Legal immigration to the U.S. partially rebounds as national and global borders reopen
The number of immigrants receiving green cards as new lawful U.S. permanent residents bounced back last year to pre-pandemic levels.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
The number of immigrants receiving green cards as new lawful U.S. permanent residents bounced back last year to pre-pandemic levels.
About half of Americans see their identity reflected very well in the census’s race and ethnicity questions.
If unauthorized U.S. immigrants aren’t counted, 3 states could each lose a seat they otherwise would have had and 3 others each could gain one.
The U.S. Hispanic population reached 62.1 million in 2020, an increase of 23% over the previous decade.
There were 10.7 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2016, down from 12.2 million in 2007. The total is the lowest since 2004 and is tied to a decline in the number of Mexican unauthorized immigrants.
The increase from these countries exceeded modest growth of the overall foreign-born population and came amid a decline in immigrants from Mexico.
There were 8 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. working or looking for work in 2014, making up 5% of the civilian labor force.
The estimated total – 11.1 million in 2014 – has steadied since the end of the recession as the number declined from Mexico but grew from other countries.
Most U.S. unauthorized immigrants hold low-skilled service, construction and production jobs, but those shares have fallen since 2007. In the states, the leading industry employers are hospitality, manufacturing and construction.
From 2009 to 2012, the population of unauthorized immigrants rose in seven states and fell in 14. Losses in 13 states were due to drops in the number of unauthorized immigrants from Mexico.
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
© 2024 Pew Research Center