CBC News

03/11/2025

Kaitlyn said Trump’s claim early in his second term that there are only two genders was of particular concern to the family, as one of the older children is transgender, and another identifies as gender fluid. She said she pulled the children out of school one day after his inauguration, worried about their mental health.

The parents, both veterans, cited a host of other issues and situations as having also contributed to their decision to head north — everything from school shooter drills to Trump’s disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“It was very difficult to watch the news and TikTok because honestly, we were just seeing things unfold and unfold and unfold,” Kaitlyn said. “And I was very scared, getting very scared.”

Both parents have cited their own health issues as reasons to seek asylum as well. Kaitlyn said she has had multiple miscarriages, while Ted is diabetic.

“When [Trump] signed that executive order revoking Biden’s prescription plan that put a cap on prices, my insulin went from $35 to $900 for a month,” Ted said.

Despite not having passports, the family hit the road in early March, leaving their “dream home” behind, she said.

“Of course, at the time, it would be great if we could have got our passports and all that,” she said. “But like I said, we were very – we were struggling. No money to get passports and passports were backlogged several months.”

Canadian border agents were upfront about the Bergs’ slim chances of being granted asylum when the family arrived at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., earlier this month, Kaitlyn said.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says those seeking asylum “must prove that they have a real fear of persecution or face serious harm, such as torture or cruel treatment, in their home country or where they usually live.”

Still, the family proceeded, and have been showing their journey on TikTok. They say they made their way to London, Ont., after hearing about its children’s hospital — one of their children has a medical condition and they wanted to be close to care.