“In its 250th year, is America, land of immigration, becoming a country of emigration?” the Wall Street Journal reports.
💥BREAKING:
— Crypto Rover (@cryptorover) February 26, 2026
🇺🇸 Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers-WSJ pic.twitter.com/NeRyJT5D5M
“Last year, the U.S. experienced something that hasn’t definitively occurred since the Great Depression: More people moved out than moved in. The Trump administration has hailed the exodus—negative net migration—as the fulfillment of its promise to ramp up deportations and restrict new visas. Beneath the stormy optics of that immigration crackdown, however, lies a less-noticed reversal: America’s own citizens are leaving in record numbers, replanting themselves and their families in lands they find more affordable and safe.”
Indeed, more people left the U.S. than entered in 2025. Brookings Institution estimates show a net migration loss of about 150,000 people in 2025, meaning departures exceeded arrivals by that margin.
Separate from migration, U.S. citizenship renunciations have also surged: roughly 4,800–5,000 people gave up citizenship in 2024, the third‑highest total on record and up about 48% from 2023.
Why are more Americans leaving?
- Political climate and instability at home, including polarization and the “Donald Dash” label tied to Trump’s second term.
- Cost‑of‑living pressures in the U.S. vs. cheaper housing, healthcare, and retirement options abroad.
- Safety concerns, particularly around gun violence and social unrest, with some migrants explicitly citing “safer environments.”
- Remote work enables people to earn U.S.-level salaries while living in lower‑cost countries (e.g., Spain, Albania, and parts of Eastern Europe).
- Tax and regulatory issues for wealthier Americans and long‑term expatriates, reflected in the rise in citizenship renunciations.
Where are they going?
- European countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic have seen the number of resident Americans roughly double or more over the last decade.
- Albania is highlighted as a current “hot” destination due to policies like a year of tax‑free living that appeal to remote workers and early retirees.
- The broader pattern is a growing U.S. diaspora of students, teleworkers, and retirees spread across Europe, Latin America, and selected lower‑cost destinations.
