The United States has witnessed its first decline in immigrant population in over six decades, with numbers falling by nearly 1.5 million in just six months of 2025. A Pew Research Centre study revealed the immigrant count dropped from 53.3 million in January to 51.9 million in June, largely due to Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies.

Mass deportations, tighter border controls, and restrictions on legal entry have accelerated this decline, which began modestly under the Biden administration. Analysts warn that the shrinking immigrant workforce, down by more than 750,000, could hurt economic growth, as the US depends heavily on immigration to sustain its labour pool.

The report also shows a rare fall in the number of unauthorised immigrants, once at a record 14 million in 2023, due to rising arrests and fewer protections.

Despite the drop, America still hosts the world’s largest immigrant population, though countries like Canada and the UAE have higher proportions. With immigrants now making up 15.4% of the US population, experts caution that these shifts may reshape both the economy and demographics for years to come.