For decades, the American dream was built around people trying to get into the United States. Now, for the first time in at least half a century, a growing number of Americans are actively looking for ways out.
And increasingly, politics is driving the decision.
Last weekend, hundreds of Americans gathered at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego for “Move Abroad Con,” a convention dedicated entirely to helping U.S. citizens relocate overseas. The event was organized by Expatsi, a company launched in 2022 that specializes in relocation resources for Americans seeking life abroad.
Attendance doubled from the previous year, with roughly 600 people showing up to learn how to leave the country.
Among them were Phoenix residents Jesse Derr and his wife, Jess Yeastadt, who drove five hours to attend workshops focused specifically on moving to Mexico.
For Derr, politics sits at the center of the decision.
He cited issues like abortion policy changes following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling and court decisions involving voting rights as evidence, in his view, that America is “going backwards.” By contrast, he pointed to Mexico electing its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, along with gender-equality laws, as developments more aligned with the values he and his wife want in a country.
The couple now says the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections could determine how quickly they leave the United States permanently.
They are not alone.
According to research from the Brookings Institution, the United States experienced net negative migration in 2025 — meaning more people left the country than entered it — marking the first time that has happened in at least 50 years.
Brookings estimates that somewhere between 210,000 and 405,000 Americans voluntarily emigrated last year alone.
Some are leaving for work, retirement, or lower living costs. Others openly say they are leaving because they no longer recognize the country politically or culturally.
Expatsi’s own attendee survey found that nearly 90 percent of respondents cited political reasons as a major motivation for wanting to move abroad.
Many attendees also mentioned concerns over affordability, healthcare, safety, polarization, and quality of life.
Others simply want adventure and a lifestyle they feel has become increasingly difficult to maintain inside the U.S.
Conference attendees spent hundreds of dollars to hear from immigration lawyers, visa consultants, tax specialists, and relocation experts offering guidance on moving to destinations like Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Canada, and New Zealand.
Sessions covered everything from residency permits and healthcare systems to shipping belongings internationally and qualifying for foreign visas.
For some attendees, the appeal is financial as much as political.
San Diego government worker Von Bradley said southern Spain tops his list because of its warm climate, lower cost of living, walkable cities, and healthier lifestyle. Like many Americans nearing retirement age, Bradley is looking for places where his savings and income stretch further than they currently do in the United States.