America’s borders are reversing flow, with outflows eclipsing inflows for the first time post-Depression, in what’s termed the ‘Donald Dash.’ Reports from Financial Daily and beyond detail a mass departure wave, propelled by economic strains, remote work, and global appeal.
Brookings tallies 150,000 net exits last year, eyeing worse for 2026. WSJ’s 15-country scan logs US arrivals at 2.6-2.7 million in 2025—halved from 2023’s 6 million—with 180,000+ Americans inbound there, set to multiply.
Expat pockets boom: Mexico hosts 1.6 million, Canada 250,000+, UK 325,000 within Europe’s 1.5 million. Portugal leaped 500% since COVID (36% in 2024); Ireland doubled to 10,000; Germany in reversal mode.
Firms like Expatsey can’t keep up—400 joined an Albania relocation webinar. Jen Barnett: ‘From adventurers to average Americans like myself.’ Ambition: relocate 1 million.
Trump’s tenure turbocharged it, earning the name, but remote jobs, costs, and vibes started it. Administration touts economic edge, deportation hauls (675,000 + 2.2 million voluntary), golden visas for rich foreigners.
Citizenship dumps up 48% in 2024, clogged by tax exiles, passport chasers. Families, pros lead: Chris Ford in Berlin prefers ‘drill-free kindergartens and better life’ to US salaries. Spain sees wine-inspired stays.
Intl students to US down 17%; Americans flock to Euro unis. UK apps: 6,600 by March 2025; Irish passports to US: 31,825 in 2024 (vs. prior 40,000).
‘Albania: $1,000/month paradise,’ per Kelly McCoy. Echoes 1935 Depression exodus to USSR, a statistical anomaly of net emigration.