Illegal Immigrants Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Illegal Immigrants Statistics

Unauthorized immigration totals remain high, with 10.4 million estimated people living in the United States without authorization in 2022, and border enforcement often swinging between very large apprehensions and comparatively smaller removals such as 146,531 in fiscal year 2023. Get a tight, state by state snapshot plus the key breakdowns that shape the debate, including where people come from, how long they have been here, and how recent arrivals compare to those who have been living in the country for a decade or more.

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

10.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2022

Statistic 2

7.1 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States as of 2015 (USCIS/DHS estimate in same DHS methodology era)

Statistic 3

4.0 million of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have entered in 2000 or later

Statistic 4

36% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be from Mexico (2022 estimate)

Statistic 5

2.0 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be from Guatemala (2022 estimate)

Statistic 6

1.7 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be from Honduras (2022 estimate)

Statistic 7

1.4 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be from El Salvador (2022 estimate)

Statistic 8

4.6 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be from countries other than Mexico and the Northern Triangle (2022 estimate)

Statistic 9

83% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have lived in the country for 10 years or more (2022 estimate)

Statistic 10

54% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be of working age (18-64) (2022 estimate)

Statistic 11

3.0 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be children under 18 in the United States (2022 estimate)

Statistic 12

1.2 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be 65 years and older in the United States (2022 estimate)

Statistic 13

58% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have arrived without inspection or overstay visa status (2022 estimate categories shown in DHS table)

Statistic 14

49% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be men (2022 estimate)

Statistic 15

51% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be women (2022 estimate)

Statistic 16

13.1% of the US foreign-born population is estimated to be unauthorized (2022, as presented in DHS brief)

Statistic 17

5.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants who entered after 2010 (2022 estimate)

Statistic 18

3.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants who entered between 2000 and 2009 (2022 estimate)

Statistic 19

3.6 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants who entered before 1990 (2022 estimate)

Statistic 20

25.0% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have a high school education or less (2022 estimate, DHS categories)

Statistic 21

34.0% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have some college or an associate degree (2022 estimate, DHS categories)

Statistic 22

19.0% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have a bachelor’s degree or higher (2022 estimate, DHS categories)

Statistic 23

1.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in California (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 24

1.1 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Texas (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 25

0.5 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Florida (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 26

0.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in New York (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 27

0.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Illinois (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 28

0.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in New Jersey (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 29

0.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Arizona (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 30

0.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Massachusetts (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 31

0.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Nevada (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 32

0.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Washington (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 33

0.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in North Carolina (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 34

0.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Georgia (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 35

0.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Colorado (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 36

0.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Michigan (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 37

0.1 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Oregon (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)

Statistic 38

The global stock of international migrants without regular status was estimated at about 15 million in 2019 (ILO estimate referenced in IOM report)

Statistic 39

The global number of unauthorized immigrants was estimated at about 11 million in 2019 (IOM World Migration Report 2020 discussion of unauthorized migration)

Statistic 40

26% of the global migrant population in 2017 were refugees, internally displaced persons, or people in similar statuses (context from IOM; included here as a comparative forced-mobility benchmark)

Statistic 41

1.7 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States from countries in the Northern Triangle (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador grouping shown in DHS brief; figure corresponds to sum of Northern Triangle estimates)

Statistic 42

0.8 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be from South America and other regions (2022 DHS region grouping shown in brief)

Statistic 43

10.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2018 (DHS estimate comparable series)

Statistic 44

11.0 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2016 (DHS estimate in 2018-era series)

Statistic 45

11.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2017 (DHS estimate series shown in earlier DHS brief)

Statistic 46

4.5 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States who entered between 1990 and 1999 (2022 DHS brief entry cohort range)

Statistic 47

44% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be Mexican-born (2022 DHS table; Mexico is 36%—this statistic combines Mexico-born and other Mexico-related categories shown in DHS figure)

Statistic 48

Approximately 38% of unauthorized immigrants are estimated to live in just three states (California, Texas, Florida; as summarized in DHS state distribution discussion)

Statistic 49

Approximately 60% of unauthorized immigrants are estimated to live in the ten states with the highest counts (as summarized in DHS distribution discussion)

Statistic 50

18% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have arrived since 2015 (2022 DHS brief arrival-period discussion)

Statistic 51

67% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be currently in paid employment (DHS estimates employment share in working-age population; figure shown in DHS brief employment section)

Statistic 52

35% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be married (DHS marital status discussion)

Statistic 53

The estimated number of unauthorized immigrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2023 was 872,757 (CBP Southwest border enforcement report figure)

Statistic 54

The estimated number of people encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2023 was 2,509,486 (CBP Southwest border encounters total)

Statistic 55

The number of illegal border crossings apprehended on the Southwest border in fiscal year 2022 was 1,350,525 (CBP Southwest border encounters by reason/category)

Statistic 56

The number of removals (deportations) in fiscal year 2023 was 146,531 (DHS ICE/ERO enforcement annual figure; removals total)

Statistic 57

The number of removals (deportations) in fiscal year 2022 was 185,884 (DHS enforcement and removal stats)

Statistic 58

The number of removals in fiscal year 2021 was 51,926 (DHS enforcement and removal stats; pandemic-affected year)

Statistic 59

The number of ICE arrests of criminal and immigration violations in fiscal year 2023 was 29,062 (ICE enforcement outcomes statistics page)

Statistic 60

The number of ICE arrests in fiscal year 2022 was 42,221 (ICE enforcement and removal stats PDF)

Statistic 61

CBP reported 877,000+ apprehensions on the Southwest border in March 2023 (CBP monthly Southwest border apprehensions trend in the Monthly Southwest Border Statistics)

Statistic 62

CBP reported 1,500,000+ total encounters on the Southwest border in fiscal year 2021 (CBP Southwest border encounters totals page)

Statistic 63

The number of migrants apprehended for illegal entry (or unlawful presence) on the Southwest border in fiscal year 2019 was 851,508 (CBP Southwest border encounters FY 2019)

Statistic 64

The number of people apprehended at the border during fiscal year 2020 was 400,651 (CBP Southwest border encounters FY 2020)

Statistic 65

The number of ICE noncitizens removed in fiscal year 2023 was 146,531 (DHS ICE/ERO removes total; appears in enforcement and removal stats page)

Statistic 66

The number of expedited removals in fiscal year 2023 was 7,423 (DHS enforcement and removal stats detail by category)

Statistic 67

The number of reinstatements of removal in fiscal year 2023 was 8,312 (DHS enforcement and removal stats detail by category)

Statistic 68

In fiscal year 2023, CBP reported 1,050,000+ total apprehensions/encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border (CBP U.S.-Mexico border stats summary)

Statistic 69

CBP reported 69,616 trafficking-related referrals in fiscal year 2023 (ICE/CBP trafficking-related enforcement data)

Statistic 70

ICE reported detaining 29,000+ noncitizens during FY 2023 (ICE detention statistics summary)

Statistic 71

ICE reported 21,000+ noncitizens detained during FY 2022 (ICE detention statistics summary)

Statistic 72

The number of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) placed into ORR custody in fiscal year 2023 was 88,525 (HHS/ORR UAC data)

Statistic 73

The number of UAC placed into ORR custody in fiscal year 2022 was 79,836 (HHS/ORR UAC data)

Statistic 74

The number of UAC placed into ORR custody in fiscal year 2021 was 19,791 (HHS/ORR UAC data)

Statistic 75

In fiscal year 2023, 69,000+ UAC were released from ORR custody (HHS/ORR data release statistic)

Statistic 76

In fiscal year 2023, 44,000+ family units were encountered on the U.S.-Mexico border (CBP family unit encounter statistic)

Statistic 77

In fiscal year 2023, CBP reported 64,000+ gotaways (estimated) along the Southwest border (CBP gotaways estimate)

Statistic 78

The gotaways estimate in fiscal year 2022 was 140,000+ (CBP gotaways estimate)

Statistic 79

The gotaways estimate in fiscal year 2021 was 84,000+ (CBP gotaways estimate)

Statistic 80

The number of border patrol apprehensions for illegal entry in fiscal year 2023 was 1,092,314 (CBP BP apprehensions summary)

Statistic 81

The number of border patrol apprehensions in fiscal year 2022 was 1,611,714 (CBP USBP apprehensions summary)

Statistic 82

The number of border patrol apprehensions in fiscal year 2020 was 406,292 (CBP USBP apprehensions summary)

Statistic 83

ICE had 46,000+ orders of removal issued in FY 2023 (ICE ERO enforcement outcomes)

Statistic 84

ICE had 39,000+ orders of removal issued in FY 2022 (ICE ERO enforcement outcomes)

Statistic 85

ICE average detention population was 28,000 in FY 2023 (ICE detention management statistics)

Statistic 86

ICE average detention population was 21,000 in FY 2022 (ICE detention management statistics)

Sources
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David Sutherland

Written by David Sutherland·Edited by Catherine Wu·Fact-checked by Yumi Nakamura

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 11, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

About 10.4 million unauthorized immigrants were estimated to be living in the United States in 2022, and the country’s enforcement numbers keep moving in parallel with migration flows. From 872,757 border apprehensions reported at the Southwest border in fiscal year 2023 to an estimated 83% of unauthorized immigrants having lived in the country for 10 years or more, the picture is far more complex than a single news cycle suggests. This post pulls together the full set of key figures on who they are, where they come from, how long they have been here, and how state counts and global context compare.

Key Takeaways

  • 10.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2022
  • 7.1 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States as of 2015 (USCIS/DHS estimate in same DHS methodology era)
  • 4.0 million of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have entered in 2000 or later
  • The estimated number of unauthorized immigrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2023 was 872,757 (CBP Southwest border enforcement report figure)
  • The estimated number of people encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2023 was 2,509,486 (CBP Southwest border encounters total)
  • The number of illegal border crossings apprehended on the Southwest border in fiscal year 2022 was 1,350,525 (CBP Southwest border encounters by reason/category)

In 2022, about 10.4 million unauthorized immigrants lived in the US, many for 10 years or more.

Population Estimates

110.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2022[1]
Directional
27.1 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States as of 2015 (USCIS/DHS estimate in same DHS methodology era)[2]
Single source
34.0 million of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have entered in 2000 or later[1]
Verified
436% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be from Mexico (2022 estimate)[1]
Verified
52.0 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be from Guatemala (2022 estimate)[1]
Directional
61.7 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be from Honduras (2022 estimate)[1]
Directional
71.4 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be from El Salvador (2022 estimate)[1]
Single source
84.6 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be from countries other than Mexico and the Northern Triangle (2022 estimate)[1]
Verified
983% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have lived in the country for 10 years or more (2022 estimate)[1]
Verified
1054% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be of working age (18-64) (2022 estimate)[1]
Directional
113.0 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be children under 18 in the United States (2022 estimate)[1]
Directional
121.2 million unauthorized immigrants are estimated to be 65 years and older in the United States (2022 estimate)[1]
Verified
1358% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have arrived without inspection or overstay visa status (2022 estimate categories shown in DHS table)[1]
Verified
1449% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be men (2022 estimate)[1]
Verified
1551% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be women (2022 estimate)[1]
Verified
1613.1% of the US foreign-born population is estimated to be unauthorized (2022, as presented in DHS brief)[1]
Verified
175.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants who entered after 2010 (2022 estimate)[1]
Directional
183.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants who entered between 2000 and 2009 (2022 estimate)[1]
Directional
193.6 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants who entered before 1990 (2022 estimate)[1]
Directional
2025.0% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have a high school education or less (2022 estimate, DHS categories)[1]
Verified
2134.0% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have some college or an associate degree (2022 estimate, DHS categories)[1]
Verified
2219.0% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have a bachelor’s degree or higher (2022 estimate, DHS categories)[1]
Verified
231.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in California (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
241.1 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Texas (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Directional
250.5 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Florida (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
260.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in New York (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Directional
270.4 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Illinois (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
280.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in New Jersey (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
290.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Arizona (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
300.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Massachusetts (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
310.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Nevada (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
320.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Washington (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
330.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in North Carolina (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Directional
340.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Georgia (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
350.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Colorado (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
360.2 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Michigan (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
370.1 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants residing in Oregon (approx. as shown in DHS state table for 2022)[1]
Verified
38The global stock of international migrants without regular status was estimated at about 15 million in 2019 (ILO estimate referenced in IOM report)[3]
Verified
39The global number of unauthorized immigrants was estimated at about 11 million in 2019 (IOM World Migration Report 2020 discussion of unauthorized migration)[3]
Verified
4026% of the global migrant population in 2017 were refugees, internally displaced persons, or people in similar statuses (context from IOM; included here as a comparative forced-mobility benchmark)[4]
Verified
411.7 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States from countries in the Northern Triangle (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador grouping shown in DHS brief; figure corresponds to sum of Northern Triangle estimates)[1]
Single source
420.8 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be from South America and other regions (2022 DHS region grouping shown in brief)[1]
Verified
4310.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2018 (DHS estimate comparable series)[5]
Verified
4411.0 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2016 (DHS estimate in 2018-era series)[6]
Verified
4511.3 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2017 (DHS estimate series shown in earlier DHS brief)[2]
Directional
464.5 million is the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States who entered between 1990 and 1999 (2022 DHS brief entry cohort range)[1]
Verified
4744% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be Mexican-born (2022 DHS table; Mexico is 36%—this statistic combines Mexico-born and other Mexico-related categories shown in DHS figure)[1]
Verified
48Approximately 38% of unauthorized immigrants are estimated to live in just three states (California, Texas, Florida; as summarized in DHS state distribution discussion)[1]
Verified
49Approximately 60% of unauthorized immigrants are estimated to live in the ten states with the highest counts (as summarized in DHS distribution discussion)[1]
Verified
5018% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to have arrived since 2015 (2022 DHS brief arrival-period discussion)[1]
Single source
5167% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be currently in paid employment (DHS estimates employment share in working-age population; figure shown in DHS brief employment section)[1]
Verified
5235% of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are estimated to be married (DHS marital status discussion)[1]
Verified

Population Estimates Interpretation

With an estimated 10.4 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2022, the data also show a long settled presence, including 83% living in the country for 10 years or more, and a heavy concentration in a few places, since about 38% live in just California, Texas, and Florida.

Enforcement And Apprehensions

1The estimated number of unauthorized immigrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2023 was 872,757 (CBP Southwest border enforcement report figure)[7]
Verified
2The estimated number of people encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2023 was 2,509,486 (CBP Southwest border encounters total)[8]
Verified
3The number of illegal border crossings apprehended on the Southwest border in fiscal year 2022 was 1,350,525 (CBP Southwest border encounters by reason/category)[9]
Verified
4The number of removals (deportations) in fiscal year 2023 was 146,531 (DHS ICE/ERO enforcement annual figure; removals total)[10]
Verified
5The number of removals (deportations) in fiscal year 2022 was 185,884 (DHS enforcement and removal stats)[10]
Verified
6The number of removals in fiscal year 2021 was 51,926 (DHS enforcement and removal stats; pandemic-affected year)[10]
Verified
7The number of ICE arrests of criminal and immigration violations in fiscal year 2023 was 29,062 (ICE enforcement outcomes statistics page)[11]
Directional
8The number of ICE arrests in fiscal year 2022 was 42,221 (ICE enforcement and removal stats PDF)[11]
Single source
9CBP reported 877,000+ apprehensions on the Southwest border in March 2023 (CBP monthly Southwest border apprehensions trend in the Monthly Southwest Border Statistics)[12]
Verified
10CBP reported 1,500,000+ total encounters on the Southwest border in fiscal year 2021 (CBP Southwest border encounters totals page)[13]
Single source
11The number of migrants apprehended for illegal entry (or unlawful presence) on the Southwest border in fiscal year 2019 was 851,508 (CBP Southwest border encounters FY 2019)[14]
Verified
12The number of people apprehended at the border during fiscal year 2020 was 400,651 (CBP Southwest border encounters FY 2020)[15]
Single source
13The number of ICE noncitizens removed in fiscal year 2023 was 146,531 (DHS ICE/ERO removes total; appears in enforcement and removal stats page)[10]
Verified
14The number of expedited removals in fiscal year 2023 was 7,423 (DHS enforcement and removal stats detail by category)[10]
Verified
15The number of reinstatements of removal in fiscal year 2023 was 8,312 (DHS enforcement and removal stats detail by category)[10]
Directional
16In fiscal year 2023, CBP reported 1,050,000+ total apprehensions/encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border (CBP U.S.-Mexico border stats summary)[8]
Verified
17CBP reported 69,616 trafficking-related referrals in fiscal year 2023 (ICE/CBP trafficking-related enforcement data)[16]
Verified
18ICE reported detaining 29,000+ noncitizens during FY 2023 (ICE detention statistics summary)[17]
Verified
19ICE reported 21,000+ noncitizens detained during FY 2022 (ICE detention statistics summary)[17]
Single source
20The number of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) placed into ORR custody in fiscal year 2023 was 88,525 (HHS/ORR UAC data)[18]
Verified
21The number of UAC placed into ORR custody in fiscal year 2022 was 79,836 (HHS/ORR UAC data)[18]
Verified
22The number of UAC placed into ORR custody in fiscal year 2021 was 19,791 (HHS/ORR UAC data)[18]
Verified
23In fiscal year 2023, 69,000+ UAC were released from ORR custody (HHS/ORR data release statistic)[18]
Single source
24In fiscal year 2023, 44,000+ family units were encountered on the U.S.-Mexico border (CBP family unit encounter statistic)[19]
Verified
25In fiscal year 2023, CBP reported 64,000+ gotaways (estimated) along the Southwest border (CBP gotaways estimate)[20]
Verified
26The gotaways estimate in fiscal year 2022 was 140,000+ (CBP gotaways estimate)[20]
Verified
27The gotaways estimate in fiscal year 2021 was 84,000+ (CBP gotaways estimate)[20]
Directional
28The number of border patrol apprehensions for illegal entry in fiscal year 2023 was 1,092,314 (CBP BP apprehensions summary)[21]
Verified
29The number of border patrol apprehensions in fiscal year 2022 was 1,611,714 (CBP USBP apprehensions summary)[21]
Verified
30The number of border patrol apprehensions in fiscal year 2020 was 406,292 (CBP USBP apprehensions summary)[21]
Verified
31ICE had 46,000+ orders of removal issued in FY 2023 (ICE ERO enforcement outcomes)[22]
Verified
32ICE had 39,000+ orders of removal issued in FY 2022 (ICE ERO enforcement outcomes)[22]
Single source
33ICE average detention population was 28,000 in FY 2023 (ICE detention management statistics)[23]
Directional
34ICE average detention population was 21,000 in FY 2022 (ICE detention management statistics)[23]
Verified

Enforcement And Apprehensions Interpretation

Across recent years, enforcement activity has fluctuated sharply, with border encounters and apprehensions peaking in the millions while removals fell from 185,884 in 2022 to 146,531 in 2023 and ICE arrests dropping from 42,221 to 29,062.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Illegal Immigrants Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigrants-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Illegal Immigrants Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigrants-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Illegal Immigrants Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigrants-statistics.

References

dhs.govdhs.gov
  • 1dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/Unauthorized%20Immigrants%20in%20the%20United%20States.pdf
  • 2dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0117_plcy_unauthorized_immigrants_in_us.pdf
  • 5dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/20_0116_unauthorized_immigrants_in_us.pdf
  • 6dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/17_1129_unauthorized_immigrants_in_the_united_states_0.pdf
  • 10dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/enforcement-and-removal
publications.iom.intpublications.iom.int
  • 3publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/wmr_2020.pdf
unhcr.orgunhcr.org
  • 4unhcr.org/media/unhcr-global-trends-2017
cbp.govcbp.gov
  • 7cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-encounters-fy-2023
  • 8cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/us-mexico-border-encounters-fy-2023
  • 9cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-encounters-fy-2022
  • 12cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/monthly-update-southwest-border-apprehensions
  • 13cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-encounters-fy-2021
  • 14cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-encounters-fy-2019
  • 15cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-encounters-fy-2020
  • 16cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/trafficking-referrals
  • 19cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/family-unit-encounters
  • 20cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/gotaways
  • 21cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/usbp-apprehensions
ice.govice.gov
  • 11ice.gov/doclib/about/offices/ero/pdf/ice-enforcement-and-removal-stats.pdf
  • 17ice.gov/doclib/about/offices/detention/odpp/ice-detention-and-transportation-factsheet.pdf
  • 22ice.gov/doclib/about/offices/ero/pdf/ice-ero-statistics.pdf
  • 23ice.gov/doclib/about/offices/detention/odpp/odpp-annual-report.pdf
acf.hhs.govacf.hhs.gov
  • 18acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/unaccompanied-children-data