Mexico Dominates El Paso’s Immigrant Influx: The Primary Source

(EL PASO) Mexico remains the clear main source of new and long-time immigrants in El Paso, even as border crossings and new arrivals have dropped sharply since mid-2024 under tighter rules and enforcement. The city’s foreign-born population has edged down since last year, reflecting a broader fall across the United States as deportations rose and fewer people reached the border to ask for protection. Yet the El Paso Border Patrol Sector still recorded the highest number of attempted illegal crossings along the border in July 2025, according to federal data, showing that the region’s role in the national picture remains central.

Country of origin and population breakdown

The most recent detailed breakdown by country, based on 2023 five-year estimates (still the latest available by origin as of August 2025), shows Mexico accounts for more than 176,000 foreign-born residents—about 87% of El Paso’s immigrant community. Every other top country makes up less than 1% each.

That heavy share mirrors a century of family ties, work links, and daily travel between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. Even during this period of fewer crossings, Mexico’s long roots in the city keep it the dominant origin.

The latest country-of-origin breakdown for El Paso’s foreign-born population:

1. Mexico: 176,000+ (about 87%)
2. Germany: 1,900 (0.93%)
3. India: 1,600 (0.81%)
4. Philippines: 1,400 (0.69%)
5. China: 1,200 (0.60%)
6. Cuba: 1,100 (0.54%)
7. Vietnam: 1,000 (0.49%)
8. Jamaica: 714 (0.36%)
9. Colombia: 622 (0.31%)
10. El Salvador: 618 (0.31%)

Each non-Mexico group makes up less than 1% of the city’s foreign-born residents. The list includes long-settled communities that grew around work and military ties, as well as newer arrivals from the Americas and Asia. It reflects El Paso’s role as a border city and a regional center for trade and education.

Federal and sector-level trends

Federal numbers underscore the shift in flows. In June 2025, total Border Patrol encounters nationwide fell to just over 6,000 for the month — a steep drop from 87,606 in June 2024. Officials linked the change to tighter asylum rules, more returns, and stepped-up enforcement since mid-2024.

In July 2025, the El Paso sector still led the border in attempted illegal crossings even as totals fell across other sectors. That mix—lower overall traffic but persistent pressure in El Paso—shapes migrant choices and the workload for agencies and local services.

To see the official monthly numbers, readers can review the U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics for border encounters at the Southwest border, posted at CBP’s data page. Federal officials have highlighted the same trends in public briefings: fewer total encounters than a year ago and shifting patterns among sectors, with El Paso’s role staying large relative to other stretches of the border.

Local population counts and status

• El Paso’s foreign-born population peaked above 215,000 in 2019.
• New estimates put the figure near 202,200 (as of mid-2025).
• Local groups report more departures and removals than arrivals since January 2025.
• Roughly 47% of immigrants in El Paso are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• About 46,200 are undocumented, with an estimated 95% born in Mexico.

These numbers help explain why even small changes at the border quickly ripple through El Paso’s neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

Policy shifts and enforcement

Policy shifts over the past year set the backdrop:

• June 2024: President Biden announced new limits on who can seek asylum between ports of entry, followed by a sharp decline in encounters.
• January–August 2025: The Trump administration moved forward with 181 executive actions aimed at curbing new arrivals and increasing deportations, which further reduced new entries and shrank the foreign-born population in metro areas like El Paso.
• Late 2022 onward: Texas added measures through Operation Lone Star, with El Paso joining that effort.

While details vary, the combined effect has been fewer crossings and more removals.

Human and community impacts

El Paso has felt several direct consequences of these shifts:

• Families experience immediate effects when removals rise: loss of breadwinners, reorganized care for children who are U.S. citizens, and increased anxiety among students.
• Employers report sudden gaps in crews, especially in industries relying on mixed-status households (retail, warehousing, home care, logistics, food service). Hiring plans became more cautious in 2025.
• Schools and clinics see elevated demand for mental health services after long journeys or separation. Counselors report higher anxiety and attendance impacts.
• Nonprofits and shelters now plan for flexible capacity rather than permanent large-scale setups because arrivals come in waves.

“With fewer people arriving at once, the city now faces periodic surges rather than constant large flows, which can still overwhelm services when they happen.” — analysis by VisaVerge.com

VisaVerge.com reports that this rare combination—bigger national drop but a still-busy El Paso sector—has changed how aid groups and local government plan for shelter space, food, and short-term travel help.

Operational realities at street level

At street level, staff and volunteers describe cycles of lulls and spikes:

• During spikes, workers:
  • Restart overflow plans, move cots and supplies into extra rooms.
  • Call partner agencies for food and hygiene kits.
  • Shift staff to manage short-term needs.
• Between spikes, facilities:
  • Clean and restock supplies.
  • Wait for the next wave.

This cycle requires flexible funding and logistics because stores of basic goods can sit for weeks and then be used up in a single weekend.

Importance of legal status and mixed-status households

Legal status strongly shapes daily life in El Paso:

• Nearly 47% naturalized citizens can vote and qualify for a wider range of jobs.
• The remaining population includes lawful permanent residents, people with temporary status, and undocumented residents.
• Many households are mixed-status, producing different barriers and needs under the same roof. Service groups now spend more time explaining rules that affect family members differently.

Safety concerns and desert crossings

The El Paso sector was reported as the deadliest crossing point along the border in 2024, driven by more migrant deaths in remote desert areas. That status has heavy consequences:

• Strain on rescue operations, local medical, and emergency services.
• Emotional weight on families and binational communities.
• Aid groups warn against trusting smugglers and promote safer choices.

Economic impacts and employer responses

Businesses watch trends closely because cross-border movement supports both goods and labor:

• Logistics firms, factories, and retail rely on steady cross-border movement.
• Employers can handle modest drops but sudden dips strain schedules and operations.
• Hiring plans in 2025 are more cautious, especially where roles depend on newcomers.

Historical context and future outlook

The long view helps place 2024–2025 in context:

• Foreign-born population rose for decades, peaked in 2019, dipped, and now shows a further slide.
• Patterns follow national cycles tied to policy and economic conditions in both countries.
• Analysts say if current policies persist through the end of 2025, the foreign-born total could fall further, while Mexico remains the dominant origin.

Looking ahead, likely outcomes if policies remain unchanged:

1. New arrivals should stay low.
2. Removals may continue at higher levels than in 2023.
3. El Paso’s foreign-born population could dip further.
4. Aid groups will keep flexible systems in place; city officials will monitor sector traffic for sudden spikes.
5. Employers may keep slower hiring plans, especially ahead of holiday seasons.

What residents and organizations are doing

• Schools maintain strong Spanish-language programs and provide stability for mixed-status families.
• Clinics and hospitals train staff for mixed-status household needs.
• The City of El Paso’s International Bridges Department tracks crossing data to monitor daily rhythms.
• Community groups, churches, and nonprofits adjust programs to support changing needs, including legal help and mental health services.

Key takeaways

• Mexico is still by far the largest source of immigrants in El Paso, about 87% of the foreign-born population.
• The El Paso sector remains a top crossing point, even as national totals plunged — down about 93% in June 2025 vs. June 2024, and down 91.8% year-over-year in July.
• Local counts show the foreign-born population in El Paso has slipped from above 215,000 in 2019 to around 202,200.
• Approximately 46,200 undocumented residents live in the metro area (about 95% from Mexico).
• About 47% of the city’s immigrants are naturalized U.S. citizens.

These core facts describe a border city that still runs on cross-border life while adapting to fast-changing rules. The current decline in new arrivals changes daily pace but not the city’s identity. As federal and state actions continue through 2025, El Paso will keep adjusting—one family, one school, one workplace at a time—holding on to the binational ties that have shaped the border for generations.

For ongoing federal numbers, CBP posts monthly updates and encounter statistics at CBP’s data page. Researchers at Pew and the American Immigration Council will continue updating reports on employment, citizenship, and demographics, which local officials and community groups use to guide planning and response.