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.
Featured
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…
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…
The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having
Immigration is central to America’s economic future, yet debate fixates on border crises and policy failures instead of how a modern legal…
More Featured Work
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 381–390 of 821 results
Despite Political Resistance, Use of Temporary Worker Visas Rises as U.S. Labor Market Tightens
Despite political headwinds, use of temporary work visas surged to record or near-record levels by 2016 and 2017, as a tightening U.S. labor market drove employer demand.
New Brain Gain: Rising Human Capital among Recent Immigrants to the United States
The share of recently arrived immigrants who are college educated nearly doubled from the late 1980s to 2011–15, driven by growing flows from Asia and global gains in educational attainment.
How Are Refugees Faring? Integration at U.S. and State Levels
Refugee integration outcomes in four major U.S. states vary more by national origin than by state policy, suggesting state placement matters less than previously assumed.
Immigrants and the New Brain Gain: Ways to Leverage Rising Educational Attainment
Nearly half of immigrants who arrived in the United States between 2011 and 2015 held college degrees, triple the 1990 share. Yet close to 2 million remain underemployed.
The Supreme Court’s Opinion on the Revised Trump Executive Order: What Does It Mean For Refugees?
Overlooked in the Supreme Court’s 2017 opinion allowing aspects of the Trump travel ban to take effect was its support for refugees coming in via resettlement.
Texas Leads Resurgence in Restrictive State Actions on Immigration Enforcement
Texas's 2017 Senate Bill 4, requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with immigration authorities, revived a wave of state-level activity.
Recognizing Changing Enforcement and Crossing Trends at the U.S.-Mexico Border
As the Trump administration makes significant changes to border policy and Congress considers potential funding for a border wall, this discussion focuses on the recent and current state of the U.S.-Mexico border, in terms of the effectiveness of enforcement strategies, crossing trends, and what these changing realities mean for the United States and Mexico.
Advances in U.S.-Mexico Border Enforcement: A Review of the Consequence Delivery System
The Consequence Delivery System used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reduced recidivism. But its deterrence assumptions no longer fit changing border flows.
A Revolving Door No More? A Statistical Profile of Mexican Adults Repatriated from the United States
Repeat unauthorized migration by Mexicans is declining sharply: the share intending to return to the United States fell from 95 percent in 2005 to 49 percent in 2015.
The First 100 Days: Immigration Policy in the Trump Administration
As President Trump’s 100th day in office approaches, this MPI discussion examines the administration’s actions related to U.S. immigration policy and possible steps forward.
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Michelle Mittelstadt
202 266 1910 [email protected]