Amid President Donald Trump‘s stringent immigration policies, for the first time in 50 years, the U.S has witnessed negative net migration, a report from the Brookings Institution revealed.
The report, released on Monday, revealed that the negative net migration is primarily due to a substantial decrease in entries into the U.S. The study estimated net flows of -295,000 to -10,000 for the year.
Negative net migration occurs when more people leave a country than enter it over a given period. Notably, the report estimates 310,000–315,000 removals in 2025, significantly below the administration’s claim that more than 600,000 people have been removed so far.
Migration Curbs To Hit Growth, Spending
The report also attributed the negative net migration to fewer entries, increased enforcement causing removals and voluntary departures, suspension of humanitarian programs, and a drop in temporary visas.
Brookings Institution also predicts that the removals will rise in 2026 under funding from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with net migration losses likely causing “unexpectedly weak economic activity” in sectors serving affected immigrant communities.
The slowdown will weaken employment, GDP, and consumer spending will drop between $60-$110 billion, according to the report.
Immigration Crackdown Continues Amid Controversy
The Department of State, on Wednesday, paused issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries over concerns that they may rely on public assistance in the future.
These countries include Nepal, Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Haiti, Bangladesh, Eritrea in East Africa, and more.
The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown over the past year has been a subject of controversy. Despite criticism, the White House has defended its immigration policies, arguing that they are “saving lives” and reducing violent crimes.
However, these policies have also had a significant impact on the economy, with JPMorgan predicting a sluggish job market in 2026 due to trade uncertainty and strict immigration policies.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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