The Founders Who Built America Are Now Afraid to Leave It

There's a quiet crisis unfolding at the intersection of immigration policy and American innovation — and most of the founders caught in it are too afraid to speak publicly about it. Startup founders who have lived in the U.S. for years won't leave the country to see their family because they don't trust what happens at the border on the way back. That is the situation in 2025 for a staggering share of the founders powering American innovation. If you're a non-citizen founder navigating this landscape, or you're investing in companies where this is a live issue, here are some options.