U.S. Immigration Turns Net Negative, Affecting Rural Workforces

Immigration to the United States turned net negative in 2025 for the first time in at least half a century. This trend is expected to continue in 2026 amid ongoing deportations. Immigration has historically functioned as a population lifeline for rural America, offsetting demographic losses caused by aging populations and young adults leaving for jobs and education.

The decline in immigration forces shrinking rural communities to confront the possibility that the individuals who helped stabilize their economies could disappear. In rural counties, positive net migration has often been driven by international immigrant growth, which offsets declines among non-Hispanic white residents.