The immigrant population in the US is growing again, reaching a record high of over 46 million, according to the latest estimates from the US Census Bureau. This is a significant increase of nearly one million people from the previous year – a remarkable development given that growth had slowed in recent years due to various factors, including Trump’s anti-immigration policies and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The foreign-born share of the US population, which had remained relatively stable since 2017, rose to nearly 14% according to the latest data, making 2022’s growth as substantial as the previous four years combined.
At the state level, Florida saw the largest increase in its foreign-born population, adding more than 200,000 immigrants in the past year. This was more than double the growth in the state with the second largest increase, Georgia, where immigrants will make up 10.7% of the state’s population in 2022.
The Census data also highlights increases in immigrant populations in other states such as Maryland, New Jersey and Iowa, in part due to existing support systems and established immigrant communities in these areas.
This latest census data underscores the evolving nature of the immigrant population in the US, with notable changes in where these individuals are immigrating from and their educational attainment. The data show a significant increase in the number of immigrants from Latin America and Asia. Many of the new immigrants also have undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, challenging the stereotype that immigrants are predominantly low-skilled and dependent on government assistance.
Experts attribute the renewed growth to several factors, including the gradual resumption of visa processing, which was halted during the pandemic. The increased numbers of immigrants are a sign that the US immigration system is working more effectively, with more people being admitted after a period of restricted immigration. The Biden administration’s efforts to admit tens of thousands of people under new humanitarian parole programmes have contributed to the increase, in addition to the recent surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border.
