During President Joe Biden’s initial three years in office, net migration to the United States reached a staggering 2.3 million annually, marking a historic surge, according to The New York Times. This increase has been attributed to Biden’s more lenient immigration policies, which critics argue have led to a significant influx of undocumented migrants across the southern border.
The United States is a nation built by immigrants, and many citizens can trace their lineage back to immigrant ancestors. However, the current approach to immigration, often characterized by insufficient regulation and oversight, has sparked concerns. Critics claim that unchecked mass immigration, particularly when it involves illegal entry, can lead to economic disruptions and pose security challenges, as authorities struggle to monitor and manage the influx effectively.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump adopted a markedly different strategy. His administration focused on tightening border security, enforcing stricter visa regulations, and curtailing refugee admissions. This shift resulted in a significant reduction in immigration levels, a scenario the country had not experienced in 50 years.
The Trump administration’s efforts to repatriate undocumented immigrants have been a notable component of this strategy. However, researchers suggest that other elements have also contributed significantly to the decline, including changes in U.S. immigration policy and global migration trends.
President Trump has been vocal about his intentions to overhaul the nation’s immigration system. In a Thanksgiving message, he clearly outlined his plans for more stringent immigration reforms moving forward.
MORE: Marco Rubio Urges Europe to Address Mass Migration Concerns
— Brookings Econ (@BrookingsEcon) January 13, 2026
In a new analysis, the authors assess what the numbers will be in 2026 and how that will affect the U.S. macroeconomy.
The repatriation efforts by the Trump administration, which continue as you read this, have played a part, but according to the researchers, there are other factors that are playing an even more powerful role:
While arrests and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been in the spotlight, the report’s authors attribute the majority of the drop-off in immigration to a slowdown in new arrivals orchestrated by President Donald Trump’s administration — from the near-closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to new visa restrictions and fees and the end of many humanitarian migrant programs, including for nearly all refugees.
Trump has made no secret of his plans to revamp how things are done and made his intentions clear in a Thanksgiving Message:
Reverse migration. “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net… pic.twitter.com/Dnd7wvtqjf
— Katy Grimes (@KATYSaccitizen) November 28, 2025
I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States.
Other than that, Happy Thanksgiving to all.
MORE: Rubio Calls Out Europe: U.S. Embassies Ordered to Report on Mass Migration Abuses
Poll: Americans Favor Less Legal Migration, Plurality Demand Cuts or Halt
The Brookings numbers are disputed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which used lower numbers of deportations and voluntary repatriations to arrive at a net migration number of +400,000. The Trump administration argues the opposite, meanwhile, saying that there were more deportations and voluntary exits than Brookings counted, and the net migration number actually shows even more of a decline than their estimate.
Many on the left are already complaining that the lowered immigration numbers will negatively impact the economy. “Reduced migration will dampen growth in the labor force, consumer spending, and gross domestic product (GDP),” wrote Brookings.
Would they prefer the chaotic deluge of immigrants with no oversight, as we saw with the Biden administration? Many on the right argue that, in addition to the disturbing humanitarian crisis Joe’s policies created, they caused rents to go up, jobs to go to illegals who were more than happy to work under the table for less than minimum wage, and a massive drain on our resources.
Immigrants (legal ones) are good for the country, and have always been good for the country — when they assimilate. However, unless the process is orderly, rational, and fair, it does not work in our favor. Trump was right to put the hammer down on the insanity, and I have little doubt that America will still be a place where many dreamers want to move to in the future.
They just have to do it the right way.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left’s lies, new legislation wasn’t needed to secure our border, just a new president.
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