Increased Public Support
American public opinion toward immigration has grown more positive than it’s been in decades. A new Gallup poll shows 79% of Americans view immigration as a “good thing,” the highest share in 25 years. This shift in sentiment comes even as political leaders debate stricter policies, indicating a broad public appetite for legal immigration and integration of immigrants.
1. Rebound in Legal Immigration Flows
After the pandemic-era slump, legal immigration to the U.S. has surged back, reaching or exceeding historical highs:
Net Immigration Surges: An estimated 2.8 million people migrated to the U.S. from mid-2023 to mid-2024, roughly double the annual inflow from just a few years prior. This marks the highest annual immigration level in decades, significantly boosting labor supply.
Record Visa Issuances: The State Department issued nearly 650,000 immigrant visas in FY2024—an all-time high. Nonimmigrant visas also rebounded: 11 million were granted in FY2023, nearing the 2015 peak.
Green Card Backlogs: The August 2025 Visa Bulletin showed modest movement. Notable highlights include a 3.5-month advance in the F-4 sibling category, minor progress in EB-3 for India, and significant jumps in EB-5 investor visas. The EB-4 category is now unavailable until FY2026.
2. Visa Policy Updates and Announcements
Mid-July 2025 brought several key updates:
H-1B Cap Reached: USCIS confirmed the FY2026 H-1B visa cap (85,000 visas) is filled.
Anti-Fraud Reforms Reduce Registrations: A new “beneficiary-centric” model led to a 27% drop in H-1B registrations, reducing abuse in the selection process.
Proposed Wage-Based H-1B Selection: DHS is preparing to shift H-1B selection criteria toward wage-based prioritization, aiming to favor highly paid, highly skilled roles.
Fee Increases: USCIS will increase several application fees soon—H-1B registration will rise from $10 to $215.
Visa Validity Cuts for African Nations: Visa validity for travelers from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Ethiopia was sharply reduced. Critics argue this harms educational and business travel.
H-2A Rollbacks & TPS Terminations: DOL proposed rescinding 2024 protections for farmworkers, and TPS designations for Nepal and Nicaragua were ended.
3. Immigration and the U.S. Labor Market
Immigration is now central to the labor force’s growth and flexibility:
Job Creation Threshold Raised: Due to immigration and rising participation, the economy now needs 160,000 new jobs/month to maintain current unemployment levels.
Worker Shortages Persist: Demand for H-2A and H-2B visa workers remains strong. H-2B petitions for FY2025 exceeded caps by nearly 50%, triggering a lottery.
Sector-by-Sector Impact:
Healthcare: Foreign-born professionals make up 15.6% of nurses and 27.7% of home health aides.
Agriculture: Immigrants account for 25.3% of ag workers, including 54% of graders/sorters.
Construction: One in four construction workers is foreign-born; some states exceed 40%.
Tech/STEM: H-1B professionals are critical in software, biotech, and engineering. Restricting these visas risks U.S. innovation.
No Wage Harm, High GDP Impact: The Federal Reserve reports that immigration has minimal negative wage effects but significantly supports GDP growth.
4. Demographic Shifts and Migration Origins
Legal immigration is diversifying geographically and demographically:
Record High Foreign-Born Population: As of 2023, the U.S. had 47.8 million immigrants, 14.3% of the population—the highest share since 1910.
Shifting Origins:
Mexico remains the largest origin country (10.6 million residents), though its share is falling.
India and China continue rising in both employment- and student-based entries.
Africa is a growing source; Nigeria now rivals South Africa in U.S. visa issuance.
Recent Arrivals: In 2022, Mexico and India tied as top sources of new immigrants (~150,000 each).
New Destination States: Beyond California and New York, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina are seeing faster immigrant growth.
5. State and Local Developments
States and cities are driving much of today’s immigration dynamics:
Florida Law Blocked by Supreme Court: A law criminalizing undocumented presence was temporarily blocked. The ruling reinforced that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.
Copycat Bills in Conservative States: States like Texas and Tennessee have proposed similar crackdowns, but most are legally vulnerable.
Sanctuary Cities Targeted: President Trump issued an executive order to withhold funds from sanctuary jurisdictions, reviving his earlier approach. Legal challenges are expected.
State Benefits Expanding and Contracting: Fourteen states and D.C. now fund health coverage for some undocumented residents. However, Illinois and California are scaling back due to budget constraints.
Local Programs: Cities like Boston and Chicago are funding integration programs. New York City is expanding shelter capacity for recent arrivals.
Cultural Recognition: The Carnegie Corporation’s 2025 “Great Immigrants” list highlighted immigrants’ contributions in healthcare, science, entrepreneurship, and the arts.