North America

Canada

Mexico

North America is a dynamic migration region, with the United States home to more immigrants than any other country in the world, the Mexico-U.S. corridor the globe's top migration corridor, and Canada a leading destination for migrants. Research collected here focuses on everything from visa policy and border management to immigrant integration, national identity, the demographics of immigrants in the region and their educational and workforce outcomes, and ways to more effectively use migration policy as a lever for national and regional competitiveness.

Aerial photo of people walking in a park

Policy Briefs

Migration Governance in Unsettled Times: How Policymakers Can Plan for Population Change

Even as advanced economies with aging populations are increasingly reliant on immigrant workers, concerns have grown about how immigration could affect the cost of living and public infrastructure, causing support for even lawful immigration to wane. This issue brief explores why long-term planning is so challenging—yet essential—in the migration policy sphere, and identifies ways to create room for this strategic thinking.

Collection of MPI Analysis Related to Trump Administration Actions on Immigration

These MPI research and data resources offer context for the Trump administration's policies and proposed actions on immigration, including those concerning the construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, immigration enforcement, refugee resettlement, the U.S. asylum system, and the admission of travelers and immigrants from various countries.

Recent Activity

Multimedia June 2, 2026 When Sports and U.S. Immigration Policy Collide	Articles May 28, 2026 Attacked as "De Facto Amnesty," U.S. Temporary Protected Status Is Abruptly Eroded By Muzaffar Chishti and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto
Short Reads May 2026 The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having By Julia Gelatt, Doris Meissner and Andrew Selee	Reports May 2026 Creating Inclusive Urban Economies for Migrants and Refugees By Kate Hooper, María Jesús Mora, Abigail Goldfarb and Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan
Articles May 14, 2026 Brazilian Immigrants in the United States By Marina Aragão Santos and Jeanne Batalova	Reports May 2026 Adult English Instruction at Risk: The Threat of Federal Funding Cuts and Potential State Responses By Jacob Hofstetter
Reports May 2026 Rooted in the Valley: Immigrants in Napa County’s Communities and Economy By Valerie Lacarte, Michael Fix and Allison Rutland	Articles April 29, 2026 Though Rare, Birth Tourism to the United States Sparks Outsized Concern By Muzaffar Chishti and Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

Reports May 2026 Creating Inclusive Urban Economies for Migrants and Refugees By Kate Hooper, María Jesús Mora, Abigail Goldfarb and Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan	Reports May 2026 Adult English Instruction at Risk: The Threat of Federal Funding Cuts and Potential State Responses By Jacob Hofstetter
Reports May 2026 Rooted in the Valley: Immigrants in Napa County’s Communities and Economy By Valerie Lacarte, Michael Fix and Allison Rutland	Fact Sheets March 2026 Native Language Assessments for K-12 English Learners: A 2025 State-Level Snapshot By Greg García, Gloria Choi and Lorena Mancilla
Reports February 2026 Building Refugee-Inclusive Labor Mobility Pathways: A Visa Evaluation Framework By María Belén Zanzuchi, Kate Hooper and Abigail Goldfarb	Fact Sheets February 2026 A Profile of the Growing Black Immigrant Population in the United States By Valerie Lacarte
Fact Sheets February 2026 Graduating into Uncertainty: Unauthorized Immigrant Students in U.S. High Schools By Jeanne Batalova	Reports January 2026 New Frameworks for Language Access: Tracking the Expansion & Features of State & Local Laws & Policies By Jacob Hofstetter

A woman wearing scrubs in a health-care setting reviews a chart

Policy Beat

May 28, 2026

Attacked as "De Facto Amnesty," U.S. Temporary Protected Status Is Abruptly Eroded

The Trump administration is seeking to all but eliminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a humanitarian safeguard for U.S.-resident noncitizens whose home countries were too dangerous or unstable for return. While critics say the term "temporary" has been stretched beyond recognition, TPS has become a mainstay. This article examines the history and use of TPS, the debate over its future, and holders of the status.

Spotlight

May 14, 2026

Brazilian Immigrants in the United States

The United States is home to the largest Brazilian community outside Brazil. Still, Brazilians account for only about 1 percent of all U.S. immigrants. This population has grown rapidly in recent years, with nearly two-thirds of Brazilian immigrants arriving since 2010, as this article details.

Policy Beat

April 29, 2026

Though Rare, Birth Tourism to the United States Sparks Outsized Concern

Birth tourism is at the center of the Trump administration’s legal argument to end the guarantee of birthright citizenship. Estimates suggest the practice is quite rare, and a range of government actions, including enforcement operations on "maternity hotels," has sought to eradicate it. This article examines birth tourism to the United States, offering a look at trends, policy responses, and its role in the legal fight over ending birthright citizenship.

A family takes a photo in Washington, DC.

Spotlight

April 15, 2026

Indian Immigrants in the United States

Indian immigrants comprise the second largest foreign-born group in the United States, even though they tend to have arrived more recently. Immigrants from India tend to have considerably more education than other groups and roughly one-fifth live in California. This article offers a range of information about this diverse group.

The Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse in New York City.

Policy Beat

March 25, 2026

The Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies Encounter Resistance in the Courts

Federal judges have provided significant opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies during its second term. The courts have halted or slowed a number of administration initiatives, including invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to carry out deportations and seeking to end birthright citizenship. This continues a trend of the judicial branch increasingly becoming the policymakers of last resort as presidents turn to executive action in the face of congressional inaction.

Male and female business professionals gathered at a conference table

Short Reads

May 2026

The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having

By Julia Gelatt, Doris Meissner and Andrew Selee

Image of a hand holding a passport with the stamp 'rejected' on a passport page

Short Reads

April 2026

Trump Restrictions on Legal Immigration Could Sharply Reduce U.S. Population Growth

By Julia Gelatt

Image of unauthorized immigrant in shackles entering plane for deportation flight

Short Reads

March 2026

U.S. Third-Country Deportation Agreements Are More About Fear than Numbers

By Ariel G. Ruiz Soto

Migrantes venezolanas en Guayaquil, Ecuador

Short Reads

February 2026

Tras Maduro, un enfoque mesurado de la migración venezolana es más esencial que nunca

By Diego Chaves-González

Venezuelan migrants in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Short Reads

February 2026

Post-Maduro, a Measured Approach to Venezuelan Migration Is More Essential than Ever

By Diego Chaves-González

Short Reads

January 2026

Trump Administration Public-Charge Rule Would Amplify Harms to Immigrant Families

By Julia Gelatt

Woman raises hand to ask question in classroom

Short Reads

January 2026

Trump Administration Actions Jeopardize Decades of Progress in Adult Education and Immigrant Integration

By Jacob Hofstetter and Margie McHugh

Image of U.S.-Mexico border wall and Border Patrol boat

Short Reads

October 2025

A New Era of Immigration Enforcement Unfolds in the U.S. Interior and at the Border under Trump 2.0

By Ariel G. Ruiz Soto

Fencing and a "no trespassing" sign at the U.S.-Mexico border

Short Reads

June 2025

Can Near-Historic Low Migrant Encounter Levels at the U.S.-Mexico Border Be Sustained?

By Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

A sad mother and child sit in a dark hallway.

Short Reads

June 2025

The Health Costs to Children of Stepped-Up U.S. Immigration Enforcement

By Valerie Lacarte

Graphic representation of law enforcement personnel taking individuals into custody

Explainers

February 2025

Explainer: ICE Arrests and Deportations from the U.S. Interior

Immigration enforcement takes place both at U.S. borders and in the nation’s interior. This explainer answers common questions about how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement works within the U.S. interior, identifying people for arrest, detention, and removal through the criminal justice pipeline as well as through operations at worksites and within U.S. communities.

Explainers

February 2025

Guia Explicativa: Arrestos y deportaciones de ICE desde el interior de Estados Unidos

El control migratorio en los Estados Unidos se lleva a cabo en sus fronteras, así como en el interior del país. Esta guía informática tiene respuestas a preguntas comunes sobre la función del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) de EE. UU., en la identificación de personas para arresto, detención, y deportación a través del sistema de justicia penal y las operaciones en lugares de trabajo y dentro de comunidades estadounidenses.

Colorful illustration of people of many different backgrounds

Explainers

October 2024

Explainer: Who Are Immigrants in the United States?

With immigration a central focus in U.S. public and policy conversations, it is useful to have a solid understanding of the foreign-born population. This explainer offers statistics on the immigrant population’s size, origins, places of U.S. settlement, and pathways of arrival. It also looks at legal statuses, which have been a topic of significant public interest and confusion. More than three-quarters of all immigrants in United States are here legally.

A line drawing of a city landscape with people

Explainers

October 2024

Explainer: Immigrants and the Use of Public Benefits in the United States

Other than refugees, noncitizens in the United States face significant restrictions on access to federally funded public benefits, including programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and cash assistance programs. This is particularly the case for unauthorized immigrants, who except in very limited circumstances are barred from all federally funded public benefits, as our explainer details.

A judge's gavel with multicolor background

Explainers

October 2024

Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States

A significant and growing body of research at U.S., state, and local levels demonstrates that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than the U.S.-born population. This explainer delves into the key takeaways and also looks at the screening process for new arrivals.

Expert Q&A, Audio

June 2, 2026

When Sports and U.S. Immigration Policy Collide

FIFA World Cup 2026 arrives amid stricter U.S. immigration policies that are limiting access for fans from dozens of countries. This World of Migration episode features sports journalist Albert Samaha on what the intersection of sports and immigration at the World Cup, including visa barriers and stepped-up enforcement, could mean, including for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Priced Out: Climate Change, Home Insurance, and the People Stuck in the Middle

Expert Q&A, Audio

April 23, 2026

Priced Out: Climate Change, Home Insurance, and the People Stuck in the Middle

Climate change is making home insurance more expensive and less available, which can push some people to relocate or force others to either pay more money or go without insurance and risk catastrophe. This episode of Changing Climate, Changing Migration features Talley Burley from the Environmental Defense Fund.

Ana Paula Noguez Mercado speaking on webinar

Video, Audio

March 11, 2026

State and Local Language Access Efforts Amid Federal Policy Shifts

This webinar focuses on the ever-greater relevance of state and local language access policies in today’s rapidly changing federal policy context, highlighting findings from a recent MPI report.

Trish Morita-Mullaney speaking on webinar

Video, Audio

March 5, 2026

The ESSA Waiver Landscape and Implications for K-12 English Learners

This discussion focuses on the federal government's invitation to states to seek waivers of their obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Experts offer an overview of current state waivers and their objectives, and what these developments might mean for English Learners (ELs) and their schools.

Climate Displacement from Indigenous Lands

Expert Q&A, Audio

February 23, 2026

Climate Displacement from Indigenous Lands

What happens when climate change and other factors force Indigenous people off their ancestral homelands? Environmental scientist Jessica Hernandez, a climate justice and Indigenous advocate, joins this episode of the Changing Climate, Changing Migration podcast to discuss the factors compelling migration for Indigenous communities, their experiences after migration and the dearth of Indigenous voices in policy discussions.

Recent Activity

Expert Q&A, Audio

June 2, 2026

When Sports and U.S. Immigration Policy Collide

Articles

May 28, 2026

Attacked as "De Facto Amnesty," U.S. Temporary Protected Status Is Abruptly Eroded

Short Reads

May 2026

The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having

Immigration is central to America’s economic future, yet political debate remains fixated on border crises and past policy failures instead of how a modern legal immigration system could power U.S. growth and competitiveness in an era of demographic decline. This short read argues for shifting the conversation toward flexible, employment-based immigration policies that match today’s labor market needs, strengthen enforcement through legal pathways, and treat immigrants as a source of national strength.

Reports

May 2026

Creating Inclusive Urban Economies for Migrants and Refugees

Migrants and refugees make up notable shares of the workforce in many cities. By creating an environment in which they can find work, apply their skills, and thrive, urban areas can set themselves up to weather current and future economic changes, including the green and digital transitions. Drawing on a scan of city practices on four continents, this report examines the experiences and policy approaches of cities around the world.

Articles

May 14, 2026

Brazilian Immigrants in the United States

Reports

May 2026

Adult English Instruction at Risk: The Threat of Federal Funding Cuts and Potential State Responses

Adult education programs play an important part in helping immigrant adults learn English and, in doing so, integrate into U.S. communities and the workforce. In many states, much of the funding for these programs comes from the federal government. This report examines states’ varied vulnerability to potential funding cuts, as well as opportunities to build stronger, more sustainable programs.

Reports

May 2026

Rooted in the Valley: Immigrants in Napa County’s Communities and Economy

In Napa Valley, a world-famous wine-growing region, agriculture and manufacturing are major aspects of the regional economy. They are also sectors that have long relied on immigrant labor. This report examines the characteristics and economic contributions of Napa County’s immigrant residents and workers.

Articles

April 29, 2026

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North America

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