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 561–570 of 824 results
Manufacturing in the United States, Mexico, and Central America: Implications for Competitiveness and Migration
The maquiladora model has masked critical gaps in human capital and innovation, leaving Mexico and Northern Triangle manufacturers unable to move up the value chain.
Deferred Action Program Revives Debate over Driver’s Licenses for Unauthorized Immigrants
DACA's rollout split U.S. states on driver's licenses for unauthorized immigrants, while a years-long decline in such policies showed signs of reversing.
Young Children of Black Immigrants in America: Changing Flows, Changing Faces
This event marked the release of an MPI volume on the children of Black immigrants in the United States, covering topics of education, health, and demographics.
Paying for Crime: A Review of the Relationships between Insecurity and Development in Mexico and Central America
Crime and insecurity in Mexico and Central America divert public and private resources from productive uses and erode the institutional trust essential for economic growth.
U.S. Election Realigns Stars for Immigration Reform, But Significant Hurdles Remain
President Barack Obama's reelection energized bipartisan support for immigration reform that could include legalization for up to 11 million unauthorized immigrants.
Border Insecurity in Central America's Northern Triangle
Border insecurity in northern Central America reflects chronic state neglect, not just trafficking. Governance-centered solutions, more than border controls, are necessary.
Transnational Crime in Mexico and Central America: Its Evolution and Role in International Migration
The growth of organized crime in Mexico and Central America has sharply increased risks for migrants crossing the region, who face kidnapping, extortion, and rape.
Same-Sex Partners Steadily Gain Recognition in Immigration Benefits
U.S. federal law blocked immigration benefits for same-sex couples in 2012, even as the Obama administration issued formal workarounds.
9th Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference
The conference features discussion on current immigration policy issues by senior officials from U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, immigration law experts, state officials, and immigration advocates.
New Approaches to Migration Management in Mexico and Central America
Mexico's 2011 Migration Law marked a turning point in managing Central American transit migration. But conditions on the ground still fall well short of politicians’ migrant-rights rhetoric.
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Michelle Mittelstadt
202 266 1910 [email protected]