The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that the United States experienced negative net migration over the past year, with population growth slowing to just 0.5 percent—or an increase of 1.8 million people—between July 2024 and July 2025. This marks the slowest population growth rate since the pandemic, when the nation added only 0.2 percent.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) credited the Trump administration’s immigration policies for the trend, claiming nearly three million illegal immigrants departed the country in a single year. DHS stated that its mass deportation operations and enforcement measures drove a historic decline in net international migration.
“In just one year, nearly three million illegal aliens have left the U.S. under the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration,” the agency said in a statement. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also noted that 1.6 million illegal immigrants left within the first 200 days of President Trump’s term, attributing the results to targeted deportation efforts and self-deportation trends.
“This is massive. This means safer streets, taxpayer savings, pressure off of schools and hospital services, and better job opportunities for Americans. Thank you, President Trump,” Noem said.
The Census Bureau confirmed net international migration fell from 2.7 million to 1.3 million during the period from July 2024 through June 2025, with domestic birth and death rates remaining stable. Every state except West Virginia and Montana experienced either slowed population growth or increased decline. South Carolina recorded a net domestic migration increase of over 66,000 people.
