People march during a "Free Our Future" demonstration to protest the expected introduction of the U.S. Department of Justice and Immigration Customs Enforcement ( I.C.E.) new sped up mass immigration hearings and deportation in San Diego, California, U.S. July 2, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake
The United States has seen a decline in immigrant population for the first time in decades.
In an analysis of recent census data by the Pew Research Centre, between January and June 2024, the foreign-born population in the US declined by nearly 1.5 million.
The report said in January 2025, the US recorded its highest immigrant population at 53.3 million, but by June, that number had dropped to 51.9 million.
According to the analysis, this marks the first decline since the 1960s, with departures and deportations outpacing new arrivals.
Pew did not specify the number of undocumented immigrants within these figures.
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Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and his supporters have welcomed the trend.
Before the release of Pew’s report, Trump shared an image on Truth Social, attributed to the White House, with the caption: “Promises Made. Promises Kept. Negative net immigration for the first time in 50 years.”
Kristi Noem, the US homeland security secretary, praised the administration’s efforts to restore “law and order” at the southern border and remove “violent illegal immigrants”, calling these actions essential for national peace and prosperity.
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“Seven months into his second term, it’s clear that the president has done what he said he’d do by re-establishing law and order at our southern border and by removing violent illegal immigrants from our nation,” she said.
The Pew report also noted that immigration policies affecting the numbers began during former President Joe Biden’s tenure.
In June 2024, Biden signed a proclamation restricting asylum claims at the US-Mexico border during periods of high crossings.
Meanwhile, Trump’s executive order on the first day of his second term declared an “invasion” at the southern border, barring those entering between official ports from seeking asylum or other protections.
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