Americans Are Heading for the Exits

[Celerity]

Go ahead and roll your eyes at those who want to emigrate amid Trump’s second term, but it’s a worrying trend.

https://newrepublic.com/article/191421/trump-emigration-wave-brain-drain




In February 2023, I published an article in The New Republic about Americans, particularly from marginalized communities, who were looking to exit the country amid the rise of gun violence and far-right politics. It had been some time since I’d thought about that piece. But almost exactly one year to the day after it was published, it garnered the attention of HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher, in which the show’s titular host featured it in a segment that ridiculed the notion of people fretting about their safety in this country, imploring us instead to stay here and make it a better place. Maher took great pains to condescendingly wonder if I knew that being gay is criminalized in dozens of countries—well, duh—and about capital punishment in China. (Unlike, Maher, I actually lived there for three years, so—once again—duh.)

Still, I was more or less flattered by the attention, despite the maladroit purposes to which my original piece was put. But if Maher is reading this, then I’d like to invite him over for a delicious slice of crow pie. Because now that Donald Trump and unelected sidekick Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to our country and its democracy, my prediction of two years ago is coming true amid a rise in worrying signs that many people in this country indeed have their eyes on the exits, including those with skill sets we can ill afford to lose.

On February 8, German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reported that the Max Planck Society—one of the world’s top scientific research institutions—is experiencing an uptick in applications from American scientists. Its president said the society regards the U.S. as “a new talent pool” at a time when the Trump administration seeks to cut billions in funding to the National Institutes of Health. There’s a deep historical irony in these recent developments: During the Third Reich, it was the Max Planck Society—then known as the Kaiser Wilhelm Society—that lost its best and brightest to the U.S. and other countries, including Albert Einstein.

A day prior, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has seen a 50 percent increase in the number of Americans seeking Irish passports, with some people specifically citing the new administration as a reason. Searches for terms like “dual citizenship” and “jus sanguinis” likewise saw significant spikes on Election Day and Inauguration Day, according to Google Trends. And a representative of Polaron, an Australian company that helps people obtain European citizenship by descent, told me that her firm has also “seen a steep increase in Americans wishing to leave their country, with many more keen to use their EU passport as a plan B.”

snip

[werdna]

1. Right!

Especially worrisome as I doubt those leaving are from the MAGA crowd. I hope they all have researched how to vote from abroad and take the trouble to vote in the midterms and beyond!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. Assuming they're not from the right-wing states

that are currently trying very hard to make absentee voting from anywhere impossible. Maybe even a crime.

[phxjurist]

43. You need to read this again.

I’m wondering if you read the same post that I did ?

[Paladin]

2. Not at all surprised by this.

And, oh yeah: Fuck yourself, Bill Maher.

[Cirsium]

25. Maher

I second your sentiments about Bill Maher.

[dchill]

32. Bill Maher has never been worth the time...

...it takes to listen to him. He's in the Bill Maher business. That is all.

[Carlitos Brigante]

77. He might be too busy talking to pre-pubescent girls about viagra and

the evils of being trans. And yeah, there is video.

[Solly Mack]

3. People have the right to feel safe. For many, that means leaving the country of their birth.

When it becomes a danger to merely exist, it's time to rethink your location.

[Karasu]

16. Exactly. Thank you very much for your understanding. You said it perfectly.

[Solly Mack]

22. When you have to live in fear, you aren't doing much living at all.

Living in fear is oppression.

You're welcome.

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. If I were 30 without kids/responsibilities....I'd consider it.

Too late in life for me to make the jump.

[The Madcap]

13. Agree

Young people with skills should try to get out. Why let the Rs destroy their futures?

[Conjuay]

65. One of my kids has a chronic medical condition. He'd be stupid to remain here.

I’m also pretty sure my grandkid would be happier not having to do lockdown drills in order to attend school.

The promises that brought my parents here in the thirties have been extinguished or proven to be lies.

Sad, but true.

[OAITW r.2.0]

68. I often wonder.....

what my folks would have thought about Trump. A shame he didn't blossom in the early 60's.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

84. When I was in my thirties with young kids I lived abroad twice ...

When I was in my thirties with young kids I lived abroad twice – once in Finland and again in Japan. There are difficulties inherent in bringing kids abroad, but they were not insurmountable. And there were a lot of advantages both for the kids and the parents.

I would not let having kids stop you from looking. International exposure at an early age helps broaden kids’ perspective, helping them to understand the world outside the US exists and the people living there are real and valuable.

I am once again living abroad, this time in Rwanda. My kids are grown up and living on their own, but they have both travelled internationally and have many friends from outside the US they developed on their own. And they are looking forward to visiting us here.

There may be many reasons not to move abroad, but kids, in general, should not be one of them. I have found more positives than negatives with showing kids the world.

Just my experience and opinion.

[lotusblossom]

5. We are moving to Mexico

My best friend, who I live with, and I are heading to Mexico on Sunday. Two days after the election we started to consider where to go. He is gay and fought for gay rights his entire life and couldn't imagine living here and having rights taken away again. I am a 71 year old Jewish woman. We already had a mutual friend, Anne, who lives in Ajijic Mexico who had been asking us to move there since she moved there during Covid. I had visited with Anne as Covid was just beginning and actually looked at houses at that time but we left early because of the Covid scare. She ended up moving there. So we already had a place in mind. We flew down in the beginning of December and bought a house while we were there. We used up our savings to do that since our house here in Washington still needs to be sold. I am realizing how fortunate I am to have him to help with this move because I could never do it myself. Lois

[Karasu]

14. Nice. I am highly likely to move there myself, but there are a few other options on the table as well.

[Evolve Dammit]

26. Best wishes with everything. Hope it all goes well. ED

[LeftInTX]

31. How did you buy a house without being a Mexican citizen?

A friend just got dual citizenship so she could own property.

[lotusblossom]

55. Not required

Turns out anyone can buy a house in Mexico. We were there on a tourist visa but you can even buy while in the US. We have since had to complete the Temporary Residency process here in the US but that isn't required to own a house. Living there for more than 6 months requires the Temporary Visa. We also now need to go to immigration in Mexico to complete the process but we have a Mexican immigration attorney who will help with that.

[lotusblossom]

62. But it also required for us to be retired and pay in cash

[sdfernando]

6. Count me as one of those

trying to get out of here.

[alarimer]

7. Good for those who can

Some of us are unwanted anywhere in the world. Too old, too poor, not the right kind of job skills. Too close (yet somehow not close enough) to retirement to pack it all in.

BUT... retirement to another country seems doable. Mexico seems pretty nice right about now.

[Blaukraut]

9. Even retirement could be risky

If Musk and Trump decide to cut Social Security for expats or at minimum make it exceedingly difficult to collect outside of the United States.

[alarimer]

11. True

At this point, I am not counting on SS for any of my plans.

[lotusblossom]

60. We have figured that in

Because our costs will be so much less in Mexico, we have figured we can get by without our SS because we both also have pensions. We can't use Medicare in Mexico but medical care is so much cheaper and better.

[Farmgirl1961]

8. My husband have given this a lot of thought...

We are both retired and he already has dual (USA/Irish) citizenship through his maternal grandmother. We've lived in Spain and England and have spent time in Ireland, Portugal, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and several European countries. This issue(s) for us is that we love living in (Central) Oregon and we live but a 10-minute drive from our oldest daughter and SIL (who we love very much). We also have a 20-year old cat that realistically wouldn't take kindly to a long-distance move.

So -- for the time being we plan on staying put and are keeping all options on the table, if the sh*t hits the fan a lot harder.

[Skittles]

10. I will never abandon my country to fascism

NOPE

and my mum was never an American citizen

[ChazInAz]

15. I have no desire

To be an immigrant/refugee again.

[Cirsium]

29. Many who left Germany

Many who fled Germany and the occupied countries fought the Nazis with the Allied armies, or contributed to the effort in other ways.

[GP6971]

51. Are you having fun?

[sinkingfeeling]

12. I closed on my house in Costa Rica last Friday. Hoping to be completely free of the US by July 1.

[SheltieLover]

20. Congrats!

[Evolve Dammit]

28. Sounds like a good move. Best wishes for a smooth settling in. Enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery for us.

[phxjurist]

50. Loving freedom

Good for you. Live in peace..

[Celerity]

81. Congratulations!

[kwolf68]

17. Not easy to move

For most places you need to have a grandparent from said country OR have a ton of money. Wife and I investigated numerous countries, even talked to a lawyer from Scotland.

[moniss]

18. Yes I know how the author feels and

shortly after the election, along with others, I began to encourage people who would be threatened by this madness to consider their own safety. I was met mostly with understanding but a few people did feel we were "panicking" or "being extreme" and some felt it was calling for people to be deserters rather than fight.

Well remember the ones who fled Germany and Europe while they could. Also remember the fate of some who didn't or who waited too long because they were sure they could "fight it". We tried to warn people how fast and dramatic the changes would come. We were met with assurances that wouldn't happen or that court decisions would be obeyed and be enough to protect us. Sure thing. Court cases that can be tied up for years and you might win in the end after 3 years of being hounded and persecuted and maybe worse. So at the end of 3 years so what if the court says you were wrongly fired and should get back pay? After you lose the house and burn through what savings you have having a court finally saying "you're right" is cold comfort. Do you think they aren't coming for Medicare? Because they promised not to? Didn't they promise that about Social Security?

[Xavier Breath]

19. If I could get out you bet your ass I would be gone in a heartbeat.

If you want to go and can, then do it! And you don't owe me or anyone else on this website an apology or an explanation.

[BadgerMom]

21. My husband has completed all paperwork for Greek citizenship.

It is through his Greek-born father. I would receive permanent residence status. We’d both be eligible for EU passports. Two of our three daughters and their families are waiting so they can claim it through my husband, their dad.

My brother looked into Irish citizenship through our paternal grandmother. We don’t have enough info about her immigration in the 1870 s or 80s to supply answers to many questions. Our mom emigrated from Sweden 100 years ago. The Swedes don’t want us. From what we’ve read, children still 18 or under can get citizenship through parents who moved.

Our pets are a consideration, but our cousin who moved to London for work brought her pup and felt it was smooth.

All of that being said, I’m concerned that with Putin off-leash, Europe could become a war zone.

My heart is shattered. But I would put safety of family first if the need and opportunity coalesce. It seems to be headed that direction.

[Evolve Dammit]

33. Greece is an amazing culture. People are wonderful. Best wishes!

[BadgerMom]

44. Thanks. And agreed.

My concerns are:

1. Language

I’ve spent 45 years listening to the language. Early on I took a beginning class in modern Greek through UCLA Extension. That gave me basic vocabulary, but I never mastered verb tense. I certainly always knew what was being said around the table. That’s just self-defense! It was always fun to weigh in when the fam didn’t think I understood what was being said. 😄 But productive language is another thing. I worry that communicating in an emergency could be devastatingly bad.

2. Medical

I’ll bet medical care in Athens is comparable to other European capitals. I know villages are another thing.

So, we’ll see.

[Evolve Dammit]

64. We were on an island this past summer. Two clinics and free health care!

[BadgerMom]

74. Great! Thanks for sharing!

[Evolve Dammit]

86. I was impressed. Just a bare ones clinic, but our traveling friend was x-rayed and given an inhlaer. 0.00 cost

[LeftInTX]

49. I'm eligible for Armenian citizenship. Forget that language.

I've spent 60 years trying to learn it.
It's under Putin's thumb
It's third worldish.
It scores pretty high on the corruption index.

[BadgerMom]

56. I hear you.

Greece has great democratic bona fides! Birthplace of democracy and all that. But they’ve had dicey times, too. My father-in-law fought in the civil war following WW2. The communists wanted the entire Balkan Peninsula. The outcome of that war kept them from getting Greece.

My husband started this process 2 years ago. It began as a way to honor his heritage. It still is that, but represents more now. But he still doesn’t HAVE citizenship. The documentation is grueling. He’s assured the papers are in order, but they have to be reviewed by three offices. It’s still not a done deal.

[LeftInTX]

61. At least Greek language is 1,000 times easier than Armenian!

The alphabet at least somewhat resembles the Latin alphabet. Armenian might as well be hieroglyphics..... It requires rote memorization. I even figured out some Hindi script because many of the Hindi letters are built on other letters, but not Armenian....

[Passages]

24. Stay and fight.

[GreenWave]

27. IOW such exodus makes it easier for brain dead magats to take over.

[Evolve Dammit]

34. Bye MAGAT.

[GP6971]

47. Trivia Question: What is DU's equivalet of a Welcome Wagon?? Answer in 5

minutes for Bonus Points!!

[misanthrope]

54. How sad your life must be

Third grade must have been loaded with trauma for you.

[Karasu]

35. You seriously created an account here just to post this? LOL.

Fuck off, fascist POS.

[Orrex]

37. I look forward to your many years of positive contributions here at DU

I also voted to hide your bullshit post.

[tazcat]

38. fuck off magat troll

[punguin54]

39. F**k you!

And the s**t stain you rode in on.

[GP6971]

40. Wll Hi!! I wouldn't plan on being here long.

[GP6971]

42. You still here?

[BadgerMom]

48. I'm blocking the f***wad. And I've alerted.

Somebody let me know when they’re gone. Thx!

[GP6971]

57. They're gone.

[Pinback]

59. That took way too many seconds.

Fortunately the air is already freshening.

[BadgerMom]

80. Thanks!

I returned to the comments to make sure he was gone.

[GP6971]

69. Back so soon???

[GP6971]

70. Who is us? You do realize you might not

be considered for DU's New Member of the Day...

[hadEnuf]

58. Magats like you worship monied conservative fascists.

who will never give you the sweat off their balls. You haven't got the fucking guts to stand up to your employers and instead you belly crawl to suck their asses.

Don't talk to anybody here about cowardice you fucking pouge.

[GP6971]

72. Back again with you "witty" comments I see. Do you time yourself

on how long you last before being banned?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

73. Don't worry,

MIRT's got this.

[GP6971]

75. I hope they're done for the night. Although

I did enjoy busting their chops!!

[electric_blue68]

76. Uh...The person who went on about Liberalism vs Leftism and using a tent metaphor? I have a maybe "silly" reason for

Asking.

[flvegan]

83. What a waste of space. n/t

[Historic NY]

36. I qualify for an Italian and Irish passports...

cousins kids have applied for Italian ones a while back . I'd like Ireland for 6 months every yr In Italy I can go to my forebears village and get a ramshackle property to fix up. They are starving for people to live there.

[sagetea]

41. I'm not sure if

I would go even if I could! My niece did a 23 and me...both sides of my parents came over on the Mayflower. I have never even heard about cousins in Europe! But I can tell you which ancestors were members of congress in the 1800's. And how we came out west. I have no where else to go! And I'm too poor! Lol!!! Just share your experiences! And keep checking on us! And above all else, Be safe!

I can live on the outskirts of reservations! Lol!!


sage

[LeftInTX]

52. You don't need to be NA to live on many reservations.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

53. In the end, hardly anyone leaves.

We've heard this for nearly a century now. FDR was going to destroy the country, and, OH GOD! What is this "Social Security" thing he's dreamed up?
soS
At certain times in the past I thought about leaving, but never have, and probably never will. Unless My Son The Astronomer gets an astronomy job in some other country. And frankly, I hope he does. Preferably a country where I can join him, but if not he can go and we can phone and visit each other. The way his life has turned out he doesn't have and won't be having children. I'm a bit sad not to have grandchildren, but oh well. Actually, I think I'm glad not to have grandchildren to be in this world.

[BidenRocks]

78. You are correct. For proof,

check the suicide statistics.
Keep in mind that many of these folk don't have to go solo.
If they were as vindictive as magats, they would be murder suicides.
But go ahead and keep pushing.

[Martin68]

66. I'm going to stay and fight for my country. OK, I'm white and entitled, so I understand that people who are

directly threatened by Tump's policies because of gender or other situations that are being directly targeted by the Trump administration are in actual danger. I would leave if that was my situation. But I intend to fight this to the end.

[yaesu]

79. Same thing happened in russia, just another nail in this shithole countries coffin. nt

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

85. kick