Migration policies in wealthy nations are at a crossroads, as recent events and economic shifts have led to a dramatic tightening of immigration rules and a notable decline in work-related migration. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia are among the countries taking significant steps to limit the inflow of foreign workers and asylum seekers, with ripple effects felt across the globe. The combination of high-profile incidents, political rhetoric, and economic headwinds has created a climate of uncertainty for migrants and policymakers alike.
On November 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sweeping pause on asylum admissions, declaring that the United States would continue to tighten its immigration laws indefinitely. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, “No time limit, but it could be a long time. We have enough problems. We don’t want those people.” According to Reuters, this announcement followed a tragic shooting near the White House just days earlier, in which an Afghan immigrant named Lakanwal, 29, killed a National Guard member and critically wounded another.
The attack, which occurred on November 27, 2025, sent shockwaves through Washington, D.C., and reignited debates about the vetting of asylum seekers and the broader U.S. immigration system. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that authorities did not believe Lakanwal had been radicalized until after arriving in the United States. The case was particularly contentious because Lakanwal had entered the U.S. in 2021 as part of the Biden administration’s mass evacuation of Afghans who had assisted U.S. forces during the long war in Afghanistan. As Reuters revealed, he was granted asylum in April 2021 under the Trump administration, highlighting the complexities and potential pitfalls of large-scale resettlement efforts.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Trump administration announced a freeze on the processing of all asylum applications. This move marked a significant escalation in efforts to restrict legal immigration, with officials arguing that the current system was unable to adequately screen applicants from certain countries. The administration’s stance drew both praise and criticism, reflecting deep divisions in American society over the balance between national security and humanitarian obligations.
Meanwhile, the United States is not alone in tightening its borders. According to new research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), work-related migration to wealthy countries fell by more than one-fifth between 2023 and 2024. The Paris-based OECD, comprising 38 advanced and emerging economies, reported that permanent work admissions dropped to roughly 934,000—a 21 percent decline from the previous year. The UK, in particular, saw net migration fall by more than 40 percent in 2024 due to stricter visa requirements.
Jean-Christophe Dumont, head of the OECD’s international migration division, attributed the downturn to a “less favourable” global economic situation. In April 2025, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its global growth forecast by half a percentage point, citing President Trump’s ongoing trade war as a significant limiting factor. Dumont explained that even in countries where policy stances remained unchanged, labor migration fell—most notably in several European Union states, where numbers dropped below 2019 levels.
Other major recipients of migrants, such as Canada and Australia, have also implemented measures to limit work-related migration over the past two years. These changes come amid mounting political pressure to address concerns about labor market competition, housing shortages, and migration fraud. According to Al Jazeera, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia have all tightened student visa policies as well, leading to a 13 percent fall in new international students arriving in OECD nations between 2023 and 2024.
Despite these declines, overall migration to advanced economies remains historically high. The OECD recorded 6.2 million newcomers in 2024—a figure 15 percent above pre-pandemic levels, though 4 percent lower than the previous year’s peak. Temporary labor mobility, involving visas that do not lead to permanent residency, held steady at approximately 2.3 million, above 2019 levels. In 2023, a record 6.5 million people settled in OECD countries, with the United States receiving 1.2 million permanent legal immigrants.
One factor easing labor shortages in Europe has been the arrival of approximately 5.1 million Ukrainians granted temporary protection since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. As of June 2025, these refugees have helped fill employment gaps in several sectors, reducing the immediate demand for additional foreign workers. Still, the employment rate among migrants remains robust. In the UK, for example, the employment rate of foreign-born workers stands at about 76 percent, slightly higher than that of native-born workers. Dumont noted that this is partly due to visa schemes targeting higher-skilled roles, as well as the willingness of lower-skilled migrants to take jobs that many UK nationals avoid.
Fabiola Mieres, a senior migration specialist at the International Labour Organization, told Al Jazeera, “We need to rethink some of the issues around native labour shortages in areas like agriculture, construction and health [where migrant workers tend to be concentrated]. Clearly, minimum wages and working conditions are part of the story.” She added that immigration “will likely continue to form an important part of electoral politics around the world, especially in Europe and the US. It creates a lot of heated emotions.”
The political dimension of migration cannot be understated. President Trump based much of his 2024 election campaign on curbing migration, a theme that resonated with segments of the electorate concerned about security and economic competition. At the same time, research by investment bank Goldman Sachs found that immigration was the primary driver of employment gains in countries like Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, and the UK in 2023, and contributed more than four million jobs in the United States.
The OECD, founded in 1948 to coordinate the U.S. Marshall Plan for postwar Europe, has evolved into a central hub for economic research and policy analysis. Its data and recommendations carry significant weight in shaping national policies on migration, labor markets, and taxation. In recent years, the OECD has also championed efforts to ensure multinational corporations pay a minimum tax rate, aiming to curb tax avoidance and promote fairer economic competition globally.
Looking ahead, Dumont suggests that overall immigration to OECD countries may ease slightly in 2025, but is likely to remain above historical norms, even as the U.S. and other countries implement stricter controls. The debate over how best to manage migration—balancing economic needs, security concerns, and humanitarian responsibilities—shows no sign of abating. As nations grapple with these challenges, the choices made today will shape the future of work, society, and international cooperation for years to come.
The world’s approach to migration is shifting, but the story is far from over. As policies tighten and global circumstances evolve, the movement of people—whether for work, safety, or opportunity—remains one of the defining issues of our time.