The Evolution of This Term Mirrors the Growth of Anti-Immigrant Politics (opinion)

In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) caused a stir by posting the single term remigrate on X. Once a neutral word from the 17th century meaning to return or to migrate back, remigration has since taken on the connotation of enforced deportation under policy. The agencys use of the word reignited discussions around its charged historical significance.

Historical data from Google Books Ngram, which tracks word usage over time, reveals that remigration first peaked in 1797 amid rising nativist sentiment, shortly before the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 introduced stricter residency rules and empowered federal authorities to deport dangerous aliens. A second peak occurred in 1945 during the resettlement of the Jewish diaspora after World War II, as survivors faced widespread antisemitism while trying to return to devastated homelands.

Today, remigration has re-emerged with far more xenophobic undertones. Its use has tripled over the last fifty years, particularly among right-wing groups in Europe, where it functions as a coded message for nationalist agendas. Nicholas J. Cull, a communication professor at the University of Southern California, described it as an established part of the linguistic toolbox of white supremacy.

European far-right figures have embraced the term. Renaud Camus, who advanced the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, incorporated remigration into his European Parliament campaign platform as a euphemism for mass immigrant expulsion. Similarly, in Germany, the word gained notoriety in 2023 when linguists labeled it Unwort des Jahres (Bad Word of the Year). Alice Weidel, leader of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), publicly endorsed large-scale repatriations, stating, If it's going to be called 'remigration,' then that's what it's going to be.

The term effectively masks the harsh reality of deporting large populations, transforming a disturbing political goal into seemingly neutral language. Austrian white nationalist Martin Sellner predicted widespread adoption: In five to 10 years, everyone in Europe will be calling for remigration. With AfD support at record highs and two-thirds of Germans favoring fewer refugees, the prediction may not be far off.

Remigrations reach is extending beyond Europes far-right circles, evidenced by its appearance in the DHS post, reflecting a broader anti-immigrant mood in contemporary liberal democracies. The single word encapsulates a growing political trend that intertwines historical prejudice with modern policy debates.

Author: Noah Whitman