The Reality for Those Trapped in Red States Under Trump
Introduction
As Trump’s presidency and the policies of Republican-led states continue to strip away fundamental rights—from abortion access to trans healthcare to voting protections—many on the left suggest a simple solution: "Just move to a blue state."
But relocation is not an option for millions of people. It costs money, requires resources, and isn’t as simple as picking up and leaving. This mindset ignores the structural barriers that keep people trapped in dangerous conditions and assumes that escaping oppression is as easy as buying a bus ticket. For many, there is no way out.
The Financial Barrier: Moving Costs Money That People Don’t Have
Relocating is expensive. It’s not just about the cost of a plane ticket or a U-Haul—it’s about securing housing, finding a job, and rebuilding a life from scratch in a place that may be just as hostile to outsiders in different ways.
Rent Deposits and Housing Costs – Many red states have lower costs of living. Moving to a blue state often means doubling or tripling housing costs. Without savings, it’s impossible to afford even the security deposits, first and last month’s rent, and application fees required to secure an apartment.
Job Markets and Employment Barriers – Not everyone can work remotely. Many jobs are state-licensed professions (nurses, teachers, social workers), requiring expensive and time-consuming re-licensing in a new state. If someone’s entire work history and connections are in a red state, leaving means losing everything they’ve built professionally.
No Financial Safety Net – If someone leaves without a job lined up, they need enough savings to survive for months. But 60% of Americans don’t even have $500 in savings. The idea of uprooting their entire life without financial security is not just unrealistic—it’s dangerous.
Family Ties: Not Everyone Can Leave Loved Ones Behind
Many people cannot leave their red state because they care for elderly family members, disabled relatives, or children. The people most vulnerable to right-wing policies—low-income parents, disabled people, elderly individuals—are the ones least able to relocate.
Elder Care and Family Responsibilities – Leaving often means abandoning aging parents or sick relatives who depend on their care.
Child Custody Issues – Parents in custody agreements cannot legally move across state lines without permission from the other parent or the courts. A mother trying to escape a red-state abortion ban might be legally forced to stay because of custody restrictions.
Healthcare Access and Disability Barriers – Many disabled people cannot move because Medicaid and disability benefits are state-based. Moving means losing access to lifesaving healthcare, home health aides, and specialized doctors.
Community and Cultural Ties: Not Everyone Can Survive Alone
Not everyone has the privilege of social connections in a new state. For marginalized groups, their community is their survival.
LGBTQ+ individuals who grew up in red states may have built small, local queer networks for survival. Moving to a blue state doesn’t guarantee immediate access to safety or support—it just means starting over alone.
BIPOC individuals often face discrimination in new cities, especially in blue states with rising costs of living that push out low-income people of color.
Religious and cultural communities cannot simply be replaced. If someone grew up in a deeply rooted ethnic or religious community in a red state, moving means leaving behind the only cultural support system they’ve ever known.
Why the “Just Move” Mindset is Dangerous
Telling people to “just move” shifts responsibility away from those causing harm and onto the victims. Instead of focusing on the policies and power structures making red states unlivable, this mindset blames people for being stuck.
People shouldn’t have to flee their home state to access human rights. Red states are becoming more extreme, but they are still home to millions of people who deserve to live safely where they are.
Mass relocation is not a real solution. The people most impacted by Trump-era policies cannot leave, while wealthier individuals with privilege can. This creates an even deeper divide, where red states get redder as those who can afford to leave do so, leaving behind an even more vulnerable population.
It ignores the reality that oppression spreads. Blue states are not immune to right-wing takeovers. If red states are left to collapse, the policies they enact will not stay contained—they will be used as test cases for national laws.
Conclusion: The Fight Cannot Be Abandoned
Instead of telling people to flee, the focus should be on changing conditions where they are. That means funding local organizers, protecting underground networks, and fighting back against policies that strip away rights.
People in red states are not expendable. They deserve to exist without being forced to abandon everything just to survive. Instead of expecting them to escape, it’s time to demand that their homes remain places where they can live safely, freely, and without fear.
Source List:
Pew Research Center, “Most Americans Don’t Have Enough Emergency Savings,” 2024. www.pewresearch.org/emergency-savings
The Atlantic, “Moving Isn’t an Option for Millions,” December 2024. www.theatlantic.com/moving-and-economic-barriers
ACLU, “Child Custody Laws and State Restrictions,” 2024. www.aclu.org/child-custody-state-laws
Kaiser Family Foundation, “How Medicaid Ties People to Their State,” 2024. www.kff.org/medicaid-state-restrictions
The 19th, “Why Disabled People Cannot Simply Move,” November 2024. www.19thnews.org/disabled-relocation-barriers
The Guardian, “America’s Housing Crisis Makes Relocation Impossible,” 2024. www.theguardian.com/us-housing-crisis
