Americans Are Moving to Spain (and Catalonia) in Record Numbers
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSzRkWrUiHQ&t=21s
Over the past decade, Spain has witnessed a noticeable influx of American immigrants—people seeking a new beginning far from the political and social turbulence of the United States. While migration used to flow primarily in the opposite direction, a growing number of U.S. citizens are now choosing to trade in the “American Dream” for a life under the Mediterranean sun.
One major factor behind this trend has been the divisive political climate that intensified during Donald Trump’s presidency. Many Americans felt disillusioned by what they perceived as increasing polarization, nationalism, and social unrest. For some, moving abroad became not just an adventure, but a political and emotional escape.
Spain, with its¨relaxed lifestyle¨, affordable healthcare, and rich culture, has become a particularly appealing destination. Digital nomads and retirees have taken advantage of Spain’s residency programs and vibrant expat communities in cities such as Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and Málaga. The pandemic further accelerated this trend, as remote work allowed professionals to settle anywhere with a stable internet connection and a good quality of life.
However, not everything is idyllic. Cultural adaptation can be challenging, bureaucracy can be frustrating, and integration into Spanish and Catalan society takes time. Many newcomers, especially those from privileged or economically well-off backgrounds, have unintentionally contributed to rising rents and gentrification in major cities. In places like Barcelona and Valencia, locals complain that the influx of wealthy foreigners has made housing unaffordable and transformed traditional neighborhoods. Others criticize some expats for remaining within English-speaking circles rather than learning Spanish and Catalan participating in local life.
Documentary Spotlight: “Spain – The Americans Fleeing Trump” (ARTE)
A recent documentary broadcast by the European public channel ARTE, titled “Spain: The Americans Fleeing Trump,” follows the personal journeys of three American women who decided to start new lives in Spain for different reasons.
The first, Chris Kelly, is a single mother who moved to Barcelona with her teenage daughter. She feared for her daughter’s safety in the United States, because of gun violence and the stress of constant school lockdowns. In Barcelona, she found that public safety, community life, and education offered her child a calmer and more hopeful environment.
The second, Cepee Tabibian, moved to Spain a decade ago. She is now an influencer and entrepreneur who helps other Americans relocate to Europe through her company She Hit Refresh. Her courses have seen record sign-ups since Trump’s rise to power—many participants admit they no longer feel at peace in the U.S. and long for a more balanced life abroad.
The third, Vanessa Velásquez, a Colombian-American from Texas, chose to settle in Madrid. As a lesbian woman, she feared for her rights and personal freedom in her home state. Spain’s more inclusive environment and her Spanish-language background made integration easier. With her Colombian roots, she can also apply for Spanish citizenship after only two years. Vanessa often reflects on the irony that her grandparents moved to the U.S. seeking opportunity—and now she is moving back across the Atlantic for the same reason.
According to the documentary, searches by Americans for information on moving abroad have increased by 1,500 percent since Trump’s return to the White House, and U.S. visa applications to Spain have skyrocketed by 70 percent in nine years. Eurostat data shows that 15,638 Americans were granted Spanish residency in 2024—the highest number ever recorded.
The film highlights that it is not only adventurous travelers making the move, but also middle-class families, single parents, and professionals who are deeply worried about their country’s political direction and social safety.
As Chris Kelly’s daughter said after arriving in Spain, “For the first time, I can take the bus alone without being afraid. It feels like another world.”
1. VOCABULARY MATCHING A:
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| A | polarization | 1. A person living in a foreign country |
| B | influx | 2. Attractive or interesting |
| C | gentrification | 3. Disappointed because something was not as good as believed |
| D | disillusioned | 4. The process of becoming part of a new community or culture |
| E | integration | 5. Complicated official rules and procedures |
| F | bureaucracy | 6. The process where wealthier people move into an area, raising costs and pushing locals out |
| G | appealing | 7. A large movement of people or things into a place |
| H | adaptation | 8. Division of society into opposing sides |
| I | expat | 9. The process of adjusting to new customs or surroundings |
VOCABULARY MATCHING B:
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| K | isolation | 11. Public disagreement or heated debate about an issue |
| L | inclusive | 12. Legal permission to live in a country long-term |
| M | privilege | 13. Reasonably priced, not too expensive |
| N | entrepreneur | 14. Being separated from others socially or emotionally |
| O | controversy | 15. Legal membership in a nation, with rights and duties |
| P | affordable | 16. The act of moving to a new place to live |
| Q | relocation | 17. Having advantages because of wealth or social status |
| R | residency | 18. A person who starts a business or multiple businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit. |
| S | citizenship | 19. Open and accepting of all people and identities |
2.SYNONYM MATCHING
| Word | Synonym |
|---|---|
| 1. excessive bureaucracy | a. adjustment |
| 2. polarization | b. increased dramatically |
| 3. disillusioned | c. urban renewal that displaces locals |
| 4. inclusive | d. advantaged |
| 5. privileged | e. red tape |
| 6. skyrocketed | f. welcoming |
| 7. expat | g. disappointed |
| 8. gentrification | h. immigrant |
| 9. appealing | i. division j. rich |
| 10. adaptation 11. wealthy/ well-off | k. attractive |
3.U.S. vs. Spain – Comparison Topics
Geography – size, climate, main cities
Government – type of government, leader, flag
Economy – currency, main industries, cost of living
Education – school system, school year, languages taught
Culture – food, music, traditions, celebrations
Daily Life – working hours, meals, transportation
Sports & Leisure – popular sports, free-time activities
Tourism – famous places to visit
Military Power – size, role, and influence
Cultural Exports – film, music, fashion, and global impact
Tourism Levels – number of visitors, popular destinations
Historical Global Influence – colonial history, world impact
Bonus questions: Give 5 reasons why having American immigrants in Spain is a good thing and 5 reasons why having Americans move to Spain is not a good thing.
Geography – size, climate, main cities
Government – type of government, leader, flag
Economy – currency, main industries, cost of living
Education – school system, school year, languages taught
Culture – food, music, traditions, celebrations
Daily Life – working hours, meals, transportation
Sports & Leisure – popular sports, free-time activities
Tourism – famous places to visit
Military Power – size, role, and influence
Cultural Exports – film, music, fashion, and global impact
Tourism Levels – number of visitors, popular destinations
Historical Global Influence – colonial history, world impact
Bonus questions: Give 5 reasons why having American immigrants in Spain is a good thing and 5 reasons why having Americans move to Spain is not a good thing.
4. COMMUNICATION & ROLE-PLAY ACTIVITIES
1. Warm-Up Discussion
Why might Americans want to move to Spain?
What is the difference between an expat, and immigrant and a refugee?
Have you ever thought about living abroad ? If you had the option, which country would you choose and why?
2. Role-Play: “Chris and Her Daughter in Barcelona”
Student A: Chris Kelly, an American mother starting a new life in Spain.
Student B: Her teenage daughter adjusting to a new school and culture.
Discuss your experiences and challenges.
Talk about what surprised you most about life in Spain.
How do you feel about safety, friends, and adapting?
3. Role-Play: “Vanessa in Madrid”
Student A: Vanessa Velásquez, a Colombian-American lesbian starting over in Madrid.
Student B: A Spanish coworker or neighbor trying to understand her story.
Talk about differences between Texas and Madrid in terms of rights, community, and safety.
Discuss integration and learning Spanish.
Reflect on how Spain’s inclusivity has affected her life.
4. Role-Play: “Cepee the Influencer and Her Client”
Student A: Cepee Tabibian, entrepreneur and mentor who helps Americans move to Spain.
Student B: A nervous client considering leaving the U.S. for political or personal reasons.
Discuss motivations, fears, and expectations.
Explain how Spain differs socially, economically, and culturally.
5. Group Discussion: “The Impact of Wealthy Expats”
In groups, debate:
Do wealthy foreigners make cities better or worse?
Should expats try harder to integrate?
What responsibilities do migrants have toward the local community?
Each group presents their conclusions to the class.
6.Alternatives: In Your Opinion....
7. Opinion Corners
Label corners of the room Strongly Agree / Agree / Disagree / Strongly Disagree.
Students move to express their stance on statements such as:
“Wealthy expats make housing less affordable.”
“Feeling safe is a valid reason to move abroad.”
“Integration is a two-way process.”
“Spain is becoming too international.”
8. A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster is a .
9. If someone chooses to leave their country for a business opportunity, for retirement reasons, or for other personal reasons, (often with the possibility of returning back to their country of origin), they are usually called an .
10. If someone decides to leave their country permanently and start a new life in another country, they are an .
11. If someone is living in a country illegally, and can not legally be hired to work, then they are often paid (en negro): .
12. Someone who travels a lot and to many different places around the world is called a .
13. If someone is escaping their country because of fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, sexuality, or membership in a particular social group, then they are asking that a host country offers them .
14. If you have parents or grandparents who are from Portugal, then you have Portuguese .
15. If you moved to a new country but you are missing your home country, then you are .
Not to be confused with not being able to go to work because you are not feeling well, in that case you are .
16. What is Europe's nickname?
17. If many Americans have an idealized view of life in Europe, then they life in Europe.
18. Similarily, if someone only focuses on the positive and completely ignores the negative, then we say: ¨They are seeing the situation with .¨
19. If I am a Canadian but I have been living in Spain legally for the last 7 years, then I am a
Canadian and a Spanish .
20. If living in Barcelona has been my dream ever since I saw Barcelona host the 1992 Olympic games on TV as a child, then living in Barcelona has been at the top of my .
Comments
Post a Comment