Donald Trump plans the biggest deportation of illegals ever seen in American history – accusing them of being criminals, mentally unstable, drug dealers and even eating people’s pets.

But like every political policy there are always unintended consequences. And one of them has been building up since 2020 ever since the notorious storming of the Capitol in Washington and the endless legal battles claiming the last US election had been stolen from him.

Well qualified US citizens – not the people Trump is targeting to leave the country at all – are deciding to get out of the USA and one country – Norway – is even taking advantage of Trump’s victory to encourage them to leave as soon as possible.

Facts and figures about the Americans leaving for Europe emerged this weekend on the website Dispatches Europe – see the article here – and the Dutch based website is offering tips on what they need to do to settle there.

And while the UK mainstream media – and both Tory and Labour governments- has been agonising over our illegal immigration and asylum problem – the boat people – the number of US citizens in the UK has jumped from 137,000 in 2013 to over 166,000 by 2021. This is the latest known figure and the highest in Europe. It could be higher by now.

While US techies who become digital nomads – are well known to be keen to travel to exotic places where they can work and surf ( both on the sea and on line), this seems a new phenomena.

Dispatches Europe says the biggest jump between 2021 and 2022 has been US citizens turning up in Portugal – not an obvious choice – with numbers jumping for 28,700 to 41,200 – an increase of 30 per cent.

The second highest jump is Germany – an increase of 19 per cent – from 12,400 to 15,300. Spain has seen a 9 per cent rise from 35,400 to 38,900. While Ireland has seen a 11 per cent rise from 11,700 to 13,200. Over a longer period the Netherlands saw an increase from 15,500 to 24,000 between 2013 and 2022.

Last year the Economist noticed the trend quoting that many Americans “are fleers rather than seekers.“

Norway has gone further to cash in on Trump’s victory

One country has gone further. Another article in Dispatches Europe ( see here) features EmigrateMe, a site to reach out to disillusioned Americans, particularly but not necessarily with Norwegian descent, to come and work near Oslo.

It offers ” free healthcare and schools, reasonably priced housing, culture and a “high tolerance for religious beliefs and sexual orientation, stunning nature, clean air and fresh water.” What is not to like?

Obviously the figures are not huge compared to the huge population of the US. But once Trump gets into office – will a growing trickle grow into a big flood. And what will Labour under Sir Keir Starmer and Tories under Kemi Badenoch do faced with a new US invasion?