How Trump’s immigration policies hurt legal immigration, data reveals

Kevin R. Johnson

23 Jun 2026 — 1 min read

Official White House Photo

USA Today reports that, although President Trump often claims to be targeting undocumented immigrants for removal,

"new data shows legal pathways for immigration have also taken a dramatic hit.

In 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved 8.3 million applications compared to the 11.4 million in 2024, a 27% decrease.

Employment-based and humanitarian petitions made up the bulk of the change, dropping 26% and 69%, respectively. Green card-related approvals dropped by 16%. On the other hand, family-based petition approvals were up 8% while naturalization-related approvals held steady."

Human Rights Watch – US: Victims of Nicaraguan Government Risk Deportation

Human Rights Watch reports that U.S. immigration authorities have detained at least eight Nicaraguan exiles whom the Nicaraguan government stripped of their nationality, including some with pending asylum claims. Seven of the people detained were among 222 political prisoners whom the Nicaraguan government expelled to the United States, declared

The Conversation: US migrant flights to Liberia evoke troubling history of sending people deemed unwanted to the West African nation

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Immigration Article of the Day: The Derivative Dilemma: The Gendered Role of Dependency in Immigration Law by Veronica Thronson

The Derivative Dilemma: The Gendered Role of Dependency in Immigration Law by Veronica Thronson, 28 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change 147 (2025) Abstract In analyzing the derivative status and its implications for women, in Part I, I look at the role of family in the immigrant

Department of Justice Files Complaint Against the University of Delaware Challenging In-State Tuition for Undocumented Residents

Press release on October 1, 2026 "Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the University of Delaware for violating federal law by prioritizing the needs of illegal aliens over U.S. citizens in defiance of Congress’s commands. The Department is challenging the University of Delaware’s

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Human Rights Watch – US: Victims of Nicaraguan Government Risk Deportation

The Conversation: US migrant flights to Liberia evoke troubling history of sending people deemed unwanted to the West African nation

Immigration Article of the Day: The Derivative Dilemma: The Gendered Role of Dependency in Immigration Law by Veronica Thronson

Department of Justice Files Complaint Against the University of Delaware Challenging In-State Tuition for Undocumented Residents