Trump administration cites 96% fall in immigration from Muslim-majority countries
The Trump administration highlighted State Department data showing legal immigration from Muslim-majority countries down about 96%. Two right-leaning outlets covered it, with different baselines and framing.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Breitbart, Fox News. Previously: “Trump administration highlights 96% fall in immigration from Muslim-majority countries”.
1 / 4
The story, neutrally told
On Tuesday 29 September 2026 the Trump administration highlighted data showing a 96% drop in legal immigration from Muslim-majority countries. Just the NewsRC “The Trump administration on Tuesday highlighted data showing a 96% drop in legal immigration from Muslim-majority nations since 2024.” Read at Just the News ↗ Just the News said the administration's Rapid Response 47 account shared a chart from the Cato Institute, which it described as a pro-immigration, libertarian-leaning think tank, using State Department data. Just the NewsRC “The administration's Rapid Response 47 account shared a chart from the CATO Institute, a pro-immigration, libertarian-leaning think tank that used State Department data.” Read at Just the News ↗ It said immigrant and refugee admissions from those countries fell from 18,000 in January 2025 to fewer than 500 last month. Just the NewsRC “drop from 18,000 in January 2025, to fewer than 500 last month.” Read at Just the News ↗
GB News reported a fall of more than 96 per cent since Trump returned to the White House. GB NewsR “Migration from Muslim-majority countries to the US has been slashed by more than 96 per cent since Donald Trump returned to the White House.” Read at GB News ↗ It cited State Department figures for immigrant visas and refugee admissions from 45 majority-Muslim countries, giving 21,096 for a December month. GB NewsR “immigrant visas and refugee admissions from 45 majority-Muslim countries stood at 21,096 in December” Read at GB News ↗ Just the News placed the figures in the context of the war in Iran and calls by some Republicans for closer scrutiny of Islamic immigration. Just the NewsRC “Some Republicans have increasingly advocated for closer scrutiny of Islamic immigration amid the war in Iran and the longer-term conflicts in the region.” Read at Just the News ↗
It also cited Office of the Inspector General data that vetting failed to flag threats from 40% of Afghan asylum seekers admitted in 2021. Just the NewsRC “vetting failed to flag threats from 40% of Afghan asylum seekers admitted in 2021” Read at Just the News ↗ The two accounts use different baselines (18,000 in January 2025 versus 21,096 in December), and neither gives reasons for the drop beyond the administration's policies. Just the NewsRC “drop from 18,000 in January 2025, to fewer than 500 last month.” Read at Just the News ↗ GB NewsR “stood at 21,096 in December” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right4 outlets
- Framing
- Both present the drop as an administration achievement. Just the News frames it around security concerns and the Iran war; GB News leads with 'slashed' and the label 'Muslim migration'.
- Emphasis
- The size of the fall and security context (Just the News); the State Department figures (GB News).
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives independent analysis, criticism, or reasons for the fall beyond policy; no left or centre coverage.
- Charged language
- “slashed”“'Muslim migration'”“Homegrown Islamic terror threats”
- For example
-
“Homegrown Islamic terror threats have also prompted calls to curb immigration from countries with known terrorist activities” — Just the News
“'Muslim migration' slashed by 96% since Donald Trump returned to White House” — GB News
What every side reports
- Both outlets report a drop of about 96% or more in immigration from Muslim-majority countries.
- Both attribute the data to the State Department.
Where accounts differ
-
Baseline and scope of the figures
- Right
- Just the News gives 18,000 in January 2025 falling to under 500 last month; GB News gives 21,096 in December for 45 countries, and says the fall is since Trump's return.
Donald Trump person
Through the administration's Rapid Response 47 account, Trump's team promoted the figures as evidence of reduced immigration from Muslim-majority countries.
“The administration's Rapid Response 47 account shared a chart from the CATO Institute” — Just the News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right4 articles
-
Trump admin touts 96% drop in immigration from Muslim-majority countries since 2024
Mixed Reports the administration touting the figure and links it to terror and vetting concerns.
-
GB NewsR ·
Migration from Muslim countries slashed by 96% since Donald Trump returned to White House
Celebratory Headline presents the fall as a result of Trump's return, using 'slashed' and 'Muslim migration'.
-
-
- 29 Sep 20:28 First Just the NewsRC Trump admin touts 96% drop in immigration from Muslim-majority countries since 2024
- 30 Sep 01:46 +5h 19m GB NewsR Migration from Muslim countries slashed by 96% since Donald Trump returned to White House
- 30 Sep 18:03 +21h 36m BreitbartR Trump Deputies Slash Muslim Immigration by over 90 Percent
- 30 Sep 18:47 +22h 20m Fox NewsR Republican glee erupts as White House boasts sharp decline in immigration from Muslim-majority nations
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.