What the data says about immigrants in the U.S. - Pew Research Center
Key Takeaways
- Pew Research Center compiles the newest figures showing roughly 46 million foreign-born residents in the U.S., about 14% of the population.
- Most immigrants are lawfully present; Pew estimates about 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants in 2021, below the 2007 peak.
- Mexico remains the largest country of origin, but its share has fallen as arrivals from Asia, Central America, and elsewhere grow.
- About half of immigrants are naturalized U.S. citizens; roughly 1 million people gain lawful permanent residence (“green cards”) each year.
- The data frame ongoing policy debates and matter directly for visa backlogs, naturalization plans, and legalization options.
What the numbers show
Pew Research Center’s updated explainer on immigrants in the United States draws on federal data to map the size, makeup, and legal status of the foreign-born population. According to Pew’s summary of the latest American Community Survey (ACS) and Department of Homeland Security data, about 46 million people living in the U.S. were born abroad, representing roughly 14% of the total population—approaching shares last seen in the early 1900s. Most are in the country lawfully, including naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs, or “green card” holders), and people on temporary visas. Pew estimates the unauthorized immigrant population at about 10.5 million in 2021—up modestly from 2019 but still well below its 2007 peak of roughly 12 million.
Who immigrants are and where they live
The report highlights shifting origins. Mexico remains the single largest source country, but its share of all U.S. immigrants has declined over time as the number from Asia—particularly India and China—has grown. It has been reported that Central American and Venezuelan migrants have also increased in recent years, reflecting regional crises and changing migration routes. Immigrants remain concentrated in long-established destinations such as California, Texas, Florida, New York, and New Jersey, yet newer hubs in the South and Mountain West have seen faster growth, reshaping local labor markets, schools, and services.
What this means for people navigating the system
For families and employers, the scale and composition of immigration underscore why application queues can be long. USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) receives millions of filings annually, and statutory caps and per-country limits under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) can keep some family- and employment-based green card applicants waiting years. About half of immigrants are already naturalized; eligible LPRs can typically apply for citizenship after five years (three if married to a U.S. citizen), though processing times vary by field office. Options for those without status remain limited; initial DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) applications are still blocked by a federal court, while asylum systems face significant backlogs. Bottom line: check current visa bulletin cutoffs, USCIS processing times, and fees before filing—and consider legal advice to navigate the bottlenecks that the data help explain.
Source: Original Article