Trump’s crackdown drives historic drop in US immigrant numbers, economy feels the strain

For the first time in six decades, America’s immigrant population is shrinking — and the ripple effects are hitting the nation’s workforce and economy.

A new study by the Pew Research Centre, released August 21, shows that the number of immigrants in the US fell by nearly 1.5 million between January and June 2025, plunging from 53.3 million to 51.9 million. The sharp decline coincides with Donald Trump’s hardline immigration push, marked by mass deportations, stepped-up arrests, and sweeping restrictions on legal entry.

“This represents a dramatic change,” said Pew senior demographer Jeffrey Passel, noting that the drop is without precedent in modern history.

The consequences are already visible in the labour market. The US has lost more than 750,000 workers in just six months, a blow to an ageing nation where the working-age population is barely growing. “The only way the workforce can expand is through new immigrants,” Passel explained. “Without them, sustaining economic growth becomes far harder.”

The reversal began modestly under border changes rolled out during the Biden administration in 2024. But analysts say Trump’s aggressive policies have accelerated the decline at a historic pace.

Interestingly, even the unauthorised immigrant population — which had swelled to a record 14 million in 2023 — is now shrinking. Deportations, along with the rollback of deportation protections, have driven the decline. The composition of this group is shifting too, with more arrivals from South America replacing traditional flows from Mexico and Central America.

Despite the downturn, the US still hosts the largest immigrant population in the world, though countries like Canada and the UAE have higher proportions relative to their size. Immigrants made up 15.8% of America’s population in January 2025, but that share has already slipped to 15.4% by June.

Texas and California remain the nation’s immigrant hubs, but the gap between them has steadily narrowed over the years.

The Pew report concludes with a stark warning: America’s demographic and economic resilience may falter without the very people who have long powered its growth.