Thanks to his efforts to restore America’s security, nearly one million illegal aliens are no longer in the United States since President Trump returned to office in January this year.
This dramatic exodus, documented by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), represents one of the largest decreases in illegal immigration in decades.
It also provides compelling evidence that Trump’s border policies are working exactly as promised.
According to the CIS analysis, the illegal alien population has dropped from 15.8 million in January to approximately 14.8 million by May 2025.
Researchers used monthly Census Bureau data to track this significant shift, including a reduction of 601,000 foreign-born individuals from the American labor force during the same four months.
The study’s leader, Steven Camarota, attributes this remarkable change to what he calls the “Trump effect.”
The direct impact of the administration’s immigration policies reversed the border surge that occurred under the previous administration.
The decline is notable not only for its size but also for its speed.
The CIS report indicated this decrease is one of the largest in a four-month period observed over the past three decades, suggesting the effectiveness of Trump’s multipronged approach to immigration enforcement.
In addition, the administration has significantly stepped up enforcement operations, with deportation efforts resuming at farms, hotels, and other businesses where illegal workers have historically found employment.
Immigration enforcement agencies have been particularly focused on large cities with “sanctuary” policies that previously shielded illegal aliens from deportation.
Many illegal aliens appear to be leaving voluntarily, aligning with Trump’s “self-deportation” strategy.
The DHS has been actively encouraging this approach while simultaneously tightening border security to prevent new illegal entries that would otherwise replace those departing.
For American workers, especially those without college degrees, this immigration decline could bring substantial benefits.
Labor economists have long noted that excessive illegal immigration suppresses wages for working-class Americans who must compete against those willing to work for less.
CIS researchers Camarota and Karen Zeigler pointed out the economic implications in their report:
“A large decline in illegal immigrants could be very helpful to the less-educated U.S.-born and legal immigrant workers, whose wages may rise as a result.
They added, “Further, a tighter labor market and higher wages may help to draw back into jobs the near record number of working-age American men without a college degree not in the labor force.”
The decline comes after the illegal aliens’ population had ballooned under the previous administration.
CIS estimates indicate the illegal population stood at approximately 10.2 million at the start of 2021 before growing to 15.8 million – an increase of over 5 million during those years.
While the current trend shows promising results for those concerned about illegal immigration, experts caution that sustained enforcement efforts will be necessary to continue this downward trajectory.
The administration appears committed to maintaining this pressure, with deportation officers directed to increase arrests, and border security measures being strengthened.
