Politics and Policies Shaping Population Movement

As partisan divides become more ingrained in the U.S., policies and ideology are increasingly influencing people’s movements. Medical students are now less likely to seek residencies in states that severely restrict or ban abortion. Florida made news in August 2024 when the state’s tourism marketing agency removed resources for LGBTQ travelers from its website (which prompted the Illinois Office of Tourism to include additional resources on its website). Also in Florida, a 2024 law prohibited Chinese citizens from buying property over alleged national security concerns.

As of March 2025, 22 states have passed bills restricting foreign property ownership, and several states have passed or proposed legislation that would make it a crime for immigrants to enter those states illegally, separate from federal immigration enforcement. One such law in Iowa was overturned after a judge deemed it unconstitutional. Planners should be aware of policies targeting specific demographic groups and the potential ramifications for their communities.