Legal immigration and refugee arrivals from 45 Muslim‑majority countries have plunged 96% since late 2024, a drop the White House is touting as a national security win.
Story Highlights
- Monthly admissions from 45 Muslim-majority countries fell from 21,096 in December 2024 to 808 in February 2026.
- Refugee resettlement from these countries reportedly fell to zero in February 2026.
- Afghanistan and Pakistan saw some of the steepest declines in the period cited.
- The White House publicly highlighted the 96% drop with a graph from Cato Institute data.
Data Show Sharp Decline Since Trump Took Office in 2025
State Department-based tallies compiled by analysts show a steep fall in combined immigrant visas and refugee admissions for nationals from 45 Muslim-majority countries after January 2025. The monthly figure reportedly dropped from 21,096 in December 2024 to 808 by February 2026, a 96% decline over the span cited. The data series, highlighted by outside researchers and media, ties the start of the decline to President Trump’s second-term start in 2025, and shows a continued slide into early 2026.
Reporting describes the drop as covering two distinct legal channels: immigrant visas and refugee admissions. Those categories follow different laws and processes, but both moved down during the window cited. Analysts say the combined count is at the lowest level seen in decades for these nations. The February 2026 snapshot marks the floor in the published series so far. Later months were not included in the referenced analysis, which stopped at February 2026.
Refugee Resettlement From These Nations Reached Zero in February 2026
A separate summary states refugee resettlement from majority-Muslim countries fell from 5,157 in December 2024 to zero in February 2026. That account credits State Department data and matches the broader downward pattern in the combined series. The refugee program runs on annual ceilings and strict vetting rules set by the executive branch and Congress. Changes to screening or regional priorities can move numbers sharply within a few months.
Country breakouts show especially large declines for Afghanistan and Pakistan. One report cites Afghan admissions dropping from thousands in December 2024 to single digits by February 2026, and describes a reduction for Pakistan of about 98% across the same period. These figures align with the overall trend but illustrate how the fall hit key countries unevenly. The reports rely on State Department data as compiled by a Cato Institute analysis and echoed by multiple outlets.
White House Embraces Results as a Security and Control Outcome
The White House promoted a chart illustrating the 96% drop and framed it as proof that legal flows from majority-Muslim countries have been curbed on President Trump’s watch. Posts highlighted the role of stricter screening and a focus on national security. Supporters argue this matches campaign promises to regain control of the system, set tight vetting, and put American safety first. The graphic credited the Cato Institute’s compilation of government data.
Legal migration from Muslim-majority countries has fallen 96% since 2024.
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Reps. Chip Roy and Keith Self praised the decline, arguing stricter vetting and reduced migration are necessary to protect national security and constitutional… pic.twitter.com/3UJlVFF69S
— Daily Signal (@DailySignal) October 1, 2026
The broader history adds context for readers who remember past fights over entry restrictions and vetting. Earlier Trump-era actions, upheld in part by the Supreme Court, leaned on immigration law to set country-specific limits. Analysts at the Migration Policy Institute have also documented how screening changes can shift regional shares within the refugee program. Today’s declines fit that familiar pattern: tighter rules and priorities can quickly change who gets in and from where.
What the Numbers Do—and Do Not—Show
The headline figure merges immigrant visas and refugee admissions. That explains the total impact but does not reveal which channel drove most of the change. The reports do not list the exact share from approvals, denials, or paused processing. The series cited ends in February 2026, so future months could alter the scale of the drop. Still, the documented 96% decline through that point is substantial and is being presented by the administration as a policy success.
For families, churches, and local groups that support safe, orderly immigration, the message is clear. The administration says it is putting national security, careful screening, and rule of law first. For communities burdened by past chaos at the border, or worried about terror threats, the data back a return to control. That approach reflects core conservative aims: secure the homeland, protect taxpayers, and make sure the law decides who comes and how, not loopholes or lax vetting.
Sources:
gbnews.com, ground.news, hungarianconservative.com, foxnews.com, dailywire.com
