After I Left: Stories of Migration Episode 2, with Jey Poston
In this episode of After I Left: Stories of Migration, we welcome back Jey Poston, a trans American asylum seeker, writer, and the Head of Support & Advocacy at Help Me Leave. Last time, Jey shared the story of why he fled the United States and his early experiences seeking asylum in the Netherlands. Today, we go deeper—into the work Jey now does to support Americans navigating political collapse, rising persecution, and the urgent need to find safer futures abroad. Jey leads Help Me Leave’s Support Team, a volunteer-driven group helping people understand their paths of egress, whether through traditional visas, asylum pathways, or crisis support for those who are overwhelmed or in immediate danger. He also heads the research and writing behind the #NoLongerSafe reports - documentation used internationally to show how rapidly conditions are deteriorating for marginalized communities in the U.S.We explore what this work looks like from the inside, how support networks are evolving, and what it means to keep going when the news grows darker each week. And we talk about the #WeRemain initiative - our joint project supporting those who cannot leave, in collaboration with organizations like Lifelines for Liberty.Jey also opens up about navigating his own asylum process while supporting others, what trans and neurodivergent migrants should know, and why he believes understanding the why and how of political collapse is essential to preventing future cycles of harm.In This EpisodeJey’s Path Into AdvocacyHow Jey began bridging the gap between constitutional decisions and the everyday people impacted by them.“I felt like there was a paywall between the basics of how people should interact with their own government.”How that early work evolved into leading the Support Team at Help Me Leave.What the Help Me Leave Support Team Actually DoesHow our teams help people navigate emotional overwhelm, safety planning, and immigration pathways.“Our goal is to get through the emotional and informational overwhelm to help them understand what path of egress will fulfill their needs for safety.”#WeRemain and Supporting Those Who Cannot LeaveWhat the #WeRemain project is, and how it partners with organizations like Lifelines for Liberty.How people can get involved no matter where they live.The Emotional Weight of This WorkWe discuss what it’s like to hold space for people in panic, grief, or crisis.Rising Persecution & the #NoLongerSafe ReportsThe destruction of the East Wing, new passport markers, and escalating milestones in the U.S.Why Jey writes reports on the “why” and “how” of U.S. political collapse - and how these reports are used internationally in asylum cases.“This is the work I will continue to do for the rest of forever.”Advice for People Who Feel Afraid or UnsafeJey’s message for those panicking about conditions in the U.S.:“The United States that we have all known is dead and gone. Whatever comes next will be something new—and hopefully something better.”Why people who find safety must remain involved in #WeRemain and future rebuilding.Jey’s Own Asylum JourneyAn update on where his case stands now.The unique challenges for people who are trans, neurodivergent, OCD, or dissociative navigating asylum systems.“Every single experience is going to be different. For trans people specifically, there is no safest, there is only safer. And the safer is worth it.”Looking Toward the FutureWhat Jey hopes to build next.Where to find his writing, analysis, and updates on political shifts worldwide.Resources MentionedHelp Me LeaveA nonprofit platform supporting people exploring how to leave the United States safely and ethically. Guides, volunteer support teams, and an international community. Access guides and resources at helpmeleave.us.#NoLongerSafe CampaignReports documenting the rising persecution of marginalized communities in the United States and how international asylum systems are responding.
