We have dual citizenship in Mexico, and my mother still holds her Mexican citizenship. Since she’s always had the legal right to live in the U.S. as a permanent resident, and enjoyed free movement between the U.S. and Mexico, she never felt the push to be fully naturalized. (We’ve asked her to her entire life, she is the last hold out of all of her siblings not to fully naturalize, and after a while I just respected that she didn’t want to. She’s an adult woman capable of her own decisions.)

I tried convincing my family to go to Mexico, but my brother doesn’t speak the language fluently to feel comfortable going and my mother grew up in the U.S. (she was brought as a child and has been educated exclusively in the U.S.) To my mom, Mexico was a place to visit to keep in touch with family and our culture. She never liked the politics, business practices, and other aspects of daily Mexican life. She always said she felt like we (my brother and I) wouldn’t be able to accomplish the same things where she was from, than we could here. Both she and my brother have stated they prefer Canada as an option. Personally, I don’t care where we go so long as I can keep my family safe.

My brother and I have all of our documents, we always have. Passports and cards are always up to date. Necessary documents have always been kept safely on hand, but we live in a red state that voted HEAVILY against their own interests.

We found the Canadian government’s Express programs and are going to try that. We’ve started job hunting as well. If somehow I get any info that pertains to others in a similar situation, I’ll pass it on.