Via White Papers Policy Institute,
Over sixty years of unchecked mass immigration have significantly impacted American society, leading to concerns about the country’s future. While media attention has focused on the Minneapolis riots related to illegal aliens, a significant shift in immigration policy, particularly legal immigration policy, has gone unnoticed.
The recent Trump administration has initiated a drastic change in legal immigration, resulting in a decline in the number of legal immigrants entering the United States. Under President Trump’s leadership, legal immigration has decreased, with many immigrants voluntarily leaving and others deterred from coming to America. Projections suggest an even further decline in legal immigration in the coming years.
The administration has made significant progress in resetting the legal immigration system to align with the preferences of American voters who have consistently opposed mass immigration. While legislative support from Congress is necessary to solidify these changes, the accomplishments of the administration in reforming immigration policies should be acknowledged and celebrated.
The Sharp Drop in Legal Arrivals
In fiscal year 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processed 2.7 million immigration cases in its third quarter, marking a 16% decline from the previous year. This decline is attributed to fewer visa applications and increased processing times, as well as reduced approvals for visas.
Notably, net international migration turned negative in 2025 for the first time in fifty years, indicating a shift towards net emigration. This change is a stark deviation from the trend of increasing migration into the United States seen since the 1990s.
The immigrant population has decreased, and overall population growth has slowed due to the administration’s stringent immigration policies. Various measures, including travel bans, public charge restrictions, and visa limitations, have contributed to a significant reduction in legal immigration.
Miller’s Projections
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller anticipates further reductions in legal immigration through new rules set to take effect in 2026. These rules could lead to a substantial decrease in green card approvals and family-based immigration inflows. While additional legislative measures are needed to restrict immigration further, progress has been made in curbing the influx of immigrants.
By 2028-2035, the workforce is projected to shrink, reflecting the administration’s efforts to prioritize American workers over continued large-scale immigration. Addressing the unemployment and underemployment of American citizens is deemed more crucial than importing more immigrants.
A Word on Illegals
In 2025, a significant number of illegal aliens voluntarily left the country, with increased interior enforcement and deportation efforts contributing to their departures. Public charge rules and welfare program disenrollment have also influenced illegal immigrant outflows.
Toward a Moratorium
While progress has been made in reducing immigration, further steps, including a complete moratorium on immigration and the establishment of a new immigration system, are necessary to prevent a resurgence in immigration levels. Without legislative support, future administrations could reverse the progress made in curbing immigration.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge.
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