US exceeded number of migrant departures

For the first time in fifty years, the United States experienced migration outflows exceeding inflows. Analysts from the Brookings Institution assessed immigration service data and found that in 2023, 21.2 million people left the United States, compared to 18.5 million arrivals.

Economists noted that this year, recession and declining wage levels led to increased departures, as well as a growing number of migrants seeking jobs abroad. Although official confirmation is still lacking, this figure may indicate a shift in U.S. migration trends.

Context

In recent years, the United States has faced overloaded immigration processes and increased demands on asylum programs. This new figure may indicate a shift in the balance of migration flows, although official data have not yet been published.