Summary
A report from the Cato Institute highlights that, under President Donald Trump's immigration policies, legal immigration to the U.S. has decreased more sharply than illegal immigration. Legal pathways like asylum processing and refugee admissions have seen significant drops due to various policy changes made since Trump began his second term in 2025.
Key Facts
- Legal entries to the U.S. have decreased at more than double the rate of illegal entries since January 2025.
- Data shows about 132,000 legal entries per month are being blocked, compared to 50,000 illegal entries.
- Asylum entries dropped by 99.9% after the removal of a scheduling app and suspension of processing.
- Refugee admissions decreased by about 90%, with monthly arrivals down to 1,300 by March 2026.
- The refugee cap for fiscal year 2026 is set at 7,500.
- Immigrant visas for permanent residency have fallen by about half.
- Family-based visas for spouses and fiancés of U.S. citizens declined by approximately 65%.
- International student visas decreased by around 40% due to various country bans and processing freezes.
