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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.

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[-] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 143 points 1 month ago

At least you can be certain the Americans who are disgusted enough with their country to make the non-trivial effort of uprooting themselves are good folks, and they'll be a net positive for whichever new society they choose to become part of.

[-] redlemace@lemmy.world 105 points 1 month ago

True. Side effect is probably that the usa sinks faster with each good person leaving. Still it's hard to blame them for leaving.

[-] yakko@feddit.uk 15 points 1 month ago

I'm doing my part!

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[-] notwhoyouthink@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 month ago

Interesting, one could also make this point for immigrants in/coming to America. Just wish more of us realized that before voting in 2024…even better in 2016.

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[-] slowtrain33@lemmy.ml 109 points 1 month ago

US citizen who just finished immigrating to Japan 2 days ago. It took 8 months of planning and prep work, at least $50,000, and brought my wife and I to the edges of our sanity for the vast majority of those 8 months.

But we are finally free. Fuck ICE, fuck MAGA, and fuck Trump.

[-] Brunbrun6766@lemmy.world 82 points 1 month ago

Now you've moved to Japan, with its rising far right politics

[-] Rothe@piefed.social 27 points 1 month ago

Still better than living in a country with an active fascist government.

[-] Damage@feddit.it 32 points 1 month ago

I mean, at least Japan's fascist government would likely be a functioning one.

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[-] Schmoo@slrpnk.net 20 points 1 month ago

Japan's just lagging behind, they recently elected a reaganite/thatcherite to implement austerity policies. Fascism will soon follow, and they're no stranger to it.

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[-] Lexam@lemmy.world 73 points 1 month ago

If we could leave, we would leave.

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[-] pedz@lemmy.ca 69 points 1 month ago

I wonder if just like Brits and French, Unitedstaters emigrating elsewhere will call themselves "expats" instead of immigrants.

We, white people of the west, can go anywhere in the world for work, affordability and/or safety without considering ourselves immigrants.

Many years ago I was chatting with someone from Malmö. He was complaining how immigrants were "taking over his city". But when I mentioned that I, a Canadian, would also like to move to Sweden, he told me it would be fine, that he would not consider me "an immigrant" because I'm from the west.

Anyway, I understand why anyone would want to leave. It's just that it seems the vocabulary used is different for different people.

[-] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 39 points 1 month ago

I’m an American immigrant in Germany. It’s infuriating how many Germans complain to me about immigrants, then when hearing that I’m an immigrant, wave their hand and say I’m not like the others. I’m now a German teacher and married to a German, so they’ve always got plausible deniability that it’s about language or integration, but I wasn’t always good at German and I only met my husband after a few years here. It used to be much more fun to push back on why.

[-] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago

Try immigrating to Canada from the US. Nobody here would ever consider me a 'true' immigrant, even though that is quite literally what I am.

I moved for school and never came back. All my family and personal ties were left behind in the states. Except for my family and the annoying need to file taxes every year for some fucking reason, I have no ties left to the US.

But Im white and culturally similar enough that the label 'immigrant' would feel funny to people here. It really is wacky.

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[-] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 17 points 1 month ago

that he would not consider me “an immigrant” because I’m from the west.

I've lived in 7 countries - and still living in a foreign country now - and I've heard the same thing from many locals in all the countries I've lived in.

It's not because you're from the West that you'd be an acceptable immigrant, it's because you're white. From the way you're telling the same story I've heard a million times myself, I'm 99% certain you're as white as I am.

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[-] beccaboben@lemmy.world 66 points 1 month ago

Leaving the US is too expensive for most of us to even consider.

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[-] criss_cross@lemmy.world 59 points 1 month ago

I mean I would if my support system didn’t have serious roots here.

If I was single you bet I would.

But being married with children it’s a lot harder to do that.

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[-] crystalmerchant@lemmy.world 45 points 1 month ago

If I could realistically leave, I would. I suspect this is true or lotssss of people here who can't just pick up and go

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[-] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 37 points 1 month ago
[-] militaryintelligence@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago

Wish I could leave. This is going to get bad ...

[-] commanderschlepper@lemmy.zip 36 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Ive lived in this country for my entire life (33 now) but I'm considering it as well. I'm a black American so it's not like I'm exactly welcomed in most places but I have to try at this point...

[-] 0x0@lemmy.zip 34 points 1 month ago

Rich muricans are leaving the US, most can barely leave the state.

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[-] jerkface@lemmy.ca 30 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

A recent bill in Canada restored Canadian citizenship to thousands of people living abroad. I'm helping my friend move to Canada and giving her a place to live after she claims her citizenship. After she stays here three years, all her children get the same opportunity to claim citizenship. Am I operating an Underground Railroad?!

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[-] Thor_Whale@lemmus.org 28 points 1 month ago

You got to have a way to do it though. You either have to have a job already lined up or you have to be under 30 so you could work some crappy job for 2 years or you have to be independently wealthy. The average Joe working at the Ford factory isn't going to be going anywhere anytime soon.

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[-] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 22 points 1 month ago

I would go if anyone wanted me, but I'm not rich enough or smart enough, so I'll have to take my chances with the MAGAs. Looks like being a Revolutionary is in my future.

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[-] TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

If things don't improve, I don't see any other option. I don't think a lot of Americans realize just how bad things are likely to get if there isn't a pretty big change, very soon.

[-] rumba@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 month ago

Countries like New Zealand are absolutely falling over themselves to bring in trades and medical professionals. I nearly replanted myself there.

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[-] BigTuffAl@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 month ago

I hate it here and have tried to emigrate to Canada unsuccessfully. They changed their laws to be racist to Indian immigrants but they've basically just fucked up their ability to gain skilled workers.

You need to be rich and privileged to escape by normal means. The regime is making it harder every day. My deepest, most sincere hope is for the complete destruction of the USA federal government. They've ruined my life.

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[-] NottaLottaOcelot@lemmy.ca 15 points 1 month ago

Does this number reflect only people who left by choice, or does it also include those who have been deported? The composition of this group would be interesting to see.

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[-] LBP321@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago

My husband and I are moving to Mérida, Yucatán, México in April. We don't feel safe in Los Angeles anymore. And despite all the stuff going on in Mexico, Mérida is one of the safest cities in all the Americas.

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this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2026
697 points (98.5% liked)

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