Maryland family says they will seek asylum in Canada if Trump ban on child sex changes go into effect

A Maryland husband and wife who have a young child who has been taking puberty blockers declared they would seek asylum in Canada if President-elect Donald Trump implements the promised nationwide ban on minor sex change procedures. The Haluf family said they already had to move from Missouri to Maryland after the conservative-run state banned hormone therapy and puberty blockers for anyone under the age of 18. Now, the family is making another reassessment. 

"We thought that by leaving Missouri and coming to Maryland, that we would be safe," Sara Haluf told CNN. "And now we're being threatened with anti-trans legislation on a federal level. A federal healthcare ban would likely be the moment we know it's time to leave here."

They are currently contemplating the possibility of leaving the country entirely. Erez Haluf, Sara's husband, said they are in the process of submitting an asylum application to the Canadian government due to their concerns regarding the potential consequences of a Trump administration on their 12-year-old child, who they have been raising as the oppposite sex.

"If push comes to shove, we will go north, we will go to Canada," said Erez Haluf. In 2023, Canadian LGBTQ groups moved to make it easier for trans-identified Americans to seek asylum in the nation, citing policies that prevent child sex changes. 

On the campaign trail, Trump had pledged to revoke policies that supported sex change procedures, which Democrats call "gender-affirming care," particularly for individuals under the age of 18. The president-elect has also declared that public schools would no longer receive federal funding if they advocate for concepts associated with gender transitioning or transgender individuals. He further pledged that any healthcare provider or hospital that offers sex change procedures or therapies to juveniles would no longer meet federal health and safety standards, and as a result, would no longer receive federal funding.

The Halufs are now concerned that their trans child may soon be unable to access the puberty blockers they are presently taking. "If she didn't get the care, she would end up going through puberty, and it will be traumatizing to her to see all of those things happen to her body," Sara told CNN.