In the summer of 2018 I was finishing my PhD and applying for research jobs (before I joined The Economist I was a scientist). At the time I had no major ties or responsibilities, so I was looking at roles all over the world. It was overwhelming, but also exhilarating. I wasn’t just searching for the right job; I was also shopping for the location of my future life. At the top of my list was a position in Berkeley, California.

I missed out on that job (in the end I took a position in London) but I wasn’t alone in being drawn to America. According to the Footloose Index—our annual ranking of countries’ attractiveness to graduates—America has consistently been among the most preferred destinations for talented people looking to move abroad. But recent decisions by the Trump administration, such as restricting student visas and cutting research funding, are causing many would-be migrants to reconsider. America might not hold its prime spot for much longer.