Study Finds Unauthorized Immigrants in U.S. Reach 12.2 Million

Key Takeaways

• Unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. reached 12.2 million in 2023, growing 6% annually since 2020.
• Six states hold 56% of unauthorized immigrants; Florida, New York, and New Jersey show fastest growth.
• New 2025 policies restrict birthright citizenship and expand deportations, impacting millions of long-term residents.

The population of unauthorized immigrants in the United States 🇺🇸 has become a central topic in immigration policy discussions, shaping debates about border security, economic contributions, and the future of millions of people living without permanent legal status. This analytical content examines the latest data and trends, focusing on the findings of the Center for Migration Studies, recent policy developments, and the broader implications for American society. The purpose is to provide a clear, objective overview of the current status of unauthorized immigrants, the methods used to estimate their numbers, and the challenges ahead.

Purpose and Scope

This analysis aims to:

• Present the most recent and reliable data on the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States 🇺🇸
• Explain the methodologies used by leading research organizations to estimate these numbers
• Highlight key demographic, economic, and geographic trends
• Examine recent policy changes and proposals affecting unauthorized immigrants
• Discuss the limitations and challenges in data collection and policy implementation

By focusing on these areas, the content provides a comprehensive, fact-based understanding for policymakers, researchers, and the general public.

Methodology

Data Sources and Estimation Techniques

Estimating the number of unauthorized immigrants is complex, as these individuals often avoid official detection. The main organizations providing estimates include:

• Center for Migration Studies: Uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, adjusting for undercounts and known patterns of migration.
• Pew Research Center: Employs the “residual method,” which subtracts the number of legal immigrants from the total foreign-born population to estimate the unauthorized share.
• Migration Policy Institute: Recently updated its approach to better account for new arrivals and possible undercounts.

These organizations rely on large-scale surveys, demographic modeling, and cross-checking with government data. However, their estimates can differ from official government statements. For example, while the Center for Migration Studies reports 12.2 million unauthorized immigrants as of 2023, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified in May 2025 that the number could be over 20 million. Such discrepancies highlight the challenges in obtaining precise figures.

Key Findings

Growth in Unauthorized Immigrant Population

• Total Population: The Center for Migration Studies estimates that the number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States 🇺🇸 reached 12.2 million in 2023.
• Recent Growth: This marks an increase of 2 million people from 2020 to 2023, with an average annual growth rate of about 6% during this period.
• Geographic Distribution: The six states with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations are:
  • California: 1.8 million
  • Texas: 1.6 million
  • Florida: 1.2 million
  • New York: 650,000
  • New Jersey: 475,000
  • Illinois: 400,000

Visual Description: Population Map

Imagine a map of the United States 🇺🇸 with the six largest states highlighted in bold colors. California and Texas have the largest circles, while Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have slightly smaller but still prominent circles. The rest of the country shows smaller, scattered dots, indicating a more even distribution than in previous decades.

Shifts in State-Level Trends

• Florida, New York, and New Jersey have seen the fastest growth in unauthorized immigrant populations.
• California has experienced a decrease of 120,000 unauthorized immigrants, while Florida has seen an increase of about 400,000.
• The concentration of unauthorized immigrants is less pronounced than in the past. In 2022, the top six states accounted for 56% of the total, down from 80% in 1990.

Visual Description: Bar Chart

Picture a bar chart with years on the x-axis and percentage of unauthorized immigrants in the top six states on the y-axis. The bars shrink over time, showing a clear trend toward a more even national distribution.

Demographic Characteristics and Community Integration

Length of Residence

• Long-Term Residents: 66% of unauthorized immigrants have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for over a decade.
• In California, this figure is even higher at 69%.

Family and Community Ties

• Mixed-Status Households: About 22 million people live in households with at least one unauthorized immigrant.
• U.S.-Born Children: Approximately 4.4 million U.S.-born children live with at least one undocumented parent.
• Of the 22 million in mixed-status households, 11 million are U.S. citizens or lawful immigrants.

Visual Description: Pie Chart

Imagine a pie chart where two-thirds of the pie represents unauthorized immigrants who have lived in the country for more than ten years. Another chart shows a large segment for U.S.-born children and lawful immigrants living in mixed-status households.

Economic Contributions

• Workforce Participation: Unauthorized immigrants make up 4.8% of the U.S. workforce as of 2022, though this is below the 2007 peak of 5.4%.
• Household Income: The total income of undocumented households is about $388.8 billion.

These figures show that unauthorized immigrants are a significant part of the labor force and contribute to the economy through work and spending.

Policy Developments and Legal Challenges

Recent Executive Actions

Since January 2025, the Trump administration has introduced several major policy changes:

1. Birthright Citizenship Restrictions: An executive order issued on January 20, 2025, aims to limit birthright citizenship for children born to mothers without legal status or with only temporary status, unless the father is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. This order applies to births after February 19, 2025.
2. Increased Border Enforcement: There has been a sharp rise in border patrols, with the Department of Defense providing support.
3. Deportation Priorities: The administration has made it a high priority to deport large numbers of unauthorized immigrants and strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border.

Proposed Policy Changes

Project 2025, a policy blueprint for the current administration, includes:

• Ending Relief Programs: Proposes ending protections for over 500,000 Dreamers (people brought to the U.S. as children) and 176,000 Ukrainians who fled war.
• Repealing Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Calls for Congress to end all TPS designations, affecting nearly 700,000 long-term residents.
• Expanding Work Verification: Recommends wider use of E-Verify, a system that checks if workers are legally allowed to work in the United States 🇺🇸. There are concerns about errors that could unfairly affect people of color.
• Local-Federal Enforcement: Suggests more involvement of state and local police in federal immigration enforcement, with penalties for areas that do not cooperate.

For more details on current immigration policies and enforcement, readers can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Policy Manual.

Data Presentation: Border Enforcement Trends

Recent Border Statistics

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for February 2025:

• Border Patrol Apprehensions: Nationwide, about 330 people per day were apprehended.
• Southwest Border: Apprehensions dropped to less than 300 per day.
• Sharp Decline: Only 8,347 people were caught crossing the southwest border between ports of entry in February 2025, a 71% decrease from January 2025 and a 94% decrease from February 2024.
• Ports of Entry: CBP’s Office of Field Operations encountered 3,362 inadmissible individuals at ports of entry along the southwest border, a 90% decrease from January 2025 and a 93% decrease from February 2024.

Visual Description: Line Graph

Picture a line graph with months on the x-axis and number of border apprehensions on the y-axis. The line drops steeply from early 2024 to early 2025, showing the dramatic decrease in border encounters.

Comparisons, Trends, and Patterns

Changing Geographic Patterns

• The unauthorized immigrant population is spreading more evenly across the United States 🇺🇸, with less concentration in traditional gateway states.
• States like Florida, New York, and New Jersey are seeing faster growth, while California’s numbers are declining.

Demographic Stability

• Most unauthorized immigrants are long-term residents with strong family and community ties.
• The number of U.S.-born children in mixed-status households highlights the deep integration of these families.

Economic Trends

• While the share of unauthorized immigrants in the workforce has declined since 2007, their total numbers and economic contributions remain significant.

Policy Impact

• Recent executive actions and proposed changes could affect millions, especially those who have lived in the country for many years or who have U.S.-born children.
• The expansion of enforcement and work verification could have broad effects on both immigrants and employers.

Evidence-Based Conclusions

• Population Growth: The unauthorized immigrant population has grown by 2 million since 2020, reaching 12.2 million in 2023, according to the Center for Migration Studies.
• Integration: Most unauthorized immigrants are deeply rooted in American society, with long-term residence and strong family ties.
• Economic Role: They are a vital part of the workforce and contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in household income.
• Policy Shifts: The Trump administration’s recent actions and Project 2025 proposals signal a move toward stricter enforcement and reduced protections for many groups.
• Data Challenges: Accurate population estimates are difficult due to survey response issues, possible undercounts, and differences in methodology. Official statements sometimes report much higher numbers than independent research organizations.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these trends highlight the ongoing debate over how best to address the presence and future of unauthorized immigrants in the United States 🇺🇸.

Limitations and Challenges

• Data Collection: Fear among immigrant communities and possible reductions in the federal workforce could lower response rates to surveys, making estimates less reliable.
• Policy Implementation: Mass deportation policies could change population numbers, but they may also drive people further underground, making them harder to count.
• Methodological Differences: Varying approaches among research organizations and government agencies lead to different estimates, complicating policy planning.
• Legal Uncertainty: Ongoing court challenges and changes in executive orders create uncertainty for unauthorized immigrants and their families.

Practical Guidance and Next Steps

For individuals, families, and employers affected by these changes:

• Stay Informed: Regularly check official sources like USCIS.gov for updates on policy changes, enforcement actions, and available protections.
• Know Your Rights: Understand the current laws and any new executive orders that may affect your status or that of your employees.
• Seek Legal Advice: If you or someone you know is affected by recent policy changes, consult a qualified immigration attorney for guidance.
• Community Support: Engage with local organizations that provide support and information to immigrant communities.

Summary

The unauthorized immigrant population in the United States 🇺🇸 is growing and changing, with more even distribution across states, deep community ties, and ongoing policy shifts. While the Center for Migration Studies estimates 12.2 million people without permanent legal status as of 2023, the true number is difficult to pinpoint due to data and policy challenges. As the country debates the future of immigration policy, the lives of millions of unauthorized immigrants—and the communities they are part of—remain in the balance.

Learn Today

Unauthorized Immigrants → Individuals living in the U.S. without permanent legal immigration status.
Center for Migration Studies → Research group estimating and analyzing immigration data including unauthorized populations.
Birthright Citizenship → Legal right to citizenship for anyone born in the United States regardless of parents’ status.
Residual Method → Technique estimating unauthorized immigrants by subtracting legal immigrants from total foreign-born population.
E-Verify → System used by employers to verify workers’ legal authorization to work in the U.S.

This Article in a Nutshell

The unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. hit 12.2 million in 2023, with shifting growth to eastern states. New 2025 policies aim to restrict citizenship and expand enforcement, signaling major changes for millions of immigrants deeply integrated into American society and economy.
— By VisaVerge.com