CITY, State (Fox News) — Immigration bubble bursts in the U.S. after 60 years of growth

Tech Industry Bubble

The tech bubble grew during the 1990s due to rapid internet adoption and low interest rates, leading to a speculative market frenzy that eventually burst in 2002.

Housing Bubble

Housing prices began rising in the late 1990s and accelerated in the early 2000s. The bubble burst in 2008 during the Great Recession due to unsustainable business models and speculation.

Caption: Texas Department of Public Safety troopers apprehended 12 illegal immigrants smuggled into the U.S. by a Florida truck driver.

Immigration Industry Bubble

Immigration to the U.S. became an industry following the 1965 Hart-Cellar Act, leading to chain migration and a surge in illegal immigration over the years.

Caption: A U.S. Customs and Border Protection border patrol agent communicates with individuals on the Mexican side of the border wall at Border Field State Park in San Diego, California.

Bursting Bubble

The mass deportation policies implemented in 2025 led to the first net negative immigration rate in the U.S. since the 1960s, with a historic decline in net international migration reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Consequences

The negative trend in immigration should continue to address housing shortages, high costs, and competition in job markets faced by American citizens. The immigration bubble should not be reinflated to prioritize resources for American taxpayers.

Lora Ries, former acting deputy chief of staff at DHS, is the director of The Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center.