Trans activist Danni Askini has become the first US trans person to seek asylum in Sweden, leaving her husband, family and friends behind in Seattle.
According to , Askini, who has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and helped spearhead a campaign against Trump's transgender military ban, first began the process of fleeing Seattle in July of this year following threats of 'death and sexual violence' from white nationalist and neo-nazi groups.
Askini's allegations are from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, shared by Seattle Weekly. The letter states that Askini received 12,000 threatening emails over a two-week period.
Having previously lived in Sweden, Askini decided the Nordic nation would be an appropriate place for her to spend some time away from the political tensions of the United States. However, her passport renewal was denied, with the US government claiming it had been obtained fraudulently and expressing doubt over Askini's US citizenship. The Seattle local, who was born in Maine, then worked with local congresswoman Rep. Pramila Jayapal to secure an emergency passport, with which she traveled to Sweden.
According to , this temporary passport has since expired, leaving Askini stuck in Sweden and fearful of being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upon return to the US. This fear, the activist says, is why she is now seeking asylum.
"I am a Trump refugee," Askini told Seattle Weekly. "His presidency has caused the situation that put me here."
Askini added that she wouldn't return to the US without assurance from the government that she wouldn't be accused of fraudulently obtaining her previous passport - a crime that can come with 10 years imprisonment.
reports that Askini took to social media in October to update family and friends on the nature of her situation.
“Filing for asylum in Sweden was absolutely the right thing to do… I can be myself in Sweden without fear of violence or discrimination."
She continued: "Migrationsverket [the Swedish Migration Agency] has reassured me that they have not found my application manifestly unfounded as a recent European Court of Human Rights ruling says that Sweden does not have a parliament-approved list of ‘safe third countries’ (i.e. the USA) and thus they will fully examine my application.
Askini then revealed that she would be going through the "normal asylum process", adding that it was going to be "an uphill battle".
“I have lost everything in the USA, the price of safety was immense, and I have spent 3 months homeless and in daily terror," she wrote. "This was not some extravagant holiday or vacation despite posting pretty pictures.”
And if her application for asylum is denied by Sweden?
"Like Oliver Twist, I’ll hold out my bowl and ask for more porridge from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or some[where]," she said.
