Americans Are Leaving The U.S. In Record Numbers

The Wall Street Journal on MSN ^ | February 25, 2026 | Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson

[4Runner]

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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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: wallstreetcommies; wallstreetlefties; wallstreetnutters; wellbye

[4Runner]

Expatsi. Didn't even know it was a thing.

[Tell It Right]

Buried in the article is more relevant info: A Wall Street Journal analysis of 15 countries providing full or partial 2025 data showed that at least 180,000 Americans joined them—a number likely to be far higher when other countries report full statistics.. To me that’s a small number, especially given the number of naturalized Americans who may be retiring.

But wait, there’s more to show that the outflow isn’t orange-man bad like MSN wants us to think: The figures that exist likely undercount, overlooking locals born to an American parent, students on long-term visas or others exploiting a common loophole: arriving on 90-day tourist visas, leaving for a day to reset and returning for another three months.

[Joann37]

See ya!

[Libloather]

Rosie returned. Spend more time near the prison.

Rosie O’Donnell’s Daughter Chelsea Accused of Sexually Assaulting Man While on Probation for Drug Charges

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/rosie-o-donnell-daughter-chelsea-225012821.html

[Skwor]

The implication of the title is not supported by the article’s own writings.

It admits specific data on leaving the country to actually live somewhere else is not collected, goes on to use anecdotal data.

For example, it lumps study abroad into the analysis and I would hardly consider going to school abroad someone permanently leaving America to live elsewhere. The idea this shows people voting with their feet is absurd given their source material. I do not see how intent can be divined from the data sets.

IMO more another media narrative hit piece than an informative article on American society.

See this quote below form the article:
“Since the Eisenhower administration, the U.S. hasn’t collected comprehensive statistics on the number of citizens leaving. Yet data on residence permits, foreign home purchases, student enrollments and other metrics from more than 50 countries show that Americans are voting with their feet to an unprecedented degree. A millions-strong diaspora is studying, telecommuting and retiring overseas.”

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Why do I seriously doubt this article. To anyone leaving, good luck finding a better place.

[MayflowerMadam]

“More people moved out than moved in. The Trump administration has hailed the exodus”

WINNING!!

(Only trouble is that they come back, e.g., Ellen.)

[poconopundit]

Hey Skwor,

If you want to get a good idea of what foreign countries Americans are retiring to, read my FR post of last year:

★    ★    ★    ★    ★    ★   

Here's a question for everyone: What countries do Americans retire to?

Actually we don't need any fancy new research study to answer that question.

Social security statistics give us the answer. The chart shows the number of bank deposits and checks the SSA is sending overseas by country.

And here are the top Social Security payment destinations:

111,096 Japan
108,941 Canada
62,028 Mexico
40,369 United Kingdom
38,109 Germany
37,509 Poland
35,328 Philippines
26,210 Italy
22,012 Greece
18,502 France
17,378 Australia
17,060 Israel
15,864 Portugal
14,611 Spain
11,293 South Korea

One of the biggest factors, I surmise, is that many of the top countries have U.S. military bases. I was stationed in Sasebo, Japan where I met my wife. And now after 40+ years living in the USA, we returned 3 years ago as resident aliens in Japan, an advanced country where the U.S. dollar goes far.

As long as you have a Japanese spouse to navigate city hall, banks, and immigration offices, you can have a great life here. And the bonus is the Japanese love Americans.

So come on over! And bring your pickleball racket :-)

[Flavious_Maximus]

You notice they NEVER move to a shithole country in Africa or middle east. It’s always a country where the ex-pat can benefit from.

Lower cost of living is just one reason for their decision to move, but they ALWAYS eventually get bored and move back to the USA. If I were king, I would not let them come back. /spit

[Skwor]

Nice, and what you present hardly makes the case for dissatisfaction, literally just moving to where your roots migrated to in the case of military retirees.

Seen that often being with those I know.

[EVO X]

Why do I seriously doubt this article. To anyone leaving, good luck finding a better place.

I doubt most people leave without having any idea of what is going on at their destination country. Military members may get out and stay put as an expat. Same with corporation people. There are American retirement communities in Mexico and Costa Rica were Americans can stretch their income. There FR members that post frequently from Europe, Asia and Canada.

[maddog55]

More affordable and safe don’t go together in pretty much any other country, it’s one or the other.

Those leaving for that are the leftist lunatics anyway so no loss and as we’ve seen, some of those return because they found their decision was misguided. I say if you leave you shouldn’t be allowed back.

[hinckley buzzard]

Getting rid of mindless malcontents can only be a good thing. Anything we can do to encourage more of them to leave?

[Kudsman]

Even Rosie snuck back in. Hope Ice catches her next time she tries!

[Nervous Tick]

>> So come on over! And bring your pickleball racket :-)

Thanks but no thanks, there, Citizen of the World.

I love America. I was born here by the grace of GOD, and I’ll stay here and defend her come what may.

[Soul of the South]

The ability of citizens to leave their home country and return, speaks to the amount of freedom a nation permits its citizens. Many nations wall their citizens in, or prevent them from returning if they leave. An American citizen has the freedom to leave and return at will.

Our nation’s history was shaped by travel and mobility. The early European settlers left their homelands to cross an ocean to find a better life. Their children and grandchildren moved west across the continent, in many cases leaving the boundaries of the U.S. to settle in regions claimed by other nations (Mexico, Spain, France, Great Britain) or indigenous peoples (American Indians). Ultimately many of the regions they settled became part of the U.S. including Florida, Louisiana, Texas, California, and most of the land west of the Mississippi. To some degree our destiny was influenced by Americans who left the country to settle on land later absorbed by the U.S. expanding its boundaries.

If American citizens of today wish to relocate to other countries they are free to do so. If they do not renounce their citizenship, they are free to return. The only action I would like to see is to prohibit American citizens from having dual citizenship (I.e. dual loyalty). If a person desires the privileges of American citizenship, then that person should fully commit to being an American.