The Great American Departure Gains Speed

February 26, 2026

Record numbers of Americans are relocating abroad, marking the first time since the Great Depression that more people have left the United States than entered it. This exodus is driven by concerns including political instability, gun violence, healthcare costs, and economic pressures, with European countries like Portugal, France, and Ireland reporting significant increases in U.S. residency approvals. The trend has evolved from primarily affecting adventurous, well-credentialed individuals to including ordinary middle-class Americans seeking stability, affordable education, and lower living costs.

Who is affected

American citizens relocating abroad (specifically mentioned: Deidra Henderson, 39, translator; Jen Barnett, 54, Expatsi founder; Kimora Swain, 28, PR specialist; Victor Ayres, 31, auto mechanic)
Over 100,000 American students enrolled in foreign universities
U.S. retirees seeking care in Mexican nursing homes
Remote workers moving to Bali, Colombia, and Thailand
Residents in destination cities like Lisbon, Dublin, and various European locations
Local residents in destination countries experiencing rising housing costs and gentrification
Immigrants in Washington D.C. (93,800 residents, comprising 13.8% of the population)
D.C.'s workforce, particularly in healthcare, social assistance, and STEM sectors

What action is being taken

European governments are processing rising residency approvals for U.S. citizens
Americans are purchasing foreign property, particularly apartments in Lisbon
The Trump administration is implementing deportation measures and visa restrictions
Wall Street Journal researchers are analyzing residence permits, property purchases, and enrollment data from over 50 countries
Relocation firms like Expatsi are hosting conference calls (nearly 400 Americans joined a recent call about Albania) and organizing scouting trips (57 planned for this year)
Americans are enrolling in foreign universities
U.S. retirees are moving into expanding nursing homes along the Mexican border
Americans are securing Irish passports through ancestry claims
D.C. colleagues are preparing exit plans

Why it matters

This represents a historic shift for a nation built on immigration, marking the first negative net migration since the Great Depression and signaling a fundamental change in America's identity as a destination country. The exodus reflects deep concerns about domestic stability, safety, healthcare accessibility, and economic sustainability that are prompting ordinary middle-class Americans—not just wealthy or highly credentialed individuals—to seek alternatives abroad. The trend has significant implications for the U.S. economy, workforce, and tax base, while simultaneously creating economic and social pressures in destination countries experiencing gentrification from American arrivals. The contrast between Americans leaving and immigrants remaining vital to cities like Washington D.C. highlights the complex, bidirectional nature of contemporary migration patterns and raises questions about America's long-term competitiveness in attracting and retaining residents.

What's next

Expatsi expects to run 57 scouting trips in 2025 (up from three in 2024)
Expatsi has set a goal to "move one million Americans"
Nursing homes along the Mexican border catering to U.S. retirees are expanding

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer