WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The number of foreign-born workers in the United States has dropped by 1.1 million since January 2025, according to government data. Analysts say newly announced immigration restrictions under the Trump administration could drive the decline even further, potentially shrinking the labor force and slowing economic growth.
The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) warns that restricting immigration could reduce the U.S. workforce by more than 600,000 during President Donald Trump’s second term. New policies include barring U.S. citizens from sponsoring a spouse, child, or parent from 39 countries and reducing refugee admissions.
Economists emphasize that immigrants play a critical role in the U.S. economy. They help grow the labor force, boost productivity, and support an aging population. NFAP says that by 2028, Trump administration policies could reduce the number of U.S. workers by 6.8 million and by 15.7 million by 2035. This could lower annual economic growth by nearly one-third, threatening U.S. living standards.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the foreign-born labor force fell by 1.1 million since January 2025 and by 1.5 million since a peak in March 2025. The Congressional Budget Office and Social Security Administration had expected roughly 1.3 million new foreign-born workers to enter the U.S. labor force this year. This creates a gap of more than 2 million workers.
NFAP notes that November 2025 marked the fourth consecutive month of a decline exceeding 1 million foreign-born workers. The consistency of these estimates suggests the drop is significant, despite some high standard errors in monthly surveys.
Contrary to claims that fewer immigrants could benefit U.S.-born workers, government data show otherwise. The unemployment rate for U.S.-born workers rose from 3.9% in November 2024 to 4.3% in November 2025. Overall unemployment climbed from 4.1% to 4.6% during the same period. The labor force participation rate for U.S.-born workers aged 16 and older remained steady at 61.6%, indicating that fewer foreign-born workers did not drive more Americans into the labor market.
Labor economist Mark Regets, a senior fellow at NFAP, warns that reported gains in U.S.-born employment may be misleading. BLS data show an increase of 3.8 million U.S.-born workers between January and November, despite Census projections expecting just 1.4 million. Regets suggests that large-scale emigration of foreign-born workers may distort survey results, leading to overestimates of both U.S.-born and foreign-born employment.
NFAP adds that the BLS survey adjusts estimates when it finds fewer people in a population category than expected. This standard practice could inflate reported numbers for U.S.-born workers while underestimating the actual loss of foreign-born workers.
On December 16, the Trump administration issued a proclamation limiting legal immigration. Nationals from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, are barred from all visas. Another 19 countries, such as Cuba, Nigeria, and Venezuela, are restricted from major temporary visa categories. Turkmenistan and Palestinians also face entry bans.
The restrictions directly affect U.S. citizens seeking to sponsor family members, employers hiring foreign talent, and universities admitting international students. NFAP estimates that the ban on immediate relatives could reduce legal immigration by 50,000 to 76,000 per year, or over 200,000 in three years. Combined with refugee reductions, legal immigration could drop by more than 600,000 during Trump’s second term.
NFAP warns that fewer workers could cost the U.S. economy 19 million worker years by 2028 and 102 million worker years by 2035. Projected GDP losses could reach $1.9 trillion by 2028 and $12.1 trillion by 2035, or $34,369 per person. Analysts say these policies may hinder long-term economic growth and reduce the nation’s standard of living.
The Trump administration’s immigration policies demonstrate a clear strategy to reduce both legal and illegal immigration. As foreign-born workers leave the U.S. labor force, economists warn that businesses, universities, and the broader economy may face significant challenges in the coming years.
