Under President Donald Trump's administration, legal immigration to the United States has seen a sharper decline compared to illegal entries, according to an analysis by David J. Bier from the Cato Institute. The analysis indicates that while illegal border crossings have been decreasing, the reductions in legal immigration routes have been more pronounced, with estimates suggesting that legal inflows are declining at a rate 2.5 times greater than illegal immigration on a monthly basis. Notably, the issuance of H-1B visas, which are critical for skilled workers, has dropped by 25%. This decline is attributed to various policy changes, including a new $100,000 fee for certain H-1B petitions. Furthermore, international student visas have reportedly decreased by about 40% compared to the previous summer, following several visa suspensions and restrictions. The report highlights that while illegal crossings were already on a downward trend before Trump's presidency, legal immigration has faced a more aggressive contraction due to policy-driven factors. The full effects of these changes may take time to fully emerge, particularly as the new fees apply only to petitions approved after September 2025.