Cato Institute Report: Trump Policies Reduce Legal Immigration Five Times More Than Illegal Entries

5 times as large as the cut to illegal entries, according to David J. Bier. Illegal entries have fallen under Trump, as noted by Bier. The report counts asylum claims processed at official ports of entry as part of legal immigration.

Cuts in legal immigration broke the trend of rising legal immigration from 2021 to 2024, per the Cato Institute report. Refugee admissions dropped roughly 90 percent. Roughly 12,500 refugees were admitted in late 2024, while 1,300 refugees were admitted by March 2026.

Refugee Admissions Capped at Low Levels The Cato Institute report describes the Trump administration's refugee policy as aiming for sustainability and cultural cohesion.

Trump capped refugee admissions to 7,500 per year. Only about 500 refugees can be admitted each month under the cap.

Asylum Claims Plummet After Policy Changes Asylum claims at legal ports of entry fell 99.

9 percent after the president scrapped the CBP One App, the Cato Institute report states. Around 40,000 asylum claims were made in December 2024. In contrast, 26 asylum claims were made in February 2025.

The number of inadmissible aliens trying to enter at legal ports of entry fell in 2025, David J. Bier reported. The president closed the southern border. The Trump administration reduced releases of migrants into the U.S. interior following border closure policies.

Green Cards and Permanent Visas Restricted The Trump administration cracked down on green cards by restricting targeted countries and pausing the Diversity Visa lottery, per David J.

Bier. Permanent immigrant visas are down by about half, according to the Cato Institute report. The Trump administration's decision to end immigrant visas for 40 different countries resulted in one in five immigrant visa applicants being denied.

These bans affected half of all legal immigrants coming from abroad. S. citizens. Visa issuances for people from non-banned countries did not increase.

Declines in Work and Student Visas H-1B visas are down by roughly a quarter compared to 2024 levels, the Cato Institute report indicates.

The president instituted a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas. The State Department indicated that the new fee led to an 87 percent decline in petitions for workers outside the United States. International student visas plunged by 40 percent in peak summer months year-over-year.