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 481–490 of 821 results
Ebola Outbreak Rekindles Debate on Restricting Admissions to the United States on Health Grounds
The Ebola crisis has revived scrutiny of U.S. health-based immigration controls in a mass-travel era.
11th Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference
This annual conference offered timely policy and legal analysis and discussion on key immigration topics featuring panels with government officials, researchers, advocates, and other immigration experts
The U.S. Deportation System: Trends from a Decade of Data
MPI researchers discuss the findings from a MPI report that examines the 3.7 million deportations that have occurred in the United States since establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, as well as lessons that can be learned for future policy and possible administrative action.
Deportation and Discretion: Reviewing the Record and Options for Change
All but 9 percent of the 3.7 million U.S. deportations carried out by DHS from 2003 to 2013 were of Mexicans or northern Central Americans, and disproportionately were of men.
Confronting the Unaccompanied Children Immigration Crisis: Perspectives from Central America, Mexico, and the United States
A discussion on possible medium- and long-term solutions to the flows of unaccompanied children migrating from Central America to the United States.
Unaccompanied Minors Crisis Has Receded from Headlines But Major Issues Remain
While 2014’s U.S. child migrant surge faded fast, court backlogs, due-process battles, and immigration politics continue to play out.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Discusses His Vision for the Agency
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske outlined his vision and discussed his priorities for the agency as part of MPI's Leadership Visions series.
Realizing the DACA and DREAM Promise: Actions to Support Educational Attainment of Potentially Eligible Immigrant Youth
A report release and expert discussion on the eligible population and educational requirements of the DACA program and prior DREAM Act policy proposals, along with recommendations for overcoming the education-success challenges that key subgroups of DACA-DREAM youth face.
Extending New Relief to Unauthorized Immigrants: Estimating the Impacts of Possible Executive Actions
MPI experts unveil the findings of new research that provides estimates of the numbers of unauthorized immigrants who may benefit from potential approaches to administrative relief.
Executive Action for Unauthorized Immigrants: Estimates of the Populations that Could Receive Relief
Executive action on deferred action and enforcement priorities contemplated by the Obama administration could shield 1.3 million to 4.3 million unauthorized immigrants, MPI estimates.
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Michelle Mittelstadt
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