Immigration

 NBC News - Their parents may have moved to the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream, but some first-generation Gen Z Americans say they feel hopeless and a sense of doom.Rather than a land of promise, they said, they see skyrocketing costs of living and health care, as well as loads of student debt and a chaotic political system. And just one generation in, some first-generation Americans said they’re moving out of the U.S. or seriously considering it.

But the decision isn’t an easy one and often comes with a combination of exhaustion, isolation, courage and a healthy dose of guilt over leaving the place their parents worked so hard to make home. The concept of “doomism” that’s become popular with Gen Z is often illustrated by viral rants about leaving the U.S. and step-by-step TikTok tutorials on applying for dual citizenship. Young Americans are more likely than older adults to say there are countries that are “better than the U.S.,” according to Pew Research.  About 3 million Americans live abroad, an increase of more than 1.27 million people since the 1990s, according to an estimate by the United Nations.