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Trump cuts legal immigration more than illegal crossings; students, H-1B flows hit
A Cato Institute analysis finds that the Trump administration reduced legal immigration sharply, hitting international students and H-1B workers harder than illegal crossings. The timeline covers policy actions from early 2025 through late 2025, including F-1 cancellations, Harvard enrollment restrictions, visa suspensions, country bans on student visas, and a new H-1B petition fee, with broader implications for US higher education and the talent pipeline.
Why It Matters
The changes could weaken the US higher education system and its innovation ecosystem by reducing global talent inflows and increasing costs for employers reliant on skilled foreign workers.
Timeline
7 Events
Expansion of student visa ban to 40 countries; about 23,000 students affected annually
December 2025
In December 2025, the administration expanded the student visa ban to 40 countries, affecting about 23,000 international students per year.
H-1B policy changes; $100,000 petition fee and related declines
September 2025
In September 2025, an executive order mandated a $100,000 fee to petition for an H-1B worker outside the US. The analysis cites that 65,000 H-1B approvals for workers outside the US occurred in FY 2024 and 219,659 visas were issued abroad, implying the ban affects about 30% of issuances; a court filing suggested an 87% decline in petitions for workers outside the US. The fee applies only to new petitions approved after September 2025, so full effects may take time to materialize.
Student visas fall; 40% drop between Summer 2024 and Summer 2025
June 2025
The analysis notes that student visas had fallen by about 40 percent when comparing the peak summer months of 2024 and 2025, reflecting the tightening environment.
Executive order banning student visas from 19 countries; about 10,188 students affected annually
June 2025
In June 2025, President Trump signed an executive order banning student visas from 19 countries, affecting about 10,188 students per year.
State Department suspends student visa issuances for three weeks during peak season
May 2025
In May and into early June 2025, the State Department suspended all student visa issuances for three weeks during the peak season.
Harvard international enrollment challenge; attempt to suspend enrollment blocked by courts
May 2025
In May 2025, the Trump administration attempted to suspend Harvard University's right to enroll international students, but the move was blocked by the courts.
Executive order leads to cancellation of F-1 status and revocation of 1,700–4,500 student visas (Jan–Apr 2025)
January 2025
The Trump administration signed an executive order that led to the cancellation of F-1 student status and the revocation of between 1,700 and 4,500 student visas between January and April 2025. The administration also arrested and placed in detention several students for campus activism.