For the first time in half a century, the number of immigrants in the United States has dropped, with a decline of about 1.5 million people in the first half of 2025. This change follows a significant crackdown initiated by President Trump, who has imposed stricter measures along the border to prevent illegal crossings.
As of June, the Pew Research Center reported that there are approximately 51.9 million immigrants living in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security indicated that around 1.6 million undocumented immigrants have voluntarily exited the country since Trump’s presidency began.
Even with the decline, the proportion of foreign-born individuals in the U.S. remains historically high, at 15.4% of the total population—surpassing figures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries when many passed through Ellis Island.
Pew’s findings show that immigrants now make up 19% of the U.S. workforce, down slightly from 20% at the start of the year, translating to a loss of about 750,000 workers.
The drop in immigration aligns with a significant reduction in illegal border crossings, now below 5,000 per month, and no new immigrants being granted entry into the U.S.
The Trump administration has also intensified deportation efforts, aiming to remove 1 million undocumented immigrants annually.
Recent statistics reveal that in the first 200 days of Trump’s second term, over 359,000 undocumented individuals were arrested and 332,000 were deported. Additionally, about 1.6 million migrants reportedly left voluntarily during this period.
Trump’s administration has taken further steps, such as tightening access for asylum seekers at the southern border and making visa requirements stricter for international students.
This week, the State Department announced the cancellation of approximately 6,000 student visas, mainly due to criminal activities including assault and robbery, with a few hundred flagged for ties to “terrorist support.”
In stark contrast to the Biden administration, which is estimated to have seen around 10 million undocumented immigrants enter through the Mexican border, Trump’s focus on enforcement has been significant. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the leadership of Tom Homan, has ramped up operations, especially in areas governed by Democratic leaders, and started new deportation processes.
So far, about 140,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported under Trump’s administration. ICE has set a challenging goal of arresting 3,000 individuals per day, although meeting this consistently appears difficult.
Currently, agents are detaining a record 60,000 undocumented immigrants in facilities nationwide—some awaiting deportation decisions while others are choosing to leave voluntarily to expedite their processes.
The recent decline in immigration aligns with Trump’s stated priorities. Earlier this month, he noted America’s negative net migration in a post on Truth Social, including a photo of a Border Patrol agent.
Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem has commended the decrease in illegal immigration, stating that its positive effects are being felt across the nation—from impacting public services to revitalizing the job market.
Historically, the U.S. has seen similar trends of departure, notably during the Great Depression, when a program encouraged many Mexican immigrants to return home, resulting in the exit of an estimated 400,000 to 1 million individuals.
