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# Trans American, Veronica Clifford-Carlos, challenges Dutch asylum rejection in landmark case
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/trans-american-veronica-clifford-carlos-challenges-dutch-asylum-rejection-in-landmark-case/
- Published: 2025-08-21T11:03:32.000Z
- Updated: 2025-08-21T11:03:32.000Z
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: Europe

A 28-year-old trans woman from **California** has launched a legal battle in the **Netherlands** after her asylum application was rejected, marking the first case of its kind in Dutch courts.

**Veronica Clifford-Carlos**, a visual artist, fled the United States citing fears for her safety under the administration of President **Donald Trump**. Her legal team argues that recent US policies have severely undermined protections for trans individuals, making the country unsafe for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The **Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service** (IND) denied **Clifford-Carlos**’s application, maintaining that the United States is considered a safe country for all social groups. However, **LGBT Asylum Support**, the advocacy group backing her case, contends that this assessment fails to reflect the deteriorating conditions faced by trans and queer people in the United States. 

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2025/08/de-28-jarige-veronica-clifford-carlos-voelt-zich-als-transgender.jpeg)

Veronica Clifford-Carlos (R)

They cite executive orders banning trans individuals from military service, restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare for youth, and the erasure of inclusive language in government documents.

“There is no official report on the current situation in the United States,” said **Sandro Kortekaas**, chair of LGBT Asylum Support. “Yet the FBI has reported a rise in hate crimes, and we’re seeing more Americans from the LGBTQ+ community seeking refuge in the Netherlands”.

The case, being heard in an Amsterdam court, could set a legal precedent for future asylum claims from LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing Western democracies. Clifford-Carlos’s lawyers argue that the severity of discrimination in the United States amounts to persecution, a key criterion for asylum under international law.

A ruling is expected within four to six weeks. Meanwhile, LGBT Asylum Support continues to assist around 20 other trans Americans with pending asylum claims, highlighting a growing trend of LGBTQ+ migration to Europe in search of safety and recognition.