Legal immigration to the United States has fallen by about half after the Trump administration imposed sweeping visa freezes, country bans, and tighter entry rules—among the sharpest contractions in modern US immigration levels.
The State Department issued about 26,000 immigrant visas in February. Those visas lead to a green card and lawful permanent residence. That figure compares with an average of about 52,000 a month in the years before President Donald Trump returned to office, according to the most recent available government data.
Which countries and routes were hit
The measures, rolled out late last year and early this year, made immigration from 91 countries all but impossible and reduced immigrant visa numbers in another 61. Africa and the Middle East were especially affected. Immigration from Muslim-majority countries fell by more than 90 percent.
The 91-country total reflects the administration’s 39 travel-ban or restricted countries, Palestinian Authority nationals, and 75 countries covered by immigrant visa freezes. In the first year after Trump’s return, overall visa numbers fell only slightly—by about 10 percent. In January, an expanded travel ban barred people from 39 countries from receiving visas or entering the United States, and a pause blocked immigrant visas from 52 further countries. The diversity visa lottery—a pathway for nationals of countries with historically low US immigration—had been suspended a month earlier.
The administration said the rules were meant to strengthen screening of applicants for security risks and for possible future use of public benefits.
Students, workers, asylum and refugees
Immigrant visas absorbed the deepest cuts, but temporary routes also shrank. Non-immigrant visas for students and workers fell by about 30 percent compared with a year earlier. Tourist and business visitor visas were down about 25 percent in February.
The travel ban stopped people from 39 countries from getting student or work visas altogether. New rules and fees also reduced student and H-1B work visas for other nationalities. India and China were not on the ban lists, yet both still recorded sharp drops in student and work visas.
Legal asylum filings at southern ports of entry fell by 99.9 percent, and refugee admissions were cut by around 90 percent, reports say.
Courts order a restart—but delays continue
The policies were introduced without congressional approval and have been challenged in federal court. At the end of August, courts in two separate cases ordered the government to start issuing visas again. Despite those orders, reports say a large majority of people whose visas were blocked were still waiting.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Late 2024–early 2025: Visa freezes, bans, and tighter entry rules take effect.
- About a month before January’s expanded ban: The immigrant diversity visa lottery is suspended.
- First year after Trump’s return: Overall visa numbers fall by about 10 percent.
- January: Travel ban covers 39 countries; immigrant visa pause extends to 52 more.
- February: Immigrant visas total about 26,000; tourist and business visas are down about 25 percent.
- End of August: Federal courts order the government to resume issuing visas; most blocked applicants remain in limbo.
Aasan alfaaz mein
America mein legal immigration lagbhag aadhi reh gayi hai. Green card wali visas pehle maheene 52,000 ke qareeb thi, February mein sirf 26,000 rahi. Bohot se mulkon—khaas kar Muslim-majority regions—se entry bohot mushkil ho gayi hai. Court ne visas dobara jaari karne ka hukum diya hai, lekin aksar log abhi bhi wait kar rahe hain.
