Trump cuts legal immigration more than illegal crossings; students, H-1B flows hit, reports Cato’s study The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has significantly reduced legal immigration, with the decline far outpacing the drop in illegal border crossings. A recent analysis by David J. Bier of the Cato Institute highlights that while illegal entries have continued their downward trend, legal immigration—particularly through student visas and high-skilled worker programs like the H-1B visa—has experienced a sharp, policy-driven contraction. Bier estimates that reductions in legal immigration flows are approximately 2.5 times greater than the decline in illegal crossings on a monthly basis. Illegal border crossings had already declined steadily before Trump took office, with much of the reduction occurring prior to his administration. In contrast, legal immigration has seen a reversal of the growth trajectory observed between 2021 and 2024. The Trump administration’s policies have targeted legal immigration channels, leading to stricter scrutiny, increased costs, and regulatory hurdles that have disrupted traditional pathways for international students and skilled professionals. International students, a critical component of U.S. higher education and a major draw for applicants from countries like India, face mounting barriers. Bier notes that heightened visa scrutiny, uncertainty around post-study work options, and delays in processing have discouraged enrollment. In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order that led to the cancellation of F-1 student visas, resulting in the revocation of between 1,700 and 4,500 visas between January and April. Several students were also arrested and detained for campus activism.#donald_trump #state_department #cato_institute #david_j_bier #harvard_university
