Immigration Policy Reshapes Rural Communities Across the U.S.

-Editorial 

Much of the national debate over immigration has focused on the U.S.-Mexico border and federal policy. But the effects of immigration policy are also being felt in small towns and rural communities across the country, where immigrants have helped address population declines, fill labor shortages, support schools and contribute to local economies.

Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, said the broader demographic and economic effects of changing immigration levels are significant.

“Immigration is at net negative right now,” Murray said, noting that 2025 marked the first year in U.S. history in which net immigration declined and that she expects a similar trend in 2026.

Murray said immigrants account for about 13% of the U.S. population and 19% of the workforce, with foreign-born workers employed across industries and skill levels.

She said immigration enforcement and changes to temporary immigration programs have contributed to a reduction in the number of immigrants living and working in the United States. Murray cited estimates of about 2.2 million to 2.5 million people who left the country voluntarily in 2025 and about 675,000 who were detained and deported.

The changes could have broader economic effects, she said, as businesses face a smaller workforce and communities lose workers and consumers.

Murray said immigrants contribute about $1.3 trillion annually in federal, state, and local taxes and generate an additional $1.7 trillion in economic activity as consumers. 

Tim Slack, a sociology professor at Louisiana State University who studies rural communities, said immigration has helped some rural areas counter long-term population losses caused by aging populations and the departure of younger residents.

“Immigration has provided a population lifeline to many rural communities, offsetting the population loss that would have occurred in their absence,” Slack said.

From 2010 to 2020, the population of rural U.S. counties declined by about 0.5%, according to Slack. About two-thirds of rural counties lost population during that period, while about one-third gained residents.

Slack said immigrants have been particularly important in rural counties that experienced population growth despite declines among non-Hispanic white residents. Between 2020 and 2024, he said, nearly all positive net migration in rural counties not adjacent to metropolitan areas was international.

The demographic makeup of rural America also is changing. Slack said about one in four rural residents is nonwhite, while roughly one in three rural children is nonwhite.

“The future of rural America is increasingly diverse,” Slack said.

Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, said communities are experiencing different effects depending on local immigration enforcement, political conditions and demographics. She said some communities have experienced a breakdown in trust as federal policies have increased fear and uncertainty among immigrant residents.

At the same time, Perić said, some rural communities are pursuing policies intended to attract and retain residents, including immigrants.

She cited Emporia, Kansas, as an example of a community that has taken steps to integrate immigrants into civic and economic life. Welcoming America certified Emporia as a welcoming community after local leaders developed initiatives aimed at encouraging immigrant participation and strengthening relationships among residents.

Perić said such efforts can benefit entire communities by strengthening relationships between residents and public institutions, including law enforcement.

“People at the local level are very practical,” Perić said. “What we’re talking about are our neighbors, people that we go to work with” and worship with.

While immigration remains politically divisive, Perić said some communities are increasingly focused on the practical consequences of population loss, workforce shortages, and the ability to attract new residents.