Record-Low Refugee Admissions and the End of Humanitarian Pathways

Within months of returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump set about dismantling humanitarian immigration programs. In October 2025, the administration proposed capping refugee admissions for fiscal year 2026 at 7,500, a reduction of 94% compared with the 125,000 cap under President Biden. Reports indicated that the remaining slots would be overwhelmingly reserved for white South African Afrikaner families. This followed a series of orders suspending the Central American humanitarian parole program (CHNV) and the CBP One app, which had allowed asylum seekers to schedule appointments at ports of entry. According to the Brookings Institution, these actions – combined with cooperation from the Mexican government – helped drive down border encounters dramatically in 2024.

The administration’s early orders also ended most humanitarian parole pathways and froze refugee processing across the board. Between 1975 and 2024, the United States admitted an average of about 73,000 refugees per year. By eliminating these programs and cutting the future admissions ceiling to 7,500, the federal government effectively halted a decades-old tradition of offering haven to people fleeing persecution. Critics argue that these measures prioritize deterrence at the expense of due process and humanitarian obligations.

Beyond refugees, asylum processes have been dramatically curtailed. The CBP One mobile application, which the Biden administration created to allow asylum seekers to book appointments, was terminated. Existing appointments – reportedly numbering around 30,000 – were canceled. The CHNV program, which allowed Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan nationals to apply for humanitarian parole, was also suspended. As a result, migrants from these countries now face nearly insurmountable obstacles to seeking asylum in the United States.

Deferred Action, Legal Pathways and the DACA Saga

While refugee and asylum pathways have been restricted, the administration has sent mixed signals on other legal channels. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – which grants temporary protection and work permits to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – has been in limbo since a 2021 court injunction blocked new applications. In September 2025, the federal government filed a plan in the Southern District of Texas to resume processing initial DACA applications. The proposal would allow new applicants to obtain deportation protection and work authorization, although residents of Texas would be exempt from receiving work permits because of a separate court order.

Other legal pathways have also narrowed. Temporary worker visas are subject to numerical caps and lottery systems; family-based visas face backlogs stretching for years. The suspension of CHNV and the CBP One app closes off humanitarian parole for individuals outside family-sponsorship or employment categories. In this environment, proposals to restart DACA or expand high-skilled visas represent rare openings in an otherwise contracted system.

Lawmakers have floated measures to expand legal pathways, such as the bipartisan Dignity Act of 2025. The bill would allow undocumented immigrants to enroll in a “Dignity Program,” pay restitution, and eventually obtain permanent legal status, including the “American Promise” path for Dreamers and individuals eligible for Temporary Protected Status.

Public Opinion and Demographic Shifts

Surveys suggest broad support for legal immigration. An Associated Press–NORC poll conducted in mid-2025 found that roughly six in ten Americans describe legal immigrants as “a major benefit” to the economy. Half of respondents also said that U.S. companies gain when they can hire skilled foreign-born workers. A PRRI survey reported that about 60% of Americans support offering a path to citizenship to immigrants who have lived in the country for years, and nearly two-thirds support birthright citizenship.

Demographic data show the U.S. immigrant population dropped to 51.9 million (15.4% of residents) in June 2025, down from 53.3 million in January. This decline marks the first major decrease in immigrant population since the 1960s. Pew attributes the downturn to tighter policies and executive actions, which have also affected the labor force and international student enrollment.

Immigrants’ Contributions and Economic Impact

Immigrants contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. Undocumented immigrant households paid US$89.8 billion in taxes in 2025, and combined with legal households, immigrants contribute nearly US$16.80 out of every US$100 in tax revenue. Immigrants also inject trillions into U.S. housing markets.

Immigrants drive entrepreneurship and innovation: nearly one in four U.S. entrepreneurs is an immigrant, and about 46% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. In critical sectors like healthcare, immigrants fill labor gaps, comprising roughly 16% of nurses and 28% of health aides in 2023. They also sustain scientific discovery, with several 2025 Nobel Prize winners being immigrants.

Policy shifts have affected immigration courts. As of August 2025, there was a backlog of about 3.43 million cases, with roughly 2.27 million involving asylum claims. Only 23.3% of immigrants had attorneys in removal proceedings, and around 77% of cases resulted in removal orders. The backlog stems from outdated laws, underfunding, and personnel cutbacks.

Legislative Proposals: The Dignity Act and Pathways to Reform

The Dignity Act of 2025 proposes a comprehensive approach: border security enhancements, a 10-year Dignity Program for unauthorized immigrants to obtain legal status, and modernization of legal immigration through expanded visas and state sponsorship programs. The bill has bipartisan support, though critics highlight potential environmental and financial concerns.

Visa Fee Changes and Administrative Reforms

DHS and USCIS have made administrative adjustments: reducing EB-5 investor visa fees and scaling back a US$100,000 H-1B fee. These tweaks aim to attract investment and high-skilled workers while maintaining enforcement priorities.

Projections and the Road Ahead

Forecasts suggest that restrictive immigration policies could reduce the workforce by almost 16 million people over the next decade, slowing economic growth and impacting Social Security and Medicare. Meanwhile, thousands of asylum seekers remain stranded, and court backlogs delay relief. Public opinion continues to favor legal immigration and oppose mass deportations.

Conclusion

Immigration in 2025 is marked by contrasts: reduced refugee admissions and curtailed asylum programs coexist with proposed pathways like the Dignity Act and administrative visa reforms. Immigrants remain essential to U.S. economic growth and innovation, while systemic strains highlight the need for a balanced approach.

Staying Informed and Getting Help

• Stay updated: Follow reliable news sources and sign up for updates from trusted organizations.

• Consult an attorney: A knowledgeable immigration lawyer can help navigate complex policies and filings.

• Prepare documents: Keep passports, birth certificates, employment records, and prior immigration filings ready.

If you have questions or want to explore pathways to legal status, contact ELR Abogados de Inmigración for a free consultation at (818) 900-5707. Our team is available 24/7 to guide you through every step.