Unauthorized Immigrant Population in the U.S. Sees First Increase Since 2019, Pew Research Reports.
(CN) — The Pew Research Center unveiled new data on Monday revealing a rise in the population of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., marking the first increase since 2019. The findings come as immigration remains a hot topic with the 2024 presidential election on the horizon. Former President Donald Trump has vowed to implement “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country,” while President Joe Biden recently issued executive actions aimed at restricting asylum seekers.
According to Pew’s latest report, the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. grew to 11.0 million in 2022, up from 10.5 million in 2021. This estimate is based on the most recent American Community Survey data available up until mid-2022.
This increase is notable as it represents the first sustained growth since the period between 2005 and 2007. It follows a long-term decline from 2007 to 2019. However, the 2022 figure is still below the peak of 12.2 million seen in 2007.
The rise in unauthorized immigrants is supported by new data sources, including record high levels of migrant encounters at U.S. borders and the number of asylum applicants awaiting decisions throughout 2022 and 2023. The data does not account for approximately 500,000 new immigrants paroled into the U.S. through federal programs like the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan program and Uniting for Ukraine. These immigrants arrived after the data cutoff and were not included in the 2022 estimates.
In 2022, the U.S. foreign-born population reached a record 46.1 million, making up 13.8% of the total U.S. population. This percentage is slightly higher than in the previous five years but remains below the record high of 14.8% in 1890.
Most immigrants, 77%, were in the U.S. legally that year. Additionally, 49% of all immigrants were naturalized U.S. citizens, reflecting a steady increase in lawful immigrants. Unauthorized immigrants constituted 3.3% of the total U.S. population.
The number of unauthorized immigrants from Mexico was about 4 million in 2022, the lowest number since the 1990s. Mexico represented 37% of the unauthorized immigrant population, the smallest share on record. Factors contributing to this decrease include a general decline in migration from Mexico, some immigrants returning to Mexico, and expanded lawful immigration opportunities from Mexico and other countries.
Following Mexico, the countries with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations in the U.S. were El Salvador, India, Guatemala, and Honduras.
States such as Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Texas saw significant increases in unauthorized immigrant populations from 2019 to 2022. In contrast, California experienced a decrease during this period, though it still had the highest number of unauthorized immigrants.
Pew’s data also revealed that unauthorized immigrants made up about 4.8% of the U.S. workforce in 2022. While this figure increased from the previous three years, it remains below the peak level reached in 2007.
Since the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which opened U.S. immigration to Asia and Latin America, over 70 million immigrants have arrived in the country. About half of these immigrants have come from Latin America, with Mexico alone accounting for about a quarter. Another quarter of immigrants have come from Asia, particularly China, India, and the Philippines, along with significant numbers from Central America and the Caribbean.
The latest wave of immigrants has significantly altered the immigrant landscape in U.S. states. In 1980, German immigrants were the largest group in 19 states, Canadian immigrants in 11 states, and Mexicans in 10 states. By 2000, Mexicans were the largest group in 31 states, a stark change from a century ago when German and Italian immigrants dominated.
The U.S. remains the leading destination for international migrants, hosting one-fifth of the world’s international migrant population. However, other countries with large numbers of unauthorized immigrants, such as Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, India, and former Soviet Union countries, have also seen increases in unauthorized immigrant numbers from 2019 to 2022.