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Why this American left the US for Europe

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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.

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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