After Donald Trump’s recent presidential election win, internet searches for emigration from the U.S. have surged.
Moving to Canada
Data from Google shows that searches for “moving to Canada” jumped by 1,270% within 24 hours of poll closures on the East Coast, according to Ziare.
Similarly, interest in emigration to Australia increased by 820%, reflecting widespread curiosity about moving abroad.
According to data from Immigration New Zealand, nearly 25,000 new users from the U.S. visited their website on November 7 — far higher than the typical 1,500 visitors on that date in previous years.
Follow Through With Deportations
This wave of interest in emigration appears to align with Trump’s campaign promise to implement “mass deportations” for all undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
During a televised debate on June 29, Trump claimed that there are currently 18 million undocumented immigrants in the country, a figure much higher than the official government estimate of nearly 11 million as of January 2022.
Trump stated that once back in the Oval Office, he would feel he has “no choice” but to follow through with deportations.
Evan Green, an immigration attorney with Canadian law firm Green and Spiegel, noted that Trump’s promises have driven many Americans to explore emigration.
“Trump is obviously the catalyst, but it’s also societal. People are uncomfortable with the idea of living in a society that largely voted for him. They fear they may lose freedoms,” Green told Reuters, adding that his firm is now receiving inquiries on this topic every half hour.
NBC polling shows that immigration ranked as the second most important issue for Trump voters, behind the economy. In contrast, voters for Kamala Harris focused most on democracy and abortion rights.
