New Mexico was one of five states in the U.S. that lost population last year as the U.S. growth rate dramatically slowed. While experts say the nationwide decline in growth seems to have a clear cause — steeply falling net migration — New Mexico stood out as the only state with population losses that had net positive international migration.

The U.S.’s population growth is slowing as immigration has declined amid President Donald Trump’s deportation push and stricter border policies.

"With natural change less of a contributor to growth than it used to be, some states — especially those without positive net domestic migration — are dependent on international migration for their pop...