Under Trump, Skilled Immigration Is Still Working Fine
America needs immigrants, but primarily those who can contribute to our economy and—as they have done for centuries—embrace the American dream.
One enduring criticism of President Trump’s border and immigration policies is that by rejecting mass immigration, the United States is both abandoning its historic purpose and squandering its economic future. Even establishment outlets like The Economist see the departure, forced or not, of up to 2 million illegal immigrants as auguring a “zero migration America.”
True, some MAGA activists seem determined to reduce even legal immigration. This is both misguided and unlikely, especially given the strong possibility that Congress will be more Democratic after next year’s midterm elections. But though the surge in illegal migration has now been reversed, U.S. legal immigration remains at basically pre-Trump levels, even if naturalization requests have dropped somewhat.
Critically, the big shift of talent to the U.S.—primarily from Europe, India, and China—proceeds apace. The United States remains a top destination for STEM professionals, offering some of the highest energy salaries globally and the highest pay for independent contractors.
If anything, America’s appeal is growing. A recent study by Airswift, a company that specializes in recruiting skilled workers, found that relocation interest has increased from 16 percent in 2021 to 22 percent in 2025—this, despite growing complications in U.S. visa application processes, like the flawed H-1B program.
Such educated immigrants represent a powerful national asset. Most come from such places as India, China, and the former Soviet Union, the latter of which has sent 2.2 million people to the U.S. since 1965, including the founders of Google and WhatsApp. (By contrast, the Biden-era migration wave has come largely from south of the border, drawing disproportionately from populations in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean that, on average, have lower levels of formal education than immigrants from East and South Asia or sub-Saharan Africa.)
Politics
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Is American Nationalism Still Creed-able?
We are not there now, but there is reason to worry that the United States is in danger, if we are not careful, of ceasing to be a nation with the principles of 1776 at its core.
National Civitas Institute Poll: Americans are Anxious and Frustrated, Creating a Challenging Environment for Leaders
The poll reveals a deeply pessimistic American electorate, with a majority convinced the nation is on the wrong track.
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Can Britain’s Next Prime Minister Escape the Net Zero Trap?
Britain has burned through five Prime Ministers and is paying some of the highest electricity prices in the world.
The Scanner at the Gate: Europe’s China Policy Litmus Test
China’s industrial policy is entering Europe through public procurement—and reshaping sensitive markets from within.
Confronting the New Antisemitism
"The postwar effort 'to rebrand Judaism as a religion' has made it impossible for American Jews to understand what they are facing today, because what we are facing today is an attack on the idea of Jewish peoplehood.”
“Democratic” Socialism Is Undemocratic
By promoting class hatred, suppressing private initiative, and seeking enhanced control of our lives, today’s democratic socialists undermine patriotism and individual initiative—two qualities that have long distinguished the United States from other major nations.
