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 781–790 of 821 results
Immigrant Union Members: Numbers and Trends
Immigrant union membership grew 24 percent between 1996 and 2003—even as union representation declined among the U.S. born—raising immigrants' share of the organized workforce.
Post-Sept. 11 Security Fears, Policies Seize Spotlight
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued new detention rules and a government commission declared post-September 11 immigration security measures largely ineffective in spring 2004.
Policy Changes Target Border Security
In spring 2004, the United States’ H-2B visa cap was hit for the first time; the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also launched a drone-based Arizona border initiative and issued rules for the U.S.-Canada Safe Third Country Agreement.
The Department of Homeland Security's First Year: A Report Card on Immigration
One year in, the Department of Homeland Security showed real gains in border and interior enforcement. But its promise was hampered by case backlogs and poor internal coordination.
De la casa natal a la casa propia: inmigración y la posibilidad de ser propietario de vivienda en las zonas urbanas de los Estados Unidos
Los inmigrantes de los años noventa transformaron ciudades estadounidenses, impulsando debates sobre vivienda, mercado laboral, pobreza y revitalización urbana.
Bush Boosts Immigration Enforcement in FY 2005 Budget
President George W. Bush's fiscal year 2005 budget doubled worksite enforcement, while the cap of 65,000 U.S. H-1B visas was hit early.
What Kind of Work Do Immigrants Do? Occupation and Industry of Foreign-Born Workers in the United States
Immigrant workers spanned a wide range of occupations in 2002, but workers from Mexico and Central America were concentrated in construction and other labor-intensive industries.
First Phase of US-VISIT Becomes Operational
The U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology System (US-VISIT) planned to launch at 115 airports in January 2004.
The Foreign Born in the U.S. Labor Force: Numbers and Trends
Immigrants were a growing share of the U.S. workforce, rising from 9 percent in 1990 to 14 percent by 2002. But noncitizens had higher unemployment rates than all other workers.
International Agreements of the Social Security Administration
Bilateral Social Security agreements eliminate dual taxation and help transnational workers qualify for benefits. This fact sheet examines a possible U.S.-Mexico totalization deal.
- General Inquiries
- Media Inquiries
-
Michelle Mittelstadt
202 266 1910 [email protected]