Unauthorized immigrant population in U.S. reaches 11 million

WASHINGTON — The United States was home to an estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in 2022, nearly one-fifth of the nation’s total foreign-born population, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.

The number, drawn from census data and federal records, represents about 22% of the country’s 46.2 million immigrants. It reflects only modest changes from recent years, highlighting how the size of the unauthorized population has remained relatively stable despite sharp political debate over border security and immigration policy.

Shifting origins

Mexico remains the single largest country of origin for unauthorized immigrants, accounting for about 39% of the total, or 4.3 million people. But the share of Mexicans has declined steadily since 2007, when 6.9 million Mexicans made up more than half of all unauthorized immigrants in the U.S.

In contrast, the number of unauthorized immigrants from other regions has increased. Roughly 2.1 million were from Asia in 2022, compared with 1.6 million in 2007. South and Central America (excluding Mexico) accounted for 3.4 million, up from 2.4 million. Populations from Africa and Europe, though smaller, have also grown.

The changing composition reflects both tighter U.S. border enforcement with Mexico and rising migration pressures from countries experiencing political instability, economic collapse, or conflict.

State-level distribution

Unauthorized immigrants are not spread evenly across the United States. Pew estimates that five states — California, Texas, Florida, New York and New Jersey — together host nearly 60% of the unauthorized population.

California, long a top destination, had about 1.9 million unauthorized residents in 2022, down from a peak of 2.8 million in 2007. Texas had 1.6 million, while Florida’s 1.1 million marked a steady increase over the past decade. New York and New Jersey together accounted for about 1.1 million.

Some states, including Colorado, Maryland and North Carolina, have also seen rising numbers of unauthorized immigrants, while traditional gateway states in the Midwest and Northeast have experienced declines.

Workforce impact

About 7.8 million unauthorized immigrants were part of the U.S. labor force in 2022, making up nearly 5% of all workers. They are heavily represented in industries such as agriculture, construction, hospitality and certain service sectors.

Unauthorized immigrants tend to be younger than the overall U.S. workforce and are less likely to hold college degrees. While they fill vital roles in several industries, they often face barriers to higher-paying jobs and are excluded from many federal benefit programs.

Policy and public debate

The release of the new data comes amid heightened debate in Washington and across the states over immigration enforcement, asylum rules and pathways to legal status.

Congress has not passed major immigration reform in nearly four decades. Proposals to provide permanent residency to long-term unauthorized immigrants — often referred to as “Dreamers” if they arrived as children — remain stalled. Meanwhile, several states have passed laws either expanding benefits and protections for unauthorized residents or restricting access to housing, education and work.

Public opinion is divided. Pew surveys show most Americans support providing a path to legal status for long-term residents without authorization, but large partisan differences remain over border security and enforcement priorities.

Methodology notes

Pew’s estimates are based on a “residual methodology,” which compares official counts of the foreign-born population with administrative records of legally admitted immigrants. The difference is used to approximate the size of the unauthorized population.

While precise numbers are difficult to establish, the methodology is widely used by demographers and considered the most reliable available.

Broader immigrant trends

The overall immigrant population in the United States — both legal and unauthorized — stood at 46.2 million in 2022, representing 14% of the total U.S. population. That share has been steadily rising since the 1970s but remains below the historic high of nearly 15% recorded in 1890.

Within that group, the unauthorized share has remained relatively stable for more than a decade, ranging between 10.5 million and 12 million since 2010.

Political stakes

The findings are likely to fuel further debate as immigration remains a flashpoint in the 2024 presidential race and in state-level politics. Both major parties face pressure from voters over border management and humanitarian responses to asylum seekers.

For Democrats, the challenge lies in balancing calls for legalization with concerns over border enforcement. For Republicans, the focus has been on expanding enforcement measures, often framing unauthorized immigration as a national security issue.

Pew’s report underscores that while the overall numbers have not surged dramatically, the presence of 11 million unauthorized immigrants continues to shape the U.S. labor market, communities, and political discourse.

This is an edited and summarized version of the report published by Pew Research Center.