Program

U.S. Immigration Policy Program

The U.S. Immigration Policy Program provides analysis of immigration pathways, impacts of enforcement and other policies, and immigrant population characteristics.

Program

The U.S. Immigration Policy Program provides thought leadership on ways to improve the U.S. immigration system so that it works most effectively in the national interest. To that end, its work focuses on immigration pathways to the United States and immigration enforcement policies and their impacts. It examines the complex demographic, economic, social, political, foreign policy, and other forces that shape U.S. immigration.

Program staff produce data and analyses of immigration trends and the characteristics of U.S. immigrant populations, including unauthorized immigrants. And they conduct original research on the impacts of policy change and the experiences of immigrant populations in diverse parts of the country. This work is frequently informed by private convenings of policymakers and key stakeholders. For more, click here.

Commentary July 29, 2026

Following Years of High Border Arrivals, the U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Hits New Peak

MPI estimates the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population reached a new peak of 15.8 million as of mid-2024, after holding steady at around 11 million…

People at a pedestrian crosswalk crossing the street

Spotlight September 3, 2026

Haitian Immigrants in the United States

Haitian immigration to the United States has grown sharply in recent decades, amid a series of profound challenges in Haiti.

Young women smiling and dancing in the street

Policy Beat July 30, 2026

In Its Second Term, Trump Administration Quietly Expands Family Separation

Immigration enforcement during the second Trump term is driving a quieter, more diffuse wave of family separations inside the United States, often…

A silhouette of a young child looking sad and alone

Commentary May 2026

The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having

Male and female business professionals gathered at a conference table

Policy Beat May 28, 2026

Attacked as "De Facto Amnesty," U.S. Temporary Protected Status Is Abruptly Eroded

A woman wearing scrubs in a health-care setting reviews a chart

Commentary March 2026

U.S. Third-Country Deportation Agreements Are More About Fear than Numbers

Image of unauthorized immigrant in shackles entering plane for deportation flight

Policy Beat April 29, 2026

Though Rare, Birth Tourism to the United States Sparks Outsized Concern

14.8%

The immigrant share of the total U.S. population

Learn how this share has evolved (opens in a new tab)

50.2 million

The number of immigrants in the United States

Explore Data Profiles by State (opens in a new tab)

18.4%

The share of workers in the U.S. civilian labor force who are immigrants

Get the data at U.S. and state levels (opens in a new tab)

A line of people with their hands up taking the oath during a U.S. citizenship ceremony

Get Timely U.S. Immigration Analysis

The monthly U.S. Policy Beat covers, in brief, top developments at U.S., state, and local levels, and in the courts.

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Immigrant Families and Child Welfare Systems: Emerging Needs and Promising Policies

Growing immigrant family numbers and tougher enforcement strain child welfare. This report identifies key policy gaps and promising agency approaches to better serve families.

How Many Unauthorized Immigrants Graduate from U.S. High Schools Annually?

MPI estimated 98,000 unauthorized immigrants graduate from U.S. high schools per year, with California and Texas accounting for 44 percent.

Illegal Immigration in the United States

How have the size and characteristics of the unauthorized population changed over time? And how are unauthorized immigration patterns changing?

A graphic of people of different ages walking with backpacks against a backdrop of the U.S. flag

Remain in Mexico Plan Echoes Earlier U.S. Policy to Deter Haitian Migration

The Remain in Mexico policy echoes 1980s and 1990s Haitian interdiction strategies, with key legal distinctions that may determine whether it survives court challenge.

Upskilling the U.S. Labor Force: Mapping the Credentials of Immigrant-Origin Workers

This webinar discusses the first-ever profile of the 30 million immigrant-origin adults in the United States who lack a postsecondary credential such as a college degree, apprenticeship certificate, or occupational license. The researchers discuss their findings and policy implications with leading experts.