Kathmandu. During his election campaign, US President Donald Trump had denounced ‘illegal immigration’ as a major threat to the country. However, after coming to power, the statistics reveal a different reality.
A recently published report has revealed that the Trump administration has killed more people trying to enter the US legally than illegal immigrants. “H-1B visas in particular have dropped by 25 percent. ’
David J. Beer of the Cato Institute. According to Beer’s recent analysis, the Trump administration has closed legal immigration routes at a much faster rate than stopping illegal immigration. According to the report, the decrease in legal immigration is two and a half times greater than the decrease in illegal border crossers.
Trump’s campaign may be focused on “border sealing.” In reality, about 72% of the decline has been in the legal routes used by students, skilled workers and families.
H-1B visa program most affected by
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The report states that Trump’s immigration policy is having the biggest impact on H-1B visas. Which is a high-skilled visa program. Which is mainly used to recruit foreign experts in the technical, engineering and health care fields.
In September 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order imposing a new $100,000 fee on companies bringing workers from outside the U.S. for H-1B visas. Following this policy, the issuance of H-1B visas has dropped by about 25 percent.
Citing court documents, Beer said in the report that applications for foreign workers have dropped by 87 percent since the fee was implemented. The full impact is still visible as these visas are linked to new approvals. The decline is considered a major challenge to U.S. innovation and programs that attract new talent from around the world.
The report also notes that the decline in demand for H-1B visas is likely to have a cascading economic impact. These visas are widely used by U.S. companies to recruit for specialized positions. The continued decline could have a profound impact on global talent-dependent sectors, from Silicon Valley tech companies to healthcare systems.
40% drop in international student visas
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During the election campaign, Trump focused on “immigrants.” But the administration’s cuts have not saved student visas and family visas. The impact of the closure of legal avenues is not limited to skilled workers.
International student visas have also fallen sharply by 40 percent during the peak period. Visas granted to husbands or fiancés of U.S. citizens have also fallen by 65 percent. The situation is even worse for refugees. Where administrative recessions and strict restrictions have led to a 90 percent drop in refugee admissions.
Closed routes to refugees
Meanwhile, legal asylum processing at the southern border has almost stopped and decreased by 99.9 percent. According to these figures, the real impact of the campaign is being felt not only at the border but also within the country’s legal immigration system.
According to Beer, it’s clear that the administration’s goal is not just to stop “illegal” immigration, it’s a broader assault on all forms of immigration. The report estimates that about 72 percent of the overall decline in immigration is due to the closure of legal routes. Border security often dominates political discussions about immigration. Beer’s analysis draws attention to the quiet and profound changes that have nearly closed the doors of the United States for students, workers, and families.
