Republicans celebrated after a White House account on X posted a graph showing that legal immigration to the United States from Muslim-majority nations has nearly [1] stopped. The account highlighted a 96% reduction since 2024.
The graph came from the Cato Institute, a think tank known for its support of immigration. It showed a dramatic decline in quarterly admissions from Muslim-majority countries beginning around January 2025, when President Donald Trump officially took office.
The decline had already begun during late 2024, the final year of former President Joe Biden’s tenure. Still, the steepest portion of the drop appeared as the Trump administration took control, giving Republicans a striking figure to celebrate.
According to the graph, immigration from Muslim-majority nations peaked at more than 22,000 people per month between July and October 2024. By the beginning of January, that figure had fallen to almost zero.
Legal Immigration from Majority-Muslim Nations Was Cut 96% Since 2024 pic.twitter.com/8QUs1E71dQ [2]
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 29, 2026 [3]
Republican lawmakers, candidates, commentators, and conservative activists quickly praised the change online.
Many presented the graph as evidence that the Trump administration was delivering on immigration promises that matter deeply to Republican voters.
“Absolutely incredible victory for the American people, thanks to POTUS,” Republican Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas said.
Absolutely incredible victory for the American people, thanks to @POTUS [4] https://t.co/rBzjv9hlwP [5]
— Brandon Gill (@realBrandonGill) September 29, 2026 [6]
Gill was among the elected Republicans who treated the new numbers as a clear success for the administration.
Brandon Herrera, the Republican nominee for Congress in Texas’ 23rd District, also welcomed the shift. “These are the wins we need to continue to deliver on,” Herrera said.
Republican Rep. Randy Fine of Florida pushed for an even greater reduction, writing, “4% to go! Thank you, President Trump.” Columnist Kurt Schlichter similarly responded, “Let’s pump up those rookie numbers for every category of immigrant.”
Some conservatives connected the immigration data directly to the 2026 midterm elections. They urged Republican voters to remember the graph despite concerns involving the cost of living, the Iran war, and other issues on which Trump has faced criticism from members of his own party.
“I voted for this—and will again,” user David Harrison said.
I voted for this—and will again. https://t.co/YPYjz1i52j [7]
— Darrell B Harrison (@D_B_Harrison) September 29, 2026 [8]
Ben Larrabee of Turning Point Action offered a blunt warning about what could happen if Democrats regain political power.
“The next time you get the urge to ‘punish the GOP.’ Remember that Democrats will reverse this overnight,” Larrabee said.
The next time you get the urge to “punish the GOP.”
Remember that Democrats will reverse this overnight. https://t.co/P8wfTPeg2J [9]
— Ben Larrabee (@Ben_Larrabee) September 29, 2026 [10]
His message framed the graph not merely as an administration statistic, but as a reason for conservatives to remain politically engaged.
Online personality James Lindsay also targeted critics who claimed Trump and congressional Republicans had failed to act. “People screaming that Trump and the GOP aren’t doing anything about this problem [are] hardest hit, like squarely between the eyes,” Lindsay said of the graph.
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet issued his own sweeping appeal to voters. “Vote like Western Civilization depends on it, because it does,” Kolvet said.
Vote like Western Civilization depends on it, because it does. https://t.co/sMsgDnAxEK [11]
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 29, 2026 [12]
The response was not universally enthusiastic. David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at Cato, took credit for the research behind the graph and sharply criticized the White House after it cited his work.
“Thanks for citing my work. You are violating the law and harming Americans while making the country less safe, less free, and less prosperous,” Bier said in reply. His accusation stood in stark contrast to the celebration from Republican officials and conservative activists.
No court has decided that Trump’s current move to reduce immigration from Muslim-majority countries is illegal, although challenges have been filed in district courts. Trump also faced a legal challenge involving proposed travel restrictions during his first term.
The federal district court for the District of Hawaii blocked that earlier policy, and two federal appellate courts upheld the injunction. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Hawaii vs. Trump that Trump’s policy was legal, handing the administration the final victory in that dispute.