizen felt like a major achievement because I had dreamed of living in Spain since I was 21.<div type="image" title="Cepee Tabibian in between buildings in Spain." height="1200" width="1200" msid="112385131" hostid="261" sizebytes="146654"></div>I think what attracts a lot of people to Spain is the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mediterrean-diet-healthiest-best-overall-2024-1">Mediterranean </a>climate. Coming from Texas, I need sun and warmth, and Spain offers plenty of both.Spain's affordable cost of living compared to the US, high-quality healthcare, and low crime rates also draw people to the country. The vibrant culture and warm, inviting people make it appealing.<h2 id="12077a01-ebf1-4260-92f5-219d07f80c30">It was difficult to find my footing at first</h2>Getting established in the country was thrilling but also terrifying.When I first moved to Spain, I lived in Madrid for five years. Now, I've been in Malaga for almost four years.Madrid is like the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/broadway-performers-moved-nyc-colorado-springs-gay-bar-2024-7">New York City</a> of Spain — bustling, big, and very international, with many cultural events.Malaga, on the other hand, is a coastal town with a more relaxed beach vibe. It's a smaller city that is slower-paced, yet it still retains an international feel.<div type="image" title="A dock in Malaga, Spain." height="1080" width="1440" msid="112385133" hostid="261" sizebytes="161630"></div>I would say I adapted pretty quickly to living in Spain since I had visited in the past. However, settling in and building a routine and community took a few years.I love living here, but if I had to point out one thing I personally complain about, it would be the lack of diversity.I recognize that I came from Houston, one of the most diverse cities in the US, so it's not a fair comparison. However, the lack of diversity does affect a few things, like the availability of high-quality international restaurants.Fortunately, I can easily satisfy my craving for international cuisine by flying to Berlin, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-moved-to-london-stressful-lonely-now-moving-to-portugal-2024-3">London</a>, or Paris.<h2 id="e1c898a1-7a18-4406-a16f-f6cf2391a866">It can be difficult to find a place to live</h2>Finding long-term housing in Spain has been a challenge, even more so now due to housing shortages.I know housing prices have increased globally over the years, but Spain has been hit particularly hard.For example, in Malaga, where I live now, prices have increased by about 20% to 25% in the last year alone for both rentals and purchases.If you want to move to a popular city like Madrid, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-protesters-rallying-against-overtourism-in-barcelona-2024-7">Barcelona</a>, Valencia, or Malaga, a one-bedroom apartment starts at around €1,200 to €1,300 (about $1,310 to $1420). This may seem inexpensive compared to American standards, but for many Spaniards, that's their monthly salary.However, Spain remains affordable if you live outside the major cities, where reasonable prices are still available.<h2 id="11dd1780-d546-44b7-9a10-62126e4e457a">It's not always easy getting a work visa</h2>Before moving to Spain, I worked in social media, and my background was in marketing.When I came to Spain, my entry point was teaching English, which wasn't something I wanted to do. But I was aware that I needed to find a way to support myself financially and obtain a work visa to live here.Being American, it's very difficult to get sponsorship in Spain. Even if you have the necessary skills, you need to prove that you possess a unique skill not available within Europe.I sent out resumes everywhere. I was very lucky. A Spanish startup was looking for an American with a background in marketing, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.<div type="image" title="Cepee Tabibian in a stairwell." height="2171" width="3863" msid="112385135" hostid="261" sizebytes="778764"></div>While working for the company, it took me a year to start my own business.I'm the founder of She Hits Refresh, a community-based business that helps women move abroad. Specifically, we assist women from the US who want to relocate to Europe, but we also serve women from Canada and the UK.We launched our Facebook group in 2017. In 2019, we officially registered as a company.Our community includes 14,000 Facebook members and 30,000 Instagram followers. We also offer a premium, non-Facebook subscription membership program.We offer members resources and support through two programs: a four-day master class, where participants learn what they need to do to move abroad, and a paid membership program, which guides them through the entire moving process from start to finish.Many of the women who turn to our company have three main concerns: career, community, and whether they are making the right decision.I always tell my clients that, just like life, there are no guarantees. You can't know if it will work until you try it. But you can do your due diligence and have a plan before you move to better set yourself up for success.<h2 id="833b259f-dc87-4c89-9ac9-b6b174eaa013">I should have moved sooner</h2>There are definitely aspects of living in the US that I miss, such as friends, family, and, sometimes, the culture.For instance, when I'm on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-tiktok-is-changing-music-industry">TikTok</a> and see a cultural reference or inside joke, I miss having that connection with people who understand it.I also miss the culture of convenience in the US, like 24-hour businesses and the level of customer service.I miss driving, too, though I don't drive in Spain. I haven't needed a car since everything is very walkable and public transportation is well-connected.<div type="image" title="Cepee Tabibian at Lake Como." height="3088" width="2316" msid="112385136" hostid="261" sizebytes="478096"></div>A move abroad is more than just changing locations — it's about transforming your life.Many women fall into paths they didn't choose or find themselves in situations they don't want to be in. Moving across the world offers an opportunity to reinvent ourselves and build the life we want.Living in Spain has brought me happiness and ease. Life here feels simpler, and I've alleviated some of the stressors I faced in the US, like the pressure to measure success through job titles and salaries.I've freed myself from those expectations and redefined what success means to me.My only regret is not making the move sooner.

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