Jane-Michelle Arc, 48, a transgender woman from California, has returned to the United States after spending approximately a year in the Netherlands, where she had sought asylum due to fears for her safety as a transgender individual in America following the re-election of Donald Trump in 2024. Arc claimed asylum in the Netherlands, residing in Ter Apel, the country's largest refugee center.
During her time at Ter Apel, which has been described as dangerous and prone to violence by the Red Cross, Arc expressed a desire to return to her native California. She has since returned to the U.S. but has voiced dissatisfaction with various aspects of American life.
"The situation I have in the US as a trans person, not good, right? But here, I will be hurt or killed," Arc told local outlet Pow News, referring to the refugee center. She described the camp as unsafe, noting the presence of security personnel due to frequent stabbings. "It is too dangerous to walk to the grocery store because of the people that live in the camp, and I'm one of them, I live here. You see these guys in yellow vests, they actually wear them because there are so many stabbings."
Upon her return to California last month, Arc found adjustment challenging, citing the cost of groceries and the general atmosphere. "First time shopping in the US, and In-N-Out too. America is really, really loud and overwhelming. And everything is so expensive," she wrote on Threads. She also commented on the healthcare systems of both countries, noting that while she had issues with the Dutch system, the U.S. system presented more severe problems. "I feel like healthcare is something humanity decided to just make worse on purpose because it seems like we know what we want and need from healthcare as a species."
Despite acknowledging that the U.S. offers more comfort and safety compared to the conditions at Ter Apel, Arc stated that "the transphobia is quite overt," which she described as a return to the situation she perceived before leaving the country. She also commented on the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports, stating her own experience as a triathlete. "I'm a trans athlete and I don't give a s**t who I compete against, I'm there to win," she said. "If that's men, fine. Women, fine."
Arc initially left the U.S. after facing difficulties renewing her passport as a woman, which she feared would jeopardize her legal identity. She had previously characterized her decision to flee as "the dumbest thing" she has ever done, motivated by fear for her life. She stated that many acquaintances cautioned her against leaving but acknowledged that she felt she had no other option.
During her early days at Ter Apel in April 2025, Arc wrote on Substack about missing California, describing an elemental connection to the state. She also recounted the stark conditions within the refugee center, including a lack of toiletries and worn clothing. She noted a sense of relief from not fearing verbal harassment or arrest for using public restrooms, burdens she felt she carried in the U.S.
However, she also described the center as "dire" and noted that while hate and aggression were not its primary problems, she had received warnings to be careful around other residents due to "sideways looks from Muslims."
Ter Apel has historically housed refugees fleeing war and persecution, but recently it has seen an influx of transgender Americans. In May 2025, the Dutch Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) began limiting access to the center to vulnerable individuals, such as women and children, due to safety concerns. The Red Cross has reported that violence at the site is often perpetrated by a small group of men not seeking assistance.
Arc transitioned from male to female in 2012 and legally changed her gender marker in 2013. She expressed concern that upon Trump's re-election, protections related to jobs, housing, and healthcare might be diminished.