Trump administration reports 96% plunge in legal immigration from Muslim-majority nations

A recent release from the Trump administration showcased a steep 96% reduction in legal immigration from countries where Muslims form the majority, based on State Department statistics compiled by the CATO Institute. The numbers dropped from about 18,000 arrivals in January 2025 to under 500 in the most recent month. This decline is being used by some Republican lawmakers to argue for stricter vetting of immigrants from these regions, especially given the ongoing war in Iran and broader regional instability.

Officials also pointed to Office of the Inspector General data revealing that security vetting missed threats in 40% of Afghan asylum seekers admitted in 2021 after the collapse of the pro-U.S. government there. The administration framed the trend as evidence supporting tighter immigration controls.