OP-ED: CIS TIES 2.2M FOREIGN-BORN DROP TO TRUMP’S SANCTUARY CITY CRACKDOWN AND ICE PRESSURE

An opinion piece argues that intensified federal pressure on sanctuary cities and high-profile ICE activity, reinforced by presidential messaging, helped deter illegal immigration—citing a reported 2.2 million decline in the U.S. foreign-born population in early 2025. The author credits the administration’s rhetoric and enforcement posture for changing migrant behavior while acknowledging limited annual deportation capacity. The op-ed frames the decline as evidence of a policy-driven deterrence effect but does not establish causation.