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 701–710 of 824 results
Federal Court Halts Sending of "No-Match" Letters
Finding that database errors could cost legal workers their jobs, a U.S. judge blocked the Department of Homeland Security's no-match letter rule in 2007.
Alternative Immigration Reforms Follow Failed Legislation
After comprehensive reform failed in June 2007, U.S. immigration policy shifted to narrower enforcement and legislative steps.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Eludes Senate, Again
After the Senate’s June 28, 2007 vote, comprehensive U.S. immigration reform had stalled and narrower measures remained possible.
Senate Immigration Bill, Attacked from All Sides, Gains Second Chance
In June 2007, the U.S. Senate revived a contested immigration bill that paired legalization with tougher enforcement and merit-based reform.
Document Security Provisions: What's in the Cards?
Social Security cards lack the biometric identifiers, chips, and holograms found in other U.S. identity documents, leaving them the least secure widely used government ID.
How Changes to Family Immigration Could Affect Source Countries' Sending Patterns
A proposal before Congress in 2007 would shift immigration to the United States from family-based toward points-based employment visas, reshaping who can immigrate.
After Long Negotiations, Senate Takes Up Immigration Reform Again
In May 2007, the U.S. Senate reopened immigration reform talks around legalization, worker programs, enforcement triggers, and unresolved family visa disputes.
Proposed Points System and Its Likely Impact on Prospective Immigrants
According to 2005 survey data, Asian immigrants would fare best under a proposed U.S. points-based admission system, while Latin American immigrants face greater barriers.
Annual Immigration to the United States: The Real Numbers
By excluding long-term temporary visa holders and others likely to settle in the United States indefinitely, official reporting of lawful permanent residence undercounts true annual immigration.
Congress and White House Release Competing Proposals for Immigration Reform
In early 2007, U.S. congressional and White House immigration proposals clashed over unauthorized immigrants, temporary workers, and the weight of family ties versus merit.
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Michelle Mittelstadt
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