By Ryan Gartrell

 

I. A Nation Adrift

In November 2024, as the results of the U.S. presidential election unfolded with all the tension of a generational crisis, a curious thing began happening online. Americans in large numbers were no longer just expressing political outrage—they were exploring exit strategies.

Searches for “how to move to Canada” spiked over 1,200%. Portugal saw a 600% increase in inquiries from U.S. citizens about the D7 visa, a residency permit designed for passive income earners. In Mexico, digital nomad communities flooded forums with queries on permanent residency. From TikTok to Reddit, hashtags like #LeavingAmerica and #ExpatLife went viral, many featuring images of palm trees, wine country, and promises of a better life somewhere—anywhere—else.

Behind the memes and migration guides lies a deeply rooted sentiment: the belief that the American experiment, while historic, is no longer sustainable for all. With worsening political division, a crumbling sense of national unity, increasing violence, and a growing distrust in institutions, the country is bleeding not just optimism but people.

And that bleeding represents opportunity—for others.

II. The Brain Drain Begins

Historically, the concept of “brain drain” has been used to describe the exodus of skilled labor from developing countries to wealthier nations. But today, we are witnessing a reversal of sorts: a transfer of human capital away from the most powerful economy in the world, not because of economic hardship, but because of political, social, and existential disillusionment.

Consider the data:

• According to a 2025 Harris Poll, 1 in 3 Americans under the age of 40 is actively considering relocating abroad.
• The U.S. State Department estimates that more than 9 million Americans already live overseas, a figure up nearly 40% since 2010.
• Remote work has removed the geographic constraints of employment for more than 27 million American workers, as per Pew Research.
• Over 53% of new American expatriates in 2023 cited political or cultural dissatisfaction as their primary reason for leaving (Savvy Nomad report, 2024).

These are not retirees seeking sun-drenched villas on the Iberian Peninsula. Many are engineers, creatives, educators, entrepreneurs, and tech workers. They are the product of elite institutions, fluent in code, commerce, and culture—and they are looking for countries that align with their values.

What, then, should those countries do?

III. Who Is Leaving—and Why That Matters

While tax concerns and healthcare affordability play roles, the most compelling reasons Americans are leaving center on personal liberty, political fatigue, and a yearning for community. The majority of modern emigrants are college-educated, financially solvent, and professionally mobile. They are not leaving because they must, but because they believe the American promise no longer holds.

Many are dual-income couples with children seeking quality education systems, safety, and a slower pace of life. Others are LGBTQ+ individuals weary of living in states that legislate against their existence. Still others are professionals—especially in healthcare, education, and tech—who want to live in nations where work-life balance is more than a catchphrase.

Herein lies the opportunity: these are the types of individuals governments spend billions trying to cultivate through education, workforce development, and immigration reform. Yet they are arriving at foreign shores already trained, mobile, and ready to contribute—if they feel welcomed.

A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity for Progressive Nations

Nations that embrace this wave—nations that see it not as a trickle but a transformational flow—stand to gain tremendously. Countries like Portugal, Estonia, Canada, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and the Netherlands are already experiencing what some call the “reverse Ellis Island effect.” While the United States once represented the final destination for dreamers and doers, today it is the starting line for many outbound journeys.

The potential benefits to host nations are manifold:

1. Immediate Infusion of Skilled Labor:
   
   Unlike traditional immigrants who often require job placement or skill development, American expats typically arrive with professional experience and often with remote jobs, meaning they don’t initially compete for local employment but instead inject capital into the local economy.
2. Civic Participation and Entrepreneurialism:
   
   Americans are twice as likely as most European counterparts to start businesses. In Portugal, American expatriates filed over 4,000 business registrations in 2023, largely in tourism, tech, and sustainability sectors.
3. Rising Property Investment:
   
   U.S. expats account for an estimated 14% of real estate purchases in Portugal’s Silver Coast region and 11% in Costa Rica’s central valley. While this raises housing concerns (which must be managed carefully), it also reflects a robust faith in the host country’s long-term prospects.
4. Soft Power and Global Networking:
   
   Hosting Americans with deep roots in U.S. industries creates informal diplomatic bridges. These expats bring with them connections to venture capital firms, research universities, media ecosystems, and more.
   

   What Progressive Governments Can Do to Capitalize

The most forward-thinking governments are already modifying immigration and integration frameworks to woo American talent. But more could be done. Here’s what progressive nations should consider implementing:

• Streamlined Visa Programs for Remote Workers:
  
  Estonia’s e-Residency and Portugal’s D7 visa have become templates. Countries that simplify paperwork, reduce minimum income thresholds, and provide clarity on tax obligations can gain a competitive edge.
• Tax Neutrality or Incentives:
  
  While double taxation treaties already exist with many countries, simplifying the process for expats is key. Nations like Georgia and Costa Rica offer years-long tax holidays or reduced rates for newcomers.
• Incentives for Rural Revitalization:
  
  Italy’s “one-euro home” project brought attention but lacked follow-through. Real impact can be made when foreign residents are paired with revitalization grants, local partners, and language immersion programs to integrate them meaningfully into local economies.
• Community Infrastructure Support:
  
  Language training, intercultural programs, and local mentorships ease the friction of cultural assimilation and reduce resentment among locals. France, once hostile to newcomers, has begun piloting programs in Provence and Normandy that pair incoming Americans with native families for cultural orientation.
• Pathways to Citizenship:
  
  Offering transparent and achievable citizenship pathways within 5 to 7 years can anchor expats long-term and create loyal new citizens who actively contribute.

  Challenges and the Need for Guardrails

Of course, welcoming Americans en masse is not without challenges.

• Gentrification and Economic Displacement:
  
  In some parts of Lisbon and Mexico City, American expats have unintentionally driven up property prices and displaced locals. Progressive countries must implement zoning and taxation policies to ensure the influx does not erode the very communities expats admire.
• Cultural Imperialism:
  
  Americans abroad can sometimes carry assumptions or attitudes that chafe against local customs. Governments and NGOs must foster orientation programs that stress cultural humility and adaptation over assimilation.
• Healthcare and Public Service Strain:
  
  If expats begin to tap into national healthcare or educational services without contributing proportionately to the tax base, this can breed resentment. A balanced policy ensuring fair contribution is essential.

Still, these challenges are manageable—and preferable to the stagnation faced by countries with declining birthrates and sluggish innovation.

VII. The Broader Historical Context

It’s important to remember: America’s success was largely built on the inflow of minds and labor from elsewhere. From 1880 to 1920, nearly 24 million immigrants entered the U.S., fueling the Industrial Revolution, reshaping cities, and redefining culture. The nation that once welcomed Einstein, Tesla, and Levi Strauss is now—through policy, politics, and paralysis—pushing out its next generation of thinkers.

The opportunity for today’s progressive nations is to reverse-engineer the American dream: welcome the disillusioned and dislocated, and give them new soil in which to thrive. This isn’t merely charity. It is strategy.

VIII. Case Study: Portugal’s Quiet Revolution

Portugal may be the clearest example of a nation benefiting from this wave. Once considered economically sluggish and bureaucratically slow, it now stands as a global leader in remote-worker integration. Lisbon’s innovation hubs are filled with American entrepreneurs, tech workers, and creatives. Property values in places like Porto have surged—not from speculation, but from restoration and residency.

Since implementing its Golden Visa and D7 programs, Portugal has seen:

• A 17% increase in U.S.-born residents from 2020 to 2023
• Over 1.2 billion Euros in direct foreign investment tied to expat relocation
• The launch of over 1,500 small businesses by Americans in just the last two years

And yet, Portuguese policymakers have also enacted new housing regulations, increased short-term rental taxation, and launched local-first initiatives to prevent social fragmentation.

Portugal’s model is not perfect—but it is functioning. It balances openness with protection, integration with autonomy, and economic benefit with cultural respect.

A Moral Imperative and Strategic Gamble

There is a final, subtler dimension to consider: by accepting disillusioned Americans, progressive nations are not just making a bet on economic growth—they are making a moral wager. They are saying, in effect, “We believe in liberty, pluralism, and potential more than the country that once claimed to own those ideals.”

It is a soft power play. But one that could reshape global alliances, international business flows, and cultural trends for decades to come.

Conclusion: What Comes After the American Century

The 20th century belonged to America. Its ideas, corporations, films, and wars defined the era. But history is not sentimental. If the 21st century belongs to anyone, it will be those who are willing to claim it—not through conquest or ideology, but through openness and smart policy.

As America struggles to reconcile its democratic ideals with its increasingly volatile reality, others have the chance to do what it once did best: attract the talented, the weary, the ambitious, and the hopeful.

If done right, the next great migration will not be remembered as an American tragedy—but as a global renaissance.

About the Author
Ryan Gartrell is a business strategist, writer, strategist, and founder of Angry Shrimp Media. With over two decades of experience in operational consulting and digital transformation, Ryan helps individuals and companies navigate change with purpose. A dual entrepreneur and expat-in-the-making, he writes about the intersection of politics, culture, operations, and opportunity in a shifting global landscape. Learn more at RyanGartrell.com.