Trump’s Immigration Policies: A Shift in Focus from Illegal to Legal Immigration
The immigration policies under President Donald Trump’s administration have brought a significant shift in focus from illegal to legal immigration, according to a recent analysis by the Cato Institute, a Libertarian think tank. Despite Trump’s campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration, it is legal immigration that has faced the most substantial cuts during his tenure.
Using a range of government data, the Cato Institute’s report examines various aspects of immigration, including asylum, refugee admissions, work visas, and international student entries. The report’s author, David Bier, highlights that the decrease in illegal immigration had already been set in motion before Trump assumed office, primarily due to measures implemented during the Biden administration.
The analysis reveals a stark decline in refugee admissions, dropping by 90% since last January. Additionally, restrictions on nationals from multiple countries have resulted in a dramatic reduction, by roughly half, in the number of immigrant visas issued.
“By virtually every category, from high skill to low skill, to family, to employment, whatever you’re talking about — refugees, humanitarian entries — all of it is down by a significant amount,” Bier stated. “And if you add it all up, the immigration cuts to legal immigration constitute about 72% of the total cuts to immigration under this administration.”
This data underscores that legal immigration has been reduced twice as much as illegal immigration, according to Bier. He further explains that these changes will have long-lasting effects, contributing to increased processing backlogs, extended visa wait times, and challenges for foreign workers maintaining their status.
