What we know about unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S.
The unauthorized immigrant population in the United States reached 10.5 million in 2021. That was a modest increase over 2019 but nearly identical to 2017.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
The unauthorized immigrant population in the United States reached 10.5 million in 2021. That was a modest increase over 2019 but nearly identical to 2017.
Majorities of White Christian groups say the large number of migrants seeking to enter at the border with Mexico is a “crisis” for the United States.
Just 23% of Americans say the government is doing a good job dealing with the large number of people seeking asylum at the border, while 73% say it’s doing a bad job.
The U.S. Border Patrol had nearly 250,000 encounters with migrants crossing into the United States from Mexico in December 2023.
There are sizable ideological differences over the most pressing priorities for the U.S. immigration system within each partisan coalition.
As the debate over the future of Title 42 unfolds, here are answers to key questions about the immigration policy.
Nearly four-in-ten Latinos (39%) say they worry that they, a family member or someone close to them could be deported.
Latinos agree that the U.S. immigration system needs an overhaul; large shares say it requires major changes or needs to be completely rebuilt.
The unauthorized immigrant population’s size and composition has ebbed and flowed significantly over the past 30 years.
The U.S. Border Patrol reported more than 1.6 million encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in the 2021 fiscal year.
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