Legal Immigration From Muslim Nations Drops 96% Since Trump Took Office

The political right erupted in celebration after a White House X account shared a chart claiming legal immigration to the U.S. from Muslim-majority nations has effectively stopped. The post highlighted a staggering 96 percent drop since 2024 and attached data from the Cato Institute, an organization known for its pro-immigration stance.

The graph reveals a sharp fall in quarterly admissions starting in January 2025 when President Donald Trump took office. Numbers also slipped back in late 2024 during the final year of former President Joe Biden's term. At their highest point between July and October 2024, arrivals from these countries topped 22,000 per month. By early January this year, that figure had plummeted to nearly zero.

Online supporters hailed the change as a triumph for American people. Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas called it an incredible victory thanks to POTUS. GOP nominee Brandon Herrera added these wins are necessary to keep delivering on promises. Rep. Randy Fine of Florida noted only 4 percent remained to be cut and thanked President Trump. Columnist Kurt Schlichter urged everyone to boost rookie numbers for every immigrant category.

Some users turned the chart into a call to action for the 2026 midterms. They pushed conservatives to vote despite worries about high living costs or the war in Iran, issues where Trump faced criticism from his own party members. One user named David Harrison said he voted for this outcome and will do so again. Turning Point Action's Ben Larrabee warned that Democrats would reverse such gains overnight if they lost power. Online personality James Lindsay argued critics of these actions are squarely between the eyes regarding this problem. Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet urged voters to act as if Western Civilization depends on it because it does.

David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at Cato and creator of the research behind the graph, expressed disappointment in his reply. He stated citing his work was fine but claimed current policies violate the law while harming Americans by making the country less safe, free, and prosperous. Despite his assertion, no court has ruled that Trump's move to reduce immigration from Muslim-majority countries is illegal yet. Challenges did occur in district courts during his first term. A federal district court for Hawaii initially enjoined proposed travel restrictions but two appellate courts upheld them. The Supreme Court ultimately decided in Hawaii vs. Trump that the policy was legal.