Decline in Foreign-Born Population in the U.S.
The foreign-born population in the United States has seen a decrease of 2.9 million in just over a year, a trend attributed to President Donald Trump’s policies on illegal immigration, according to data analyzed by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS).
This analysis indicates a significant reduction in the number of illegal migrants, described as “unprecedented.” According to CIS, since January 2025, when Trump assumed office, the Current Population Survey (CPS) has documented a noteworthy decline in the foreign-born demographic, which includes naturalized citizens, lawful residents, temporary visitors, and undocumented immigrants. Their estimates suggest that the number of illegal immigrants specifically has dropped by approximately 2.3 million.
While this drop is striking, it represents only a fraction of the estimated 8.3 million individuals who entered the U.S. during Joe Biden’s presidency. The report estimates that, between January 2025 and July 2026, the illegal immigrant population decreased from 15.8 million to about 13.5 million. The change reflects a combination of new arrivals, deportations, voluntary departures, legal immigration, and natural deaths.
Additionally, the report highlights that immigration rates have stalled at nearly zero over the past year, a first since the 1930s. Among those leaving the U.S., approximately 44 percent were working-age adults, while the remainder consisted of family members and children.
CIS noted that many of those departing were migrants from Latin America who had moved to the U.S. after 1980.
In conclusion, CIS stated, “The household survey shows a considerable decline in the foreign-born, primarily due to a sharp drop in the illegal immigrant population.” They also clarified that there’s no evidence suggesting immigrants aren’t participating in the CPS, but acknowledged that if a significant portion of the decline were due to reduced survey participation, the real decrease would still be considerable and potentially unprecedented.
However, pro-illegal immigration activists challenge CIS’s interpretation, arguing that the CPS may not accurately reflect the actual foreign-born population in the U.S.
