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Why this American left the US for Europe

Julia Merk in Lisbon
October 18, 2025

JeNae Dunn left the US in 2024 and moved to Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. Her main reason — the political situation in her home country.

https://p.dw.com/p/52C8O

JeNae Dunn, a Black American woman, felt that police violence against Black people in the United States had worsened under President Donald Trump.

Feeling disrespected as a citizen, she and her husband — also African American — decided to emigrate to Portugal.

But starting over wasn't easy. In their new home, they faced fresh challenges: learning a new language, adapting to a different culture and finding new friends. DW reporter Julia Merk met Dunn in Lisbon.

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