In the first term of President Donald Trump's leadership, his main focus was to limit immigration. He issued over 400 executive actions, which changed the immigration system in the United States. Trump's administration successfully reduced the number of legal immigrants admitted to the U.S., both temporarily and permanently. The COVID-19 pandemic also drastically reduced immigration, unlike anything seen in years.

Many people were prevented from entering the United States in Trump's first term, and it was difficult for people from certain countries to travel to the United States. Refugee resettlement has also significantly reduced. Trump set the policy course through a restrictive set of structural and administrative reforms, including expanding the definition of who could be regarded as a public charge.

The administration's rhetoric and singular focus on restricting immigration reduced the number of applications for various immigration benefits for which people could be eligible.

Despite the public perception of Trump's policies on immigration, analysis of immigration data revealed that things remained unchanged, including:

  • No significant drop in the number of permanent immigrants
  • No reduction in the number of temporary foreign workers
  • No drop in the number of international students and those receiving asylum

Apart from the refugee admissions, there was no big change across-the-board "Trump effect" attributable to the rhetoric on immigration levels or the administration's policies.

However, a significant reduction in U.S. immigration during Trump's first term occurred because of COVID-19. Temporary and permanent immigration to the United States reached a record low in fiscal year (FY) 2020 because the pandemic affected migration worldwide. This trend continued into fiscal year 2021. Unlike in 2019, the number of immigrant visas abroad in fiscal year 2020 reduced to 45%. The number of nonimmigrant or temporary visas issued also reduced to 54%.

However, if it had not been for public health problems, the issuance of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas would not have dropped to this level. During the pandemic, Trump restricted movement in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Studies showed that immigration was falling this low before the president's proclamations.

The number of immigrants in fiscal year 2019 remained relatively constant compared to previous years despite the unprecedented number and pace of Trump's actions.

‘’Trump Effect’’ On Humanitarian Immigration

During Trump's first term, his policies on asylum seekers and refugees received intensive media attention and public scrutiny. The changes Trump made in this area had an immediate and dramatic impact. The president significantly reduced the admissions of refugees. He claimed that refugees were a security threat to the country and that refugees imposed a great financial burden on the local and federal governments.

His administration admitted the lowest number of refugees in the fiscal years of 2018 and 2020. This dropped significantly since the U.S. refugee resettlement program began in 1980. The refugee admissions in 2018 and 2020 were much lower than the 84,995 refugees resettled in 2016.

President Trump's administration also significantly reduced the number of eligible asylum seekers in the United States. For example, he abolished certain qualifications for asylum and made it hard for immigrants to secure asylum. The administration also made it hard for immigrants to apply for asylum at the border. The changes Trump implemented made most immigrants conclude that the likelihood of securing asylum in the United States had ended.

However, many asylum seekers whose cases qualified during Trump's first term administration also qualified. The president approved these cases because there were many asylum applications before his takeover. Most of the applications that Trump approved while in office were made during the Obama administration. The backlog continued to increase even during his reign. Adjudications were also accelerated, resulting in the completion of many cases per year.

On the other hand, Trump rejected many asylum applications from the previous regime even if he granted many applications. He greatly reduced the approval rate from 43% in 2016 to 29% in 2019. There were also fewer applications during this period because of the Trump administration's dramatic narrowing of chances to apply for asylum. An asylum application could take a longer period to process at this time.

‘’Trump Effect’’ On Temporary Immigration

The number of nonimmigrant visas issued in 2020 dropped greatly because of COVID-19. Before this, the number of nonimmigrant visas issued was reduced by ten percent in 2017 and 2019. However, this did not happen because of the "Trump effect." The reduction in the business and tourist visas brought about the reduction. This trend began before President Trump took over in 2016.

The number of nonimmigrant visas granted was lower between 2017 and 2019, excluding tourist and business visas.

However, the visa trends for students and temporary workers indicated that applicants for various nonimmigrant visas fared differently during Trump's first term.

International Students

There was a consistent reduction in the number of international student visas granted when Trump took over in 2016. In 2015, Obama's administration issued 678,000 student visas. This number, however, declined to 502,000 in 2016 and 389,000 in 2019. These statistics were carried out by the Institute for International Education (IIE). The Institute cited the reasons for the reduction in international student enrollment as follows:

  • Political and social environment in the United States
  • Visa denials
  • Visa delays, among other factors

Typically, the denial of visas escalated from 2013 to 2016. This was contributed by the Trump administration's rhetoric, which lowered the interest of most international students to go and study in the U.S. According to the Institute for International Education, other factors could have played a major role, including:

  • Growing competition from institutions in other nations
  • The increasing cost of education in the United States

Additionally, Trump's administration issued most student visas to students from a few nations worldwide. Specific countries that were affected by the policies also had a great impact on the student visa program. For example, at the peak of visa issuances in 2015, only 58% of Saudi Arabia, India, and China students received visas. The reduction in visa issuance in the three nations was 77% of the overall student visa decline from 2015 to 2019.

Several factors led to the decline in the issuance of visas to students from Saudi Arabia, India, and China. However, only a few factors could be linked to Trump's administration. For example, in 2016, the Saudi authorities made it hard for their students to secure scholarships funded by the government to study in the U.S. The Trump administration in 2018 enhanced the screening of visa applications from Chinese students, especially if their specialization was deemed sensitive. The validity periods of some of these approved visas were also reduced. Typically, the reduction in Chinese student visas started in 2016. This change, therefore, was not the sole driving factor. The challenge of securing H-1B visas and the long backlogs for job-based green cards also dissuade students from India.

Temporary Workers

The number of individuals allowed to enter the United States to work temporarily during Trump's first term increased significantly. In 2017 and 2019, approvals of petitions for temporary high-skilled workers on H-1B visas increased by 6% overall. In 2018, approvals of petitions for new H-1B workers declined as opposed to continuing workers. However, this number went up in 2019. The increased scrutiny of H-1B applications caused a decline in 2018. This also delayed final rulings because petitioners were required to provide extra evidence at considerably higher rates.

Approvals increased after the requests were resolved, and petitioners and their attorneys learned how to navigate the new scrutiny.

In 2017 and 2019, the approved L visas for intracompany transferees were reduced by 4%. Approvals were reduced in 2018 but went up in 2019 despite new policies that made it more challenging for L visa applicants to qualify. As with H-1B visas, the decline and increase showed when the authorities scrutinized applications heavily. This made the applicants and their attorneys adjust their strategies.

There was also an increase in the approvals and admissions for other temporary worker programs during the first three Trump years. In 2017 and 2019, the success rate for the H-2A visas for seasonal/temporary agricultural workers increased by 27%. Agricultural businesses significantly turned to H-2A workers because the number of unauthorized immigrant farm workers had reduced. Approval of H-2A visas rose steadily in 2020, unlike many other types of immigration.

In 2017 and 2019, the successful H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers rose by 17%. Unfortunately, this number decreased because of COVID-19. The increase was led by the Trump administration's upholding of the congressional appropriations bills, which allowed DHS to temporarily raise the statutory H-2B cap of 66,000 yearly visas.

‘’Trump Effect’’ On Permanent Immigration

A remarkably steady number of immigrants secured green cards through adjustments of the status of immigrants or visa processing during Trump's first term. However, there were two exceptions during this period. First, there was an increase in 2016 that happened in a relatively constant policy environment from the prior years. Second, there was a sharp reduction in 2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak. There was a 25% drop in the number of green cards issued within the country between October 2019 and June 2020.

Permanent immigration reached 1.2 million green cards in 2016 but started to reduce gradually from that time. The decrease was not linked to Trump administration policies alone. In 2009 and 2013, permanent immigration reduced steadily over four years. This happened because of the aftermath of the 2008 recession, but not because of President Obama's policies. Additionally, before 2020, the issuance of green cards was less affected. The issuance of green cards in 2016 was 92%, compared to 88% in 2019. The timeline of Trump's policies helps evaluate if his effect on immigration existed. Permanent immigrants went substantially lower in 2017 during his first year in office. He also imposed a travel ban on seven nations that have historically low levels of permanent immigration to the U.S. The president's rhetoric also caused an immigration decline in his first three years. His rhetoric made immigrants believe that the U.S. was inhospitable.

Generally, closures of U.S. consulates and changes in global migration during the pandemic significantly impacted permanent immigration. Only 250,000 immigrant visas were issued abroad in 2020, compared to 459,000 in 2019. Trump used the pandemic to limit immigration. He issued proclamations that prevented certain classes of permanent and temporary immigrants from entering the United States. However, the decline in permanent immigration before those actions showed that they were not the primary drivers of the change.

The Naturalization Process

Trump took high-profile actions to denaturalize some immigrants who were deemed to have secured citizenship fraudulently. However, during Trump's first term in office, the number of immigrants naturalized as U.S. citizens yearly increased. The approval rate for green cards was also steady under Trump and consistent with other years.

The only exception to this trend was reduced citizenship grants to immigrants serving in the U.S. military. This happened because of Trump's policies delaying naturalization for non-citizen military members. The approval rates remained steady, and naturalizations increased, but the processing time for naturalization applications increased from six months in 2016 to ten months in 2018 and 2019. This occurred because Trump changed the adjudication process and diverted U.S. citizenship and USCIS resources elsewhere, including enhancing vetting for fraud.

Find An Experienced Immigration Attorney Near Me

The United States immigration laws are constantly changing, with some changes varying depending on the leadership. For example, significant changes occurred during Trump's administration, which continue to impact the current immigration policies. If you are a foreign national or immigrant pursuing a green card or permanent residency, you must thoroughly understand the immigration laws. With an experienced attorney by your side, it is easier to navigate the intricate immigration landscape.

For reliable legal guidance and representation, contact the Orange County Immigration Attorney. Our attorneys will evaluate your immigration situation and advise you on the best action. We understand that every immigration case is unique, and we do not use a one-size-fits-all approach when assisting clients. Contact us at 714-909-0426 to speak to one of our attorneys.