![Statue of Liberty and NYC Skyline](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/2021-01/GettyImages-527058642.jpg?itok=iNM0Yq-7) # Immigration At a Glance Most Americans are immigrants or descended from immigrants who sought opportunity and freedom on our shores. They and their children worked hard, assimilated, and added to our nation’s prosperity. Immigrants today continue to become Americans and, in the process, make the United States a wealthier, freer, and safer country. However, our current immigration system excludes most peaceful and healthy immigrants. Congress should look to America’s past for inspiration to expand and deregulate legal immigration. Subscribe to the Cato Immigration email newsletter Join the Conversation [\#CatoImmigration](https://x.com/hashtag/CatoImmigration) Share This Topic #### Featured Content [![Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2026-01/GettyImages-2216837590.jpg?itok=Q57XfWn9)](https://www.cato.org/commentary/he-showed-routine-green-card-appointment-then-ice-detained-him) Commentary ## [He Showed Up for a Routine Green Card Appointment. Then Ice Detained Him.](/commentary/he-showed-routine-green-card-appointment-then-ice-detained-him) By [David J. Bier](https://www.cato.org/people/david-bier) Arresting legal immigrants at their immigration appointments has become part of a new and terrifyingly common strategy for immigration enforcement. [![](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_43685.jpg?itok=vjxa7lND)](https://www.cato.org/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/david-j-bier-testifies-hearing-sanctuary-policies-tragic) Media Highlights TV ### [David J. Bier testifies at the hearing, “Sanctuary Policies, Tragic Consequences,” on C‑SPAN 2](/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/david-j-bier-testifies-hearing-sanctuary-policies-tragic) Featuring [David J. Bier](https://www.cato.org/people/david-bier) [![immigration, visa](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2026-08/GettyImages-2257111581.jpg?itok=xCNc24Iw)](https://www.cato.org/commentary/trump-enacts-new-immigration-policies-against-h-1b-visa-holders) Commentary ### [Trump Enacts New Immigration Policies Against H‑1B Visa Holders](/commentary/trump-enacts-new-immigration-policies-against-h-1b-visa-holders) By [Stuart Anderson](https://www.cato.org/people/stuart-anderson) The administration enacted additional policies to restrict businesses from hiring skilled foreign nationals and renewed the $100,000 entry fee blocked in court. [![9/11 tribute](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2021-09/9-11%20Cropped.jpg?itok=lNLoLmZJ)](https://www.cato.org/blog/9/11s-visa-vetting-failures-were-fixed) blog ### [9/11’s Visa Vetting Failures Were Fixed](/blog/9/11s-visa-vetting-failures-were-fixed) By [David J. Bier](https://www.cato.org/people/david-bier) The most lasting immigration legacy of 9/11 is how it derailed bipartisan efforts to improve the legal immigration system for peaceful, productive immigrants, students, and travelers. [![Immigration and Customs Enforcement building](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2026-02/GettyImages-2207583505.jpg?itok=l3Y0ijWB)](https://www.cato.org/blog/ice-releasing-23-more-convicted-criminals-under-biden) blog ### [ICE Is Releasing 23% More Convicted Criminals Than Under Biden](/blog/ice-releasing-23-more-convicted-criminals-under-biden) By [David J. Bier](https://www.cato.org/people/david-bier) DHS should reprioritize serious criminals and stop wasting resources on immigrants who are seeking lawful status or simply want to contribute to the United States. [View More Related Content](/search/topic/92) ![Most Common Arguments against Immigration cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/promo_block_book_cover_1x/public/2021-10/most-common-arguments-against-immigration-cover.jpg?itok=asEBUIWy) ##### Featured Book ### *[The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong](https://www.cato.org/books/most-common-arguments-against-immigration-why-theyre-wrong)* *The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong* contains the 15 most common arguments against immigration and Cato Institute scholar Alex Nowrasteh’s responses to them. Immigration has been the most hotly debated public policy issue in the United States since Donald Trump entered the Republican primary in mid-2015. A new Biden Administration has an opportunity to reverse the anti-immigration actions of the Trump Administration and expand legal immigration. [Read about the Book](https://www.cato.org/books/most-common-arguments-against-immigration-why-theyre-wrong) #### Meet Our Experts [![David J. Bier](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2021-01/David%20Bier.jpg?itok=JEvQToSZ)](/people/david-bier) ##### [David J. Bier](/people/david-bier) Director, Immigration Studies, and The Selz Foundation Chair in Immigration Policy [![Sahana Krishnamurthy Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2025-07/Sahana%20Krishnamurthy%20Cropped-2.png?itok=FMas0ubE)](/people/sahana-krishnamurthy) ##### [Sahana Krishnamurthy](/people/sahana-krishnamurthy) Research Associate [![nowrasteh_cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2026-05/nowrasteh_cropped.jpg?itok=ZDVkFtZQ)](/people/alex-nowrasteh) ##### [Alex Nowrasteh](/people/alex-nowrasteh) Senior Vice President for Policy [![Carol Xu Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2026-07/Carol%20Xu%20Cropped.png?itok=CAx1uSHF)](/people/carol-xu) ##### [Carol Xu](/people/carol-xu) Research Associate ##### Featured Video ##### [Doctors with Borders: Embracing the Potential of Immigrant Doctors](https://www.cato.org/multimedia/cato-video/doctors-borders-embracing-potential-immigrant-doctors) Becoming a doctor anywhere in the world takes a tremendous effort and years of preparation. It is one of the most demanding and competitive job fields in the United States. As challenging as it is for native‐​born Americans to practice medicine, the path to becoming a doctor as an immigrant, even for seasoned medical professionals in their home country, is far more strenuous. [More Information](/multimedia/cato-video/doctors-borders-embracing-potential-immigrant-doctors)