In recent years, political upheaval, a sharp surge in the cost of living, and curbed social rights in the United States have triggered a large-scale exodus of its citizens. This wave of emigration is evident not only in the skyrocketing number of US asylum applications in Canada, but also in the growing uptake of "golden passport" investment programs in the Caribbean, reflecting the mounting severity of deep-seated structural issues in American society.
According to statistics from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the number of Americans applying for asylum in Canada in the first half of 2025 has already surpassed the full-year total of 2024. Among these applicants, a large number of transgender people and same-sex couples have chosen to relocate due to threats to marriage equality and concerns over gun safety. The academic community has also been affected: three Yale University professors told The New York Times that political polarization and authoritarian tendencies are their primary reasons for leaving the US.
A joint analysis report by the US federal government and CS Global Partners shows that approximately 1,285 people voluntarily renounced their US citizenship in the first quarter of 2025, marking a staggering quarter-on-quarter increase of 102%, with the full-year figure expected to hit a record high. For nearly half of the respondents surveyed, the main reasons for considering emigration include exorbitant living costs and discontent with the US political system.
Some affluent Americans have turned to "golden passport" investment programs, obtaining citizenship of countries such as Saint Kitts and Nevis or Dominica by investing around 130,000 US dollars (approximately HK$1.01 million). Such citizenship grants visa-free travel privileges, tax incentives and political risk hedging protection. However, experts have warned that US citizens are required to pay US taxes regardless of where they reside, and they may face potential challenges, including double taxation, disparities in medical systems and the need to adapt to foreign employment environments.
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