For the first time in five decades, the number of immigrants living in the United States has declined, largely due to President Trump’s strict immigration policies, reports The New York Post.
Data from the Pew Research Center shows that the immigrant population fell by 1.4 million in the first half of 2025, dropping from 53.3 million at the start of Trump’s second term to 51.9 million.
Causes of the Decline
The drop is linked to tougher border enforcement, mass deportations, and voluntary departures:
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that 1.6 million migrants left voluntarily.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported over 332,000 people in 200 days.
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Authorities arrested 359,000 illegal migrants nationwide, including in sanctuary cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Despite the decrease, immigrants still represent 15.4% of the US population, higher than during the Ellis Island era. About 19% of the workforce is foreign-born, a slight drop from earlier this year.
Trump Administration Measures
Trump’s administration has nearly halted illegal border crossings, reducing them to fewer than 5,000 per month. Unlike previous policies under President Biden, migrants are no longer released into the country after crossing.
The government has also tightened rules for:
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Asylum seekers
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Visa holders
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Foreign students
Visa holders face constant monitoring for overstays, criminal activity, or terrorism links, with any violations potentially leading to deportation.
ICE and Federal Enforcement
ICE aims to deport up to 1 million illegal migrants per year, though meeting the daily target of 3,000 arrests has been challenging. Currently, about 60,000 migrants are in federal custody.
President Trump celebrated the decline, stating that the US has experienced “negative net migration” for the first time in 50 years.
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