PROMISES KEPT: Trump CUTS Legal Immigrant Visas in HALF, NYT Reveals…

America’s legal immigration system has been transformed, and the numbers are staggering. A report published Sunday, October 18, 2026, by the New York Times found that immigrant visa issuances have fallen by about half under President Donald Trump’s visa restrictions. The White House’s own rapid response account on social media cheered the findings.

Here is the headline figure. In February 2026, the State Department issued just 26,000 immigrant visas, the kind that grant a green card and lawful permanent residency. Before Trump returned to office, the monthly average was about 52,000.

That is a 50 percent drop, and it did not require a single new law from Congress. It was accomplished through proclamations, State Department rules and tougher screening, using the executive branch’s existing authority.

The figure refers specifically to immigrant visas issued by the State Department in a given month, rather than every form of lawful immigration or every green card granted inside the country. Still, it offers a striking snapshot of how sharply the administration has tightened entry through overseas immigration channels.

The drop did not happen overnight. In Trump’s first year back in office, immigrant visas fell only about 10 percent. Then the restrictions took hold, and the decline accelerated.

The restrictions are broad. The Times reported that the administration made immigrating from 91 countries all but impossible and cut the number of immigrant visas available to people from another 61 countries. A separate pause on visa issuance also covered a number of nations, and the administration suspended the diversity visa lottery altogether.

The regional effects are substantial. Africa and the Middle East recorded especially steep reductions, and the report found that immigration from Muslim-majority countries plunged by more than 90 percent. Declines were also noted in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Then there is the number that jumps off the page. According to the Cato Institute, combined monthly immigrant visa issuances and permanent refugee admissions from the most heavily restricted countries fell from 21,096 in December 2024 to just 808 in February 2026.

Look at Afghanistan. The number of Afghan legal immigrants and refugees arriving in a month went from 5,563 in December 2024 to nine in February 2026. That is a decline of 99.8 percent.

By Cato’s accounting, roughly 73 percent of the combined decline in immigration came from legal channels. The figures show that the administration’s changes extend well beyond enforcement at the southern border.

Illegal crossings have also fallen. Nearly all unlawful migration has been blocked, according to the Times, while the administration has simultaneously tightened screening and eligibility across legal immigration channels.

Family immigration, historically one of the largest pillars of the system, has seen major reductions. Immigrant visas for spouses, minor children and parents of U.S. citizens and green card holders have dropped sharply, and employment-based visas have also been reduced. Separately, student visa issuances are down 42 percent over the same period, according to Cato.

Skilled worker programs have also undergone changes. The administration has imposed a $100,000 charge tied to certain petitions for newly hired foreign workers, a steep new price tag intended to change the calculation for employers relying on foreign labor.

The administration’s position is straightforward: America has the right to decide who enters, how many people are admitted and what conditions they must meet. Tighter screening and stronger entry requirements sit at the center of its national security and immigration agenda.

Supporters argue that the restrictions put American workers and taxpayers first. They say lower immigration levels can ease pressure on housing and public services, strengthen workers’ bargaining power and give communities more room to absorb and integrate newcomers.

Longer-term forecasts suggest the reductions could continue. A January 2026 analysis from the National Foundation for American Policy estimated that the administration’s policies will reduce legal immigration by 33 to 50 percent over four years, translating to between 1.5 million and 2.4 million fewer green cards. Reductions in refugee admissions alone account for about 470,000 of that projected total.

The administration shows no sign of backing down. Trump’s social media team posted a graphic from the Times report showing the steep drop in immigrant visas during his second term, treating the numbers as evidence that the president is delivering on his immigration agenda.

For Americans who voted for tighter immigration controls, the message is clear: the administration is using the tools available to bring admissions down and enforce stricter standards.