Insights into US Immigration, Visualized: Key Figures and Trends
In a turn of events during Trump's second term, his aggressive immigration policies have sparked heated debates, particularly regarding birthright citizenship. Just recently, the Justice Department asked a federal appeals court to end a nationwide block on Trump's executive order aiming to revoke birthright citizenship, a nearly 160-year-old practice.
This move comes as the Supreme Court ponders whether to modify lower court injunctions, allowing Trump to partially enforce the policy while legal challenges are resolved. During a hearing last month, the high court seemed open to lifting a series of nationwide orders, although several justices expressed concerns about practical implications.
Trump's immigration policies have long been the subject of controversy, with actions such as his use of wartime authority for deportations and a data-sharing agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service aimed at finding undocumented migrants. Under Trump's agenda, the immigrant population in the United States, which totaled 47.8 million or 14% of the overall population in 2023, could face significant economic repercussions.
According to projections from the Migration Policy Institute, ending birthright citizenship could increase the undocumented population in the United States by nearly 25% over the next 50 years. This could potentially strain local government finances, as the revenue the government collects from immigrants (via state income and property taxes) may not cover the costs for education and healthcare for new arrivals.
Moreover, many U.S. industries heavily reliant on immigrant labor, like the information industry, could experience significant disruptions under new immigration restrictions. The educational and health services sector, with the highest percentage of immigrant workers, could see up to 183,500 workers potentially forced to leave the U.S., making these sectors especially vulnerable.
In terms of economic growth and fiscal effects, while some analyses suggest that immigration generally boosts long-term economic growth, a surge in immigration or sudden restrictions could affect local government finances, potentially leading to fiscal strain. On the other hand, restricting immigration could also lead to job losses for both immigrants and native-born workers, shrinking overall economic output and consumer demand.
The immigrant population in the United States, particularly in states along the East and West coasts and the Southern border, has long been a contentious issue. States like California, New Jersey, and New York, which have the highest percentage of immigrants, have challenged Trump's immigration moves, including filing a lawsuit against his birthright citizenship executive order and against the administration's requirements tying federal grant funding to state participation in ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
People migrate to the United States from all over the world, with Mexico being the country of origin for the largest number of immigrants, more than double the next two countries, India, and China, combined. Trump has often referred to illegal immigration as an "invasion," a term experts say is intentional, as the administration could rely on the invasion rationale to justify possible future actions.
CNN's Devan Cole contributed to this report
In the ongoing debate about politics and general-news, Trump's contentious immigration policies have been at the forefront, particularly his recent move to revoke birthright citizenship through an executive order. This decision, if implemented, could potentially increase the undocumented population in the United States, straining local government finances and possibly creating economic repercussions.
