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
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…
Trump Restrictions on Legal Immigration Could Sharply Reduce U.S. Population Growth
President Donald Trump's second-term curbs on legal immigration, spanning visas, refugees, and family reunification, could meaningfully slow U.S…
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)- General Inquiries
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Michelle Mittelstadt
202 266 1910 [email protected]
Showing 641–650 of 819 results
Increasing Evidence That Recession Has Caused Number of Unauthorized Immigrants in U.S. to Drop
The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population fell by about 1 million between 2007 and 2009, with the recession widely seen as the primary cause.
A Program in Flux: New Priorities and Implementation Challenges for 287(g)
The 287(g) program faces criticism for poor oversight and racial profiling. A 2009 Obama administration memo refocused it on serious offenders but accountability gaps persist.
Haiti Tragedy Raises Important Immigration Issues for the United States
The 2010 Haiti earthquake prompted Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States.
DHS Assistant Secretary John Morton discusses his vision for ICE
Launch of the MPI Speakers Series - Leadership Visions - Moderated by Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow and Director, U.S. Immigration Policy Program, MPI.
New Immigration Bill Edges Comprehensive Immigration Reform Back on the Legislative Agenda
U.S. House Democrats' 2009 immigration reform bill drew nearly 90 co-sponsors but was not seen as a viable path to comprehensive reform.
Recession Breathes New Life into U.S. Immigrant Investor Visa Program
Spurred by the recession, the U.S. EB-5 investor visas nearly tripled in fiscal year 2009.
Illegal Immigration's Effects on the U.S. Economy and Policy
Paper release with Gordon Hanson, University of California, San Diego Economics Professor; Jeanne Butterfield, National Immigration Forum Senior Advisor; Marc Rosenblum, MPI Senior Policy Analyst; and Michael Fix, MPI Senior Vice President and Director of Studies.
The Economics and Policy of Illegal Immigration in the United States
The net economic impact of illegal immigration is close to zero, evidence shows. Converting unauthorized flows to legal ones delivers stronger gains than enforcement alone.
Side-by-Side Comparison of 2009 House CIR ASAP Bill with 2006, 2007 Senate Legislation
This side-by-side shows the 2009 House comprehensive immigration reform bill offered more generous legalization and less enforcement than its 2006 and 2007 Senate predecessors.
Senate Avoids Adding an Immigration Wrinkle to the 2010 U.S. Census
A narrowly defeated U.S. Senate amendment would have tied House apportionment to citizen counts alone, threatening representation in high-immigration states.