A family left the US for Uruguay after fearing they would be "detained" just for speaking Spanish - and say they are saving £3k- a-month on rent and bills."

Alyssa Bolaños, 34, made the decision with her husband Patrick, 36, to leave Orlando, Florida when Trump came into administration for the second time.

The couple, who have son's - Santiago, six, and Camilo, four - together, are Latino and both citizens of the US but started to feel "unsafe" in their own country."

They worried they would be "detained" or "questioned" just because they speak Spanish."

They sold all their belongings to world school their children in August 2025 and are currently in Uruguay.

The family feel "safer" and are spending just $1,000 on rent, in comparison to their $2,600 monthly mortgage in the US - a $1,600-a-month saving."

Their food shop is also considerably cheaper - now $100 instead of $200 to $300 a week.

Alyssa, a social media marketer, said: "In the current climate we were scared we would be deported just because we speak Spanish."

"We've gotten questions [by strangers] asking where are you from? Are you citizens?"

"It started really affecting us."

"Life in the states - it's a hustle and you live to work."

"You're working all day and you come home drained."

"We want to focus on our kids."

Alyssa and Patrick, who was working at a composting company, have always dreamed of moving abroad but were given the final push when Trump came into administration in January.

Due to their Latino heritage they say they have always been stopped by strangers and had their citizenship questioned but claim this has increased since the beginning of the year.

They also felt their children no longer felt safe at school and decided to homeschool them from February.

Alyssa said: "I have always wanted to leave."

"A major thing was the safety of our kids."

"I don't want shooter drills to be normal for my kids."

"The quality of life and health care and being able to have family time - they are not priorities in the states."

As Patrick is from Columbia they benefit from his residency - so they could have a base outside of the US.

The family sold all of their belongings and are in the process of selling their two bed home in Florida.

They left on August 30 for Columbia - before finding a world school company and moving to Uruguay.

Alyssa said: "When we got on the plane we felt 10 pounds lighter - all that stress off our shoulders."

The family don't then have a set plan of where they will go next - but are considering spending some time in Portugal or Greece next year.

Alyssa said: "We wanted to show our kids the world."

"We're open to whatever happens."

Alyssa says she has seen a difference in her children since moving. Her youngest was having "trouble with letters" at school in the US but has now become more "outgoing" and his writing his improving."

Her eldest has been able to "nourish" his artistic skills."

Alyssa said: "My kids are so happy."

"They don't want to leave school."

"They are outside all day."

The family have more time for each other and Alyssa and Patrick don't find themselves "snapping" at the kids because they are no longer as exhausted at the end of the day."

Alyssa said: "It's a very calm lifestyle here."

"There is no judgement."

Despite living in the US since she was a child - Alyssa doesn't feel she'll ever return to live there.

She said: "I'm a citizen from birth but I was born abroad - so I'm seen as an immigrant."

"It's not safe for us."

"I do not want to go back."

"I'm open to visiting but not in the next four years."

"I don't want to enter during this administration."

"It's never somewhere I would live again."

Cost of mortgage - $2,600 a month
Food shop - $200- 300 a week
Electricity - $500 a month
Car - $500 payments and insurance a month
Total - $4,800 a month

Now
Rent - $1,000 a month
Food shop - $100 a week
Electricity - $90 a month
Car - $0 - walk everywhere
Total - $1,490 a month