Remigration: The Far-Right Plan to Reshape Nations Is Entering the Mainstream

Voluntary return or forced removal? A once-fringe term, 'remigration,' is rapidly moving from the shadows of far-right extremism into mainstream political discourse in both the United States and Europe. As President Donald Trump's second term nears the end of its first year, the concept—a euphemism for the mass deportation of ethnic minorities—is gaining alarming traction.

The debate intensified last week when Republican Ohio gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy pushed back against the notion of a 'heritage American.' Speaking at a Turning Point USA conference, he stated, "The idea that a ‘heritage American’ is more American than another American is un-American at its core."

What Is 'Remigration'?

In its mildest form, remigration refers to the voluntary return of an immigrant to their country of origin. However, in the lexicon of the far-right, it’s a policy designed to achieve ethnic cleansing. For white ethnonationalists, remigration is the process of forcibly removing all non-white people from countries they deem historically white.

This stands in stark contrast to civic nationalism, which defines a nation by shared laws and political values, regardless of ethnicity. Civic nationalists might support policies that incentivize voluntary return migration, but they don't advocate for forced removal.

From Nazi Germany to a Modern Conspiracy Theory

The idea has dark historical roots, tracing back to Nazi Germany's attempt in the late 1930s to 'remigrate' German Jews to Madagascar. The modern concept, however, was propelled by French novelist Renaud Camus. His 2011 book, "Le Grand Remplacement," introduced the 'Great Replacement' conspiracy theory, which posits that Western elites are systematically replacing white Christian populations with non-white, primarily Muslim, immigrants.

According to Heidi Beirich, an expert on far-right movements who spoke to Al Jazeera, the term was popularized by Martin Sellner, the 36-year-old leader of Austria's ultranationalist Identitarian Movement. Beirich explained that remigration, in essence, is a "policy solution to the white supremacist ‘Great Replacement’ conspiracy theory."

A Transatlantic Echo: The Idea Gains Traction

What’s astounding, Beirich noted, is that "a white supremacist policy position is now being pushed by the US government." In May 2025, Axios reported that the US State Department was considering creating an 'Office of Remigration.' Then, on October 14, the Department of Homeland Security posted the word 'remigrate' on X, along with a link to an app that allows immigrants to self-deport.

The movement is also surging in Europe. In Germany, Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, invoked 'remigration' while advocating for closing borders. In Austria, the Freedom Party (FPO) campaigned on the idea in the September 2024 elections. Experts warn that if implemented, these policies would be an "attempt to create all-white countries through ethnic cleansing."