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April 16, 2026
The Trump administration says it's cracking down on illegal immigration — but a new study shows legal immigration has actually fallen even faster. What does that mean for the people, families, and economy affected?
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President Trump touts a sharp drop in illegal entries to the country, but a Cato Institute analysis shows legal immigration has fallen even more dramatically, with 132,000 fewer people being admitted per month through legal pathways. Liz Landers discussed what’s behind those numbers with the study’s author, David Bier. He's the director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
Recent reporting from the CDC shows that birthrates in the United States are declining. Experts now expect the population to begin shrinking in the U.S. in the near future, unless birthrate or immigration rate trends are reversed. Watch the segment below, then discuss as a class:
Explore dozens of rich, engaging resources to teach about immigration policy, history, and awareness with preK-12 students.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
