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The Biden administration has overseen the largest immigration surge in U.S. history, surpassing even the Ellis Island era, according to a recent analysis by The New York Times. Between 2021 and 2023, net migration averaged 2.4 million people annually, significantly reshaping the nation’s demographic landscape.
A new report from the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), released on December 10, highlights both the achievements and challenges of this historic surge. It notes that 2024 marked a year of unprecedented refugee admissions, with over 100,000 refugees resettled—the largest number since the mid-1990s. However, this influx has also led to mounting pressures at the U.S.-Mexico border and strained the nation’s immigration systems.
The report highlights the Biden administration’s efforts to rebuild legal immigration pathways, including through humanitarian parole programs for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV). However, these programs have often led to significant backlogs and human rights concerns at the border.
Temporary Protected Status and Its Limitations
The report also discusses Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was extended to over 1.7 million people, including thousands of Haitians. While TPS provides work permits and protection from deportation, it does not offer permanent residency, leaving many migrants in a state of uncertainty. On June 7, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that TPS would not guarantee permanent residency for Haitians and others, a decision that left many feeling vulnerable to future policy changes.
Border Pressures and Public Perception
Despite gains in legal immigration, the public’s focus has often been dominated by challenges at the southern border. The Department of Homeland Security recorded 8.6 million migrant encounters during this period. Critics, such as Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have accused the Biden administration of encouraging unauthorized migration, citing a 40% decrease in deportations.
“When millions show up and deportations drop, you’re inviting more people to come,” Graham argued at a recent Senate hearing.
At the same time, immigrant advocates have criticized the administration’s restrictive policies, such as Title 42 expulsions and the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule, which limited asylum eligibility for some migrants. While these measures have reduced irregular crossings, they have also created bottlenecks and added strain to overwhelmed immigration courts. According to the MPI report, Congress’s failure to address these issues has further exacerbated the problem.
A Strained System and State-Level Responses
The MPI analysis underscores how the surge in migration has overwhelmed U.S. immigration agencies. In 2024, over 9.2 million applications were pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Meanwhile, border arrivals have caused significant strain in cities and states. Texas, for example, has bused more than 100,000 migrants to northern cities like Chicago and New York.
States have responded with varying policies. Florida has passed stringent measures against employers hiring unauthorized workers, while cities like Denver have launched programs to integrate migrants into local economies. The MPI report points out that these actions highlight a lack of coordination at the federal level, creating an “uneven patchwork” of immigration policies across the U.S.
A Mixed Legacy
The Biden administration has also sought to modernize the immigration system, using technology to reduce work-permit wait times and issuing a record number of naturalizations—3.5 million, the most of any presidential term. However, these successes have often been overshadowed by the ongoing crisis at the border.
The MPI analysis concludes that Biden’s immigration legacy is one of balancing modernization with crisis management. “The administration tried to appease both advocates and hardliners but ultimately failed to satisfy either,” the researchers note. This balancing act has led to public debates, with critics on the right decrying an “open border,” while advocates lament the continuation of restrictive policies from the Trump era.
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- New Poll Reveals Widespread Support for Treating Immigrants with Dignity
- Record-Breaking Immigration Surge Under Biden: Outpacing the Ellis Island Era
