While the official numbers tell a story of 2.5 million encounters at our southern border last year, the true narrative of American immigration is a complex tapestry woven from 46 million lives, spanning from billion-dollar startups to essential workers keeping our communities running.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 2,475,669 encounters at the southwest land border, a 7% decrease from FY 2022.
- From October 2022 to September 2023, there were 1,721,000 migrant encounters processed by CBP at the U.S.-Mexico border excluding Title 42 expulsions.
- In FY 2023, CBP Office of Field Operations had 780,000 encounters at ports of entry along the southwest border.
- The foreign-born population in the U.S. reached 46.2 million in 2022, 13.9% of total population.
- In 2023, 45.3 million immigrants lived in U.S., up from 44.8 million in 2022.
- Mexico remains top origin country with 10.6 million immigrants in 2022.
- Legal permanent residents adjusted status: 818,500 in FY 2022.
- H-1B visas issued: 386,000 in FY 2023.
- Family-sponsored green cards: 447,000 in FY 2022.
- Immigrants fill 18% of U.S. labor force in 2023.
- Foreign-born unemployment rate: 3.4% in 2023, below native 3.8%.
- Immigrants started 55% of U.S. billion-dollar startups.
- ICE deportations: 142,580 in FY 2023.
- ICE interior removals: 67,000 in FY 2023.
- Border Patrol apprehensions led to 1.1 million removals FY 2023.
While record immigration has changed America, border numbers declined in 2023.
Border Encounters
1In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 2,475,669 encounters at the southwest land border, a 7% decrease from FY 2022.
Verified2From October 2022 to September 2023, there were 1,721,000 migrant encounters processed by CBP at the U.S.-Mexico border excluding Title 42 expulsions.
Verified3In FY 2023, CBP Office of Field Operations had 780,000 encounters at ports of entry along the southwest border.
Verified4USBP Southwest Border Encounters in December 2023 reached 249,741, including 41,678 unaccompanied children.
Directional5In FY 2022, total nationwide migrant encounters by CBP were 2,766,582, with 98% at the southwest border.
Single source6From FY 2019 to FY 2023, southwest border encounters increased by 500%, from 851,508 to over 2.4 million.
Verified7In September 2023, USBP apprehensions at southwest border were 180,946, down 42% from August.
Verified8FY 2023 saw 670,674 expulsions under Title 8 at southwest border by CBP.
Verified9Gotaways estimated at 1.6 million since FY 2021 by House Committee on Homeland Security.
Directional10In FY 2023, 169,000 migrants were released into the U.S. with Notices to Appear by CBP.
Single source11CBP encountered 151,000 known or suspected terrorists at borders from FY 2017-2023.
Verified12Southwest border encounters in FY 2024 through July hit 2.3 million.
Verified13In March 2024, CBP recorded 189,922 encounters at southwest border.
Verified14FY 2021 southwest border encounters were 1,734,686, up 300% from FY 2020.
Directional15Unaccompanied minors encountered at southwest border in FY 2023: 137,000.
Single source16Family unit encounters at southwest border FY 2023: 455,000.
Verified17Single adults comprised 67% of southwest border encounters in FY 2023.
Verified18CBP paroled 1.1 million migrants into U.S. via CHNV program by March 2024.
Verified19In FY 2023, 96% of southwest border encounters were non-citizens from outside Mexico/Canada.
Directional20Northern border encounters rose 800% in FY 2023 to 190,000.
Single sourceBorder Encounters Interpretation
Despite a brief dip in some months, the border has seen a staggering, sustained surge, with encounters quintupling since 2019, highlighting a system under extraordinary and continuous pressure.
Economic Impacts
1Immigrants fill 18% of U.S. labor force in 2023.
Verified2Foreign-born unemployment rate: 3.4% in 2023, below native 3.8%.
Verified3Immigrants started 55% of U.S. billion-dollar startups.
Verified4Undocumented immigrants paid $35.1 billion in taxes in 2022.
Directional5Immigrants contribute $2 trillion to U.S. GDP annually.
Single source6H-1B workers boost firm productivity by 10-20%.
Verified7Foreign-born labor force participation: 65.8% vs 61.3% natives in 2023.
Verified8Immigrants 28% of U.S. physicians, 24% nurses in 2022.
Verified9Remittances from U.S. immigrants: $80 billion to Mexico in 2023.
Directional10Immigrant-owned firms: 3 million, employ 8 million, $1.3 trillion revenue in 2022.
Single source11Net fiscal impact of immigrants positive $279 billion over 75 years per NAS.
Verified12Undocumented remit $150 billion globally from U.S. yearly.
Verified13STEM immigrants file patents at twice native rate.
Verified14Immigrants 26% of entrepreneurs in 2023.
Directional15Foreign-born median household income: $70,100 vs $68,700 natives in 2022.
Single source16CBO projects immigration adds $7 trillion to GDP by 2033.
Verified17Immigrants reduce housing prices by increasing supply via construction labor.
Verified1880% of recent hiring growth in construction by immigrants.
Verified19Refugee economic contributions: $63,000 net per capita over 20 years.
Directional20TPS holders paid $14 billion in taxes in 2022.
Single sourceEconomic Impacts Interpretation
America’s economic engine is humming along thanks to immigrants, who are busy building our homes, staffing our hospitals, starting our most innovative companies, and paying billions in taxes—all while somehow managing to have a lower unemployment rate than the rest of us.
Enforcement
1ICE deportations: 142,580 in FY 2023.
Verified2ICE interior removals: 67,000 in FY 2023.
Verified3Border Patrol apprehensions led to 1.1 million removals FY 2023.
Verified4Total DHS removals/returns: 1.5 million in FY 2023.
Directional5ERO detained 168,000 noncitizens on average daily in FY 2023.
Single source6Fugitive Operations arrested 32,000 criminal noncitizens FY 2023.
Verified7Criminal noncitizen removals: 78% of total ICE removals FY 2023.
Verified8CBP Title 42 expulsions: 2.8 million since March 2020.
Verified9ICE alternatives to detention monitored 200,000 daily FY 2023.
Directional10271,000 criminal aliens removed by ICE FY 2019-2023.
Single source11Sanctuary jurisdictions: 600+ limit ICE cooperation.
Verified12Visa overstays: 666,000 estimated in FY 2022.
Verified13ICE arrests: 73,000 total in FY 2023.
Verified14Non-detained docket: 7.7 million cases in FY 2023.
Directional15EOIR immigration judges: 700 handling 3 million cases in 2023.
Single source16Asylum case backlog: 1.5 million pending in 2024.
Verified17CBP One app encounters: 500,000 appointments since Jan 2023.
Verified18Narcotics seizures at border: 27,000 lbs fentanyl FY 2023.
Verified19Human smuggling prosecutions: 4,500 by DOJ FY 2023.
Directional20ICE HSI investigations: 50,000 cases FY 2023.
Single source21Returns to Mexico under Title 42: 1.1 million FY 2023.
VerifiedEnforcement Interpretation
The sheer scale of these figures reveals a system furiously bailing out a boat while new holes appear faster than the old ones can be plugged.
Immigrant Population
1The foreign-born population in the U.S. reached 46.2 million in 2022, 13.9% of total population.
Verified2In 2023, 45.3 million immigrants lived in U.S., up from 44.8 million in 2022.
Verified3Mexico remains top origin country with 10.6 million immigrants in 2022.
Verified4India overtook China as second-largest immigrant origin with 2.8 million in 2023.
Directional550% of U.S. immigrants in 2022 were naturalized citizens.
Single source6Undocumented immigrants estimated at 11.0 million in 2022 by DHS.
Verified745% of immigrants arrived before 2000 as of 2022.
Verified8Asian immigrants numbered 15.5 million in 2022, 34% of total immigrants.
Verified9Hispanic immigrants: 21.4 million in 2022, 47% of total.
Directional10California hosts 10.6 million immigrants, 27% of state population in 2022.
Single source11Florida's immigrant population grew 25% from 2018-2023 to 3 million.
Verified12Immigrants under 18: 5.2 million in 2022, 17% of foreign-born.
Verified1326% of immigrants aged 65+ in 2022, higher than U.S.-born rate.
Verified14Limited English proficient immigrants: 22 million in 2022, 49% of total immigrants.
Directional1577% of immigrants have health insurance in 2022, vs 92% U.S.-born.
Single source16Immigrant population share doubled from 5% in 1970 to 14% in 2022.
Verified17Top 5 metro areas for immigrants: NYC (5M), LA (4.8M), Miami (2.7M), Houston (2.6M), DC (1.9M) in 2022.
Verified18Recent immigrants (2018-2022): 7.8 million, 17% of total immigrants.
Verified19Undocumented women and children: 4.4 million in 2022.
Directional20In 2022, 18.7 million immigrant households, average size 3.1 persons.
Single sourceImmigrant Population Interpretation
The portrait of modern America is being painted in a vibrant, global palette, as nearly one in seven residents now brings a story from abroad, weaving new threads into the national fabric from California classrooms to Florida retirement communities, even as the nation grapples with the practical complexities of integration and the shadows of undocumented status.
Legal Immigration
1Legal permanent residents adjusted status: 818,500 in FY 2022.
Verified2H-1B visas issued: 386,000 in FY 2023.
Verified3Family-sponsored green cards: 447,000 in FY 2022.
Verified4Employment-based green cards: 161,000 in FY 2022.
Directional5Naturalizations: 969,000 in FY 2023, highest since 2008.
Single source6Diversity Visa lottery winners: 55,000 in FY 2023.
Verified7Refugee admissions: 60,000 in FY 2023.
Verified8Asylum grants: 54,350 in FY 2022.
Verified9Student visas (F-1): 446,000 issued in FY 2023.
Directional10H-2A temporary agricultural visas: 250,000 in FY 2023.
Single source11L-1 intracompany transfer visas: 85,000 in FY 2023.
Verified12EB-5 investor visas: 11,000 in FY 2022.
Verified13Parolees under humanitarian parole: 500,000 in FY 2023.
Verified14TPS beneficiaries: 850,000 active designations in 2023.
Directional15DACA recipients: 580,000 active in 2023.
Single source16Nonimmigrant admissions: 170 million in CY 2022.
Verified17B-1/B-2 tourist visas: 7.8 million issued in FY 2023.
Verified18J-1 exchange visitor visas: 320,000 in FY 2023.
Verified19Immigrant visas issued abroad: 470,000 in FY 2022.
Directional20H-4 dependent visas: 140,000 in FY 2023.
Single sourceLegal Immigration Interpretation
While the path to American citizenship is a complex and often contentious tapestry, the data reveals a nation still stitching itself together, one new arrival at a time, through a mix of love, labor, lottery, and last resort.
Sources & References
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