California
Undocumented Immigration Estimates Reach Up to 15.8 Million in the U.S.
New estimates put the U.S. undocumented immigrant population in mid-2024 at 14.6 million to 15.8 million, a sharp increase from around 11 million in the 2010s. Since then the non-citizen population has likely dropped, but the number is unclear since…
Key points
- The undocumented immigrant population in the U.S. may reach 15.8 million by mid-2024.
- California, Texas, and Florida have the largest populations of undocumented immigrants.
- Fear of deportation may lead many immigrants to avoid participating in government surveys.
NewsWK — New estimates indicate that the population of undocumented immigrants in the United States could be as high as 15.8 million by mid-2024, a significant rise from approximately 11 million in the 2010s. The Migration Policy Institute attributed this increase primarily to record levels of unauthorized migrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as the Biden administration’s expanded use of humanitarian parole programs.
The estimates vary, with the Center for Migration Studies of New York placing the undocumented population at 14.6 million. Both organizations utilize proprietary methods to adjust U.S. Census Bureau data and other statistics to arrive at their figures.
California has the largest undocumented immigrant population at 2.6 million, followed by Texas (2.3 million) and Florida (1.4 million). Other states with significant populations include New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington, and Virginia.
While these estimates provide insight into the undocumented population, a recent federal survey indicates a potential decrease in non-citizen numbers, likely due to immigrants’ reluctance to engage with government surveys out of fear of deportation. The report from the Center for Migration Studies suggested that many immigrants targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may be avoiding such interactions.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting by Tim Henderson originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
