Foreign-Born Population Drops 2.9 Million, First Decline Since 1930s
U.S. foreign-born residents fell 2.9 million from January 2025 to July 2026, the Center for Immigration Studies reported. The drop represents the steepest contraction in decades.
The decline marks the first fall in total foreign-born numbers since the 1930s, according to CIS analysis of the Current Population Survey. No prior decline has been recorded in the modern era.
Illegal immigration drove most of the shrinkage, falling 2.3 million to 13.5 million, the Center estimated. The figure includes new arrivals, deportations, voluntary departures, legalizations and natural deaths.
Net migration turned negative in the last 18 months, the first such period in over a century, CIS said. This reversal follows a decade of sustained inflows.
An 8.3 million increase during the COVID‑19 years under former President Joe Biden preceded the recent downturn, the data showed. The surge was driven by humanitarian admissions and family reunification policies.
Workers accounted for only 44 percent of the total decline, while seniors, children and non‑workers made up the remainder, CIS reported. The demographic split highlights shifting composition of the foreign-born population.
Analysts warned that continued enforcement could cut the foreign-born population by roughly 15.3 million by the end of President Trump’s second term, according to a statement from the Center. The projection suggests a sustained policy impact on migration trends.
Politicians seized the data: JD Vance pledged to seal the border and remove illegal immigrants, while Stephen Miller urged voters to accelerate the trend ahead of the midterms, the statements noted. Their remarks underscore the growing political salience of migration figures.
