America used to be a promise. A place that existed not only on the map but also in people's minds and hearts - as a synonym for new beginnings, freedom, limitless possibilities. But the image has cracked. Today, anyone considering moving to the United States, traveling there, studying, or investing, must ask themselves: Is this still the country that once welcomed the "huddled masses"? Or has it long become a place ruled by fear, growing uncertainty - and a view of immigration as a threat?
Since President Donald Trump began his second term with an unprecedented campaign against migrants, the mood has shifted - not only within the country itself but worldwide. Trump’s rhetoric of invasion and cleansing, his attacks on pro-Palestinian students, his plans to deport millions - all of it has both symbolic and concrete effects: It deters. It alienates. And it destroys the fragile image of America as an open country of immigration. The numbers tell a clear story. The education platform Studyportals reports a dramatic drop in interest from international students in US universities - to the lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pew Research Center also notes a loss of trust in its global survey: In 15 of 24 countries surveyed, the image of the US has worsened within just one year. It’s not just undocumented people who are affected - even legal immigrants, tourists, and exchange students feel that the winds have shifted.
At the same time, the United States is experiencing a dramatic collapse in international tourism in 2025. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, spending by foreign tourists fell by 7 percent compared to the previous year - from 181 to under 169 billion US dollars. In March, entry figures were down 11.6 percent from the previous year, with particularly sharp declines in countries such as Germany (minus 28 percent), Canada (up to minus 40 percent), and Spain (minus 25 percent). This development is not a global phenomenon - among 184 economies examined, the US is, according to WTTC, the only country with declining tourism revenue. The economic damage is enormous: 12.5 billion US dollars in lost revenue already, and up to 260,000 jobs may be lost. The reasons range from a strong US dollar to repressive domestic policies that have damaged the global image of the United States.
Yet the history of the US is hardly conceivable without migration and international appeal. Friedrich Trump, the grandfather of the president, once came from Germany. He was naturalized, later tried to return to Bavaria - and was expelled for failing to complete military service. "What will our fellow citizens say if honest subjects are affected by such a decree?" he wrote in a 1905 clemency petition. Today, millions face a similar fate. In 2024, the US population grew by 3.3 million people - the majority due to immigration. In 16 states, immigration was even the only reason they didn’t shrink. But while other countries - such as Denmark or Australia - invest specifically in international talent, Trump is building walls. He floods cities with ICE raids, unsettles universities, criminalizes those seeking protection. What remains is a climate of fear - and isolation.
And still, people keep coming. They hope, they take risks, they try. But the myth of "Coming to America" - in 2025 it sounds more than ever like a warning. Anyone embracing this country must ask: Do I feel welcome here? Or am I merely tolerated - until the next decree? The story of America as a place of new beginnings now sounds like a grim announcement from Blade Runner: "A new life awaits you in the off-world colonies." Only this time, it's not about a new beginning - it's about departure.
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