WASHINGTON, DC — July 12, 2024
The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has released its latest estimates revealing a slight increase in the size of the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States, reaching 11.3 million in mid-2022 from 11.2 million in 2021. Contrary to popular belief, this increase does not solely reflect recent border encounters but is influenced by various factors including departures, deportations, deaths, and adjustments in legal status.
A commentary by Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Julia Gelatt, and Jennifer Van Hook highlights that while encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border are frequent, they do not equate to a direct increase in the unauthorized population. Significant departures and legal adjustments, such as acquiring green cards, also shape these figures. The MPI’s estimates are derived from a residual method based on U.S. Census Bureau data, reflecting a nuanced approach to understanding demographic shifts.
The composition of the unauthorized immigrant population continues to diversify, reflecting changes over recent decades. While the Mexican unauthorized population has decreased by 34% since its peak in 2007, arrivals from countries like Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, Haiti, and various nations in Europe and Africa have contributed to recent increases. Latin America and the Caribbean remain primary regions of origin, comprising 80% of all unauthorized immigrants in 2022.
Looking ahead, forthcoming data will illuminate the evolving dynamics amid record border encounters observed in 2023 and 2024. These insights will provide a clearer picture of how the unauthorized immigrant population’s size and origins have evolved during this dynamic period.
The MPI’s analysis underscores the complex interplay of immigration policies, economic factors, and demographic shifts shaping the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States.
For further details, refer to the full MPI commentary on their latest estimates.
Related topics:
