Immigration

Immigration policy determines who can legally enter the United States, on what terms, and what happens to those who enter without authorization. The U.S. admits approximately 1 million legal permanent residents annually through family-based visas, employer-sponsored visas, diversity visas, and the refugee and asylum system. The undocumented immigrant population is estimated at 10–12 million people, including roughly 600,000 DACA recipients who arrived as children. Border crossings surged between 2021 and 2024 before declining significantly in 2025 following more aggressive enforcement measures. U.S. immigration law is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which ended a previous system based on national origin quotas. Congress has not passed comprehensive immigration reform since 1986. The debate encompasses border security and fencing, the legal status of long-term undocumented residents, the asylum system's capacity to process claims, employer sanctions for hiring undocumented workers, and the level of legal immigration — particularly employment-based visas for skilled workers that tech and other industries argue are insufficient. Other wealthy nations address similar tensions differently: Canada uses a points-based system prioritizing skills and economic contribution; Germany has recruited guest workers from specific countries.