In the United States, long called a nation of immigrants, a so-called "de-Americanization" trend of citizens leaving for foreign countries in large numbers is reaching an all-time high. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said, "Americans are settling overseas in record numbers," adding, "The new American dream is now abroad."
According to the U.S. think tank Brookings Institution, last year the United States recorded a net migration decrease of about 150,000 people, and outflows are expected to grow further in 2026. That means more people left the United States than entered, a phenomenon effectively seen for the first time since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Donald Trump administration is promoting this as the result of deporting undocumented immigrants and tightening visa rules, but the reality is different, WSJ noted.
◇ U.S. middle class heads to Europe
Overseas migration, once the domain of a few wealthy people or adventurers, has now become an option for ordinary middle-class families. Chris Ford, 41, who worked at a Dallas real estate investment firm before moving to Berlin, Germany, told WSJ, "In the United States, a 5-year-old had to do active-shooter drills in kindergarten, but in Berlin, there's no such worry," adding, "Wages may be higher in the U.S., but Europe overwhelmingly wins on quality of life."
According to WSJ, they mainly head to Europe, where living costs are lower and public safety is stronger. The number of American residents in Lisbon, Portugal, has surged more than 500% since the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ireland, 10,000 Americans settled last year, double the number of Irish who went to the United States. In Grand Canal Dock, a rising residential area in Dublin, Ireland, the real estate industry estimates that 1 out of every 15 residents was born in the United States. Germany also saw more Americans move in last year than Germans moved to the United States.
◇ Shaken American exceptionalism
Gun crime and soaring housing costs are among the forces behind this trend. According to Gallup, the share of respondents who wanted to move, which was 10% during the 2008 financial crisis, jumped to 20% last year, doubling. In particular, 40% of women ages 15 to 44 said they wanted to move. Caitlin Joyce of Temple University said, "As Americans experience social-democratic policies abroad, they have begun to question American exceptionalism that says 'America is the best.'"
The de-Americanization wave is also a headache for the U.S. government. Applications to renounce citizenship over tax issues have flooded in, delaying processing by months. Meanwhile, in parts of Europe, there are grumbles that Americans are driving up real estate prices. Some say this trend is more than a passing fad and signals structural change in American society. It is interpreted as a sign that the United States can no longer guarantee safety and happiness for its own citizens.