Sign in Subscribe
Immigrants

Unauthorized Immigrant Population in the US Continues to Grow

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has released its latest estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States, finding that the number has grown to 11.3 million in mid-2022. This represents a slight increase from 11.2 million in 2021 and 11.0 million in 2019. The MPI notes that while the number of border encounters has increased, the unauthorized population is also influenced by exits, such as deportations, voluntary departures, deaths, and successful green card applications.

Key Takeaways:

  • The unauthorized immigrant population in the US has grown to 11.3 million in mid-2022, according to MPI estimates.
  • The population has increased from 11.0 million in 2019 and 11.2 million in 2021.
  • The growth in the unauthorized population is driven by migration from countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Haiti, as well as Europe and Africa.
  • The Mexican unauthorized population has declined 34% from its peak of 7.7 million in 2007.
  • Migrants from Latin America and the Caribbean account for 80% of all unauthorized immigrants in 2022.
  • The MPI used a residual method to estimate the unauthorized population by subtracting estimates of the legally resident foreign born from the total immigrant population recorded in the ACS.
  • The estimates reflect the growing diversification of the US unauthorized population and the impact of emigration of Mexican unauthorized immigrants.

Statistics:

  • 11.3 million: Estimated size of the unauthorized immigrant population in the US in mid-2022.
  • 11.2 million: Estimated size of the unauthorized immigrant population in 2021.
  • 11.0 million: Estimated size of the unauthorized immigrant population in 2019.
  • 5.1 million: Estimated size of the Mexican unauthorized population in mid-2022.
  • 7.7 million: Peak number of Mexican unauthorized immigrants in 2007.
  • 34%: Decline in the Mexican unauthorized population from its peak in 2007.
  • 80%: Percentage of unauthorized immigrants in 2022 from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sources:

  • Migration Policy Institute. (2024, July 11). Latest Estimates of the US Unauthorized Immigrant Population. Retrieved from www.migrationpolicy.org/news/us-unauthorized-population-diversifying.
  • Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Julia Gelatt, & Jennifer Van Hook. (2024, July 11). The Unauthorized Population is Shaped by Entries and Exits. Retrieved from www.migrationpolicy.org/news/us-unauthorized-population-diversifying.

Read more