The negative number is mostly due to a drop in entries, the report said.
US, for 1st time in 50 years, experienced negative net migration in 2025: Report
US Border patrol teams monitor the border with Mexico against any illegal crossings in El Paso, Texas, May 8, 2025.
US Border patrol teams monitor the border with Mexico against any illegal crossings in El Paso, Texas, May 8, 2025.
US Border patrol teams monitor the border with Mexico against any illegal crossings in El Paso, Texas, May 8, 2025.
US Border patrol teams monitor the border with Mexico against any illegal crossings in El Paso, Texas, May 8, 2025.
The U.S. experienced negative net migration in 2025 for the first time in at least half a century as a result of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, according to a report released Tuesday by the Brookings Institution.
Although the administration has undertaken aggressive removal efforts, the negative number is mostly due to a significant drop in entries into the U.S., the report said.
"We estimate net flows of -295,000 to -10,000 for the year," the Brookings study stated. "Though a high degree of policy uncertainty remains, continued negative net migration for 2026 is also likely."
The report attributed the shift to combination of the large drop in entries and an increase in enforcement activity leading to removals and voluntary departures.
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