Trump Administration Cuts Legal Immigration by Half, Tightens Restrictions on 152 Countries

A recent report shows the Trump administration’s policies have sharply reduced legal migration in 2026, with the State Department granting just 26,000 immigrant visas—about half the average monthly figure recorded before Trump assumed office. New rules effectively blocked immigration from 91 countries and cut visa numbers for a further 61, disproportionately affecting African and Middle Eastern nations and causing a more than 90 percent decline in migrants from Muslim-majority states.

Vice President JD Vance has repeatedly claimed that limiting mass migration protects community cohesion and benefits the economy, telling one outlet that excessive immigration can fundamentally change the country. He emphasized that Americans have a right to share neighborhoods with people they have something in common with. The administration has not released migration data beyond spring 2026.

By contrast, the Biden administration in 2024 issued a record 1.35 million green cards, a level backed by progressive and business groups. The sharp cut to legal immigration has prompted lawsuits from those groups seeking to restore previous levels.