U.S. Immigration Policy 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.
The Latest Research
U.S. Deportations and “Self-Deportations” in the First 18 Months of the Second Trump Term
Filling a gap amid a slowdown in official data reporting from the federal government, this analysis offers a window into deportation and "self…
Featured
Physicians in an Era of Changing Immigration Policy: The Case of Nephrology
The care of kidney disease in the United States relies heavily on international medical graduates (IMGs). Recent policy changes could deepen…
Temporary Visa Holders in the United States
The number of U.S. temporary visas plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, rebounded, and then fell again in fiscal year (FY) 2025. Preliminary data…
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…
More Featured Work
From Counterterrorism to Immigration Enforcement: 25 Years On, Post-9/11 U.S. Changes Have Been Repointed
Post-9/11 national security tools have been repurposed for immigration, expanding the U.S. government’s capacity for surveillance, data sharing, and…
Attacked as "De Facto Amnesty," U.S. Temporary Protected Status Is Abruptly Eroded
The Trump administration moved to terminate most of the 17 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations in place when its second term began,…
Though Rare, Birth Tourism to the United States Sparks Outsized Concern
While rare, birth tourism has become a central but contested justification in the Trump administration's push to end the guarantee of birthright…
Key Statistics
Learn more about immigrants and immigration to the United States
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)Showing 31–40 of 824 results
All in for a Thriving Connecticut: Opportunities to Support Upward Mobility for the State’s Immigrant Families
With immigrants driving all population growth since 2006, Connecticut has opportunities to promote the upward mobility of immigrant families for overall societal benefit.
Beyond ICE: State and Local Authorities Become Central to Trump Administration Deportations Strategy
The Trump administration is deputizing state and local officers at record scale, reshaping U.S. immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements, new funding, and legal pressures.
Can the Trump Administration’s “Self-Deportation” Campaign Succeed?
The Trump administration's “self-deportation” campaign pairs incentives for immigrants to leave with threats of steep fines and arrests for staying. Historical precedents suggest limited voluntary uptake.
Can Near-Historic Low Migrant Encounter Levels at the U.S.-Mexico Border Be Sustained?
Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen to lows not seen since the 1960s. But can this trend continue amid a sharp policy shift to a deterrence-focused approach, setting aside a carrot-and-stick migration management strategy? This short read looks at the evidence.
The Health Costs to Children of Stepped-Up U.S. Immigration Enforcement
Evidence suggests heightened U.S. immigration enforcement will have major and lasting effects on the physical and mental health of unauthorized immigrants and their children.
Seeking to Ramp Up Deportations, the Trump Administration Quietly Expands a Vast Web of Data
The Trump administration is building an unprecedented data network for immigration enforcement—tapping sensitive tax, health, and benefits records—raising privacy concerns for immigrants and citizens alike.
Facing New Migration Realities: U.S.-Mexico Relations and Shared Interests
U.S.-Mexico cooperation reduced unauthorized migration from 2020 to 2024; lasting progress hinges on legal pathways, regional engagement, and border infrastructure.
Repealing Birthright Citizenship Would Significantly Increase the Size of the U.S. Unauthorized Population
Repealing birthright citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil to unauthorized immigrants or temporary visa holders would have a contrary result from its stated aim of reducing the unauthorized immigrant population. Projections from MPI and Penn State show that ending birthright citizenship would increase the unauthorized population by 2.7 million as of 2045 and by 5.4 million as of 2075.
Immigration Actions in First 100 Days of Trump Second Term
Analysts assessed the most consequential immigration actions taken during the first 100 days of President Trump's second term, detailed the litigation picture, and analyzed some of the early effects of policies on U.S. communities.
In First 100 Days, Trump 2.0 Has Dramatically Reshaped the U.S. Immigration System, but Is Not Meeting Mass Deportation Aims
President Donald Trump's second term has produced the most sweeping U.S. immigration changes since 9/11, but some deportation goals remain out of reach.
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Michelle Mittelstadt
202 266 1910 [email protected]