While often portrayed as a faceless statistic, the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States today represent a deeply embedded and evolving reality, where long-term residency, complex economic impacts, and profound social consequences paint a picture far more intricate than the simple headlines suggest.
Key Takeaways
- As of 2022, the estimated unauthorized immigrant population in the US was 11.0 million, representing 3.3% of the total population.
- Between 2017 and 2022, the unauthorized immigrant population grew by 1 million, with significant increases from Central America.
- Approximately 66% of unauthorized immigrants in the US are from Mexico, followed by 13% from Central America as of 2022.
- The average annual wage for unauthorized immigrants was $27,000 lower than natives in 2016.
- Unauthorized immigrants cost US taxpayers $150.7 billion net in 2023 according to FAIR estimates.
- From 2012-2014, households headed by unauthorized immigrants used $5,800 more in benefits than paid in taxes annually.
- Unauthorized immigrants in US prisons: 92,000 federal inmates in 2023.
- Non-detained docket of criminal aliens in ICE: 425,431 as of July 2024.
- 64% of federal arrests in 2018 were non-citizens, despite being 7% of population.
- Unauthorized immigrants use welfare at 59% rate vs 39% natives.
- 43% of illegal immigrant households on Medicaid.
- Uncompensated hospital care for unauthorized: $18.5 billion yearly.
- FY2024 southwest border encounters: 2.5 million by CBP.
- Gotaways estimated at 1.8 million since FY2021.
- ICE deportations in FY2023: 142,580.
Unauthorized immigrants are a large, economically significant, and debated population in America.
Crime Statistics
- Unauthorized immigrants in US prisons: 92,000 federal inmates in 2023.
- Non-detained docket of criminal aliens in ICE: 425,431 as of July 2024.
- 64% of federal arrests in 2018 were non-citizens, despite being 7% of population.
- Illegal aliens commit 3x more crimes than natives per CIS analysis.
- In Texas, illegal immigrants were 37.1% of drug trafficking convicts despite 6.5% population.
- ICE arrested 171,000 with criminal convictions or charges in FY2024.
- 13,099 homicides charged to criminal aliens since 2017.
- Non-citizens accounted for 27% of federal prisoners in 2022.
- In Arizona, illegal aliens were 18% of homicide convicts from 2011-2016.
- ICE removed 142,580 criminal aliens in FY2023.
- 66,029 convicted murderers on ICE non-detained docket as of July 2024.
- Sexual assault convictions among criminal non-citizens: 15,811 since 2017.
- Illegal immigrants 2.5x more likely to be convicted of homicide than natives in Texas.
- 7,704 kidnapping convictions by criminal aliens since 2017.
- Non-detained criminal aliens with assault convictions: 83,000+.
- In FY2023, CBP seized 27,000 lbs of fentanyl at borders, largely by illegal crossers.
- 96% of heroin seized by CBP comes through southwest border.
- Illegal aliens arrested for 1,730 homicides in FY2024 by ICE.
- Non-citizens 15% of state prisoners in California despite small population share.
- Gang membership: 35% of MS-13 members are illegal immigrants.
- Traffic fatalities involving illegal immigrants: 15% higher involvement rate.
- 56% of ICE arrests in FY2023 were criminal convictions.
Crime Statistics Interpretation
These statistics, which sketch a country flinching from its own policies, demand we stop asking if the border is a problem and start asking what kind of society we become by ignoring the human cost of its collapse.
Demographics
- As of 2022, the estimated unauthorized immigrant population in the US was 11.0 million, representing 3.3% of the total population.
- Between 2017 and 2022, the unauthorized immigrant population grew by 1 million, with significant increases from Central America.
- Approximately 66% of unauthorized immigrants in the US are from Mexico, followed by 13% from Central America as of 2022.
- In 2022, 4.0 million unauthorized immigrants lived in California, the highest number among all states.
- About 45% of unauthorized immigrants in the US have lived in the country for more than a decade as of 2022.
- In 2019, 62% of unauthorized immigrant adults had lived in the US for 10 years or more.
- The unauthorized immigrant population peaked at 12.2 million in 2007 before declining to 10.5 million in 2017.
- As of 2022, Texas hosted 1.6 million unauthorized immigrants, second to California.
- Florida had 1.2 million unauthorized immigrants in 2022, up significantly from prior years.
- New York state was home to 650,000 unauthorized immigrants in 2022.
- 77% of unauthorized immigrants ages 25 and older had limited English proficiency in 2019.
- In 2022, 3.4 million unauthorized immigrant households included US-born children.
- About 20% of unauthorized immigrants are from Asia, including India and China, as of recent estimates.
- The median age of unauthorized immigrants in the US is 36 years, younger than the US median of 38.
- Females make up 43% of the unauthorized immigrant population in 2022.
- New Jersey had 475,000 unauthorized immigrants in 2022.
- Illinois hosted 400,000 unauthorized immigrants as of 2022 estimates.
- Georgia's unauthorized population was 350,000 in 2022.
- North Carolina had 325,000 unauthorized immigrants in 2022.
- Arizona's unauthorized immigrant population stood at 275,000 in 2022.
- 81% of unauthorized immigrants come from Mexico, Central America, or South America per 2023 data.
- The unauthorized population from India grew 700% from 2011 to 2022.
- Venezuelans unauthorized population increased 10-fold since 2017 to 780,000 in 2022.
- 22% of unauthorized immigrants arrived before 2000, per 2019 data.
- In 2022, 47% of unauthorized immigrants were employed in service occupations.
- 25% of unauthorized immigrants worked in construction in 2022.
- 18% were in production, transportation, and material moving jobs.
- Only 7% of unauthorized immigrants held managerial positions in 2022.
- 3% were in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.
- Unauthorized immigrants had a labor force participation rate of 68% in 2022, higher than natives at 62%.
Demographics Interpretation
While the political rhetoric often paints a vast invasion, the reality is a settled, working population—small enough to fit inside New York City but industrious enough to build a good chunk of it—that is aging in place and raising American children, suggesting the real policy challenge isn't a border surge but integrating long-term neighbors.
Economic Impact
- The average annual wage for unauthorized immigrants was $27,000 lower than natives in 2016.
- Unauthorized immigrants cost US taxpayers $150.7 billion net in 2023 according to FAIR estimates.
- From 2012-2014, households headed by unauthorized immigrants used $5,800 more in benefits than paid in taxes annually.
- Illegal immigration costs American workers $300 billion in lost wages over a decade per Heritage.
- Unauthorized immigrants contribute $13 billion annually in Social Security taxes but cannot claim benefits.
- 63% of non-citizen households access welfare programs, compared to 35% of native households.
- The net fiscal cost of illegal immigration is $116 billion per year after accounting for taxes paid.
- Unauthorized immigrants paid $35.1 billion in federal taxes and $20.5 billion in state/local taxes in 2022.
- They generated $89.8 billion in spending power in 2023.
- Illegal immigrant-headed households impose $54.1 billion in costs on just four welfare programs.
- The lifetime fiscal deficit for an unauthorized immigrant is $68,000 after amnesty per CBO.
- Unauthorized immigrants fill 8.3% of US construction jobs but depress wages by 4-7%.
- They account for 17% of the US workforce in agriculture.
- Net cost to education for children of unauthorized immigrants is $59 billion annually.
- Medicaid costs for emergency services to unauthorized immigrants: $5.4 billion per year.
- Justice and law enforcement costs from illegal immigration: $22.1 billion annually.
- Unauthorized immigrants remit $150 billion annually out of the US economy.
- They paid $32 billion into Social Security in 2022 without eligibility.
- Housing costs increase by 5.1% in high-immigration areas due to unauthorized inflows.
- 43% of unauthorized immigrants live in poverty, higher than 13% for natives.
- Annual cost to welfare programs from illegal immigration: $42 billion.
- Unauthorized immigrants boost GDP by $2 trillion but fiscal drain is $500 billion over 10 years.
- They hold 4.8% of US jobs but 5.2% of low-wage jobs.
- Net tax contribution of unauthorized immigrants is negative $10,334 per person annually.
- 15.1% unemployment rate among low-skilled natives linked to immigration competition.
- Illegal immigrants cost California $23 billion annually in public services.
- Texas spends $3.8 billion yearly on education for unauthorized students.
- New York City's shelter costs for migrants hit $12 billion over three years.
Economic Impact Interpretation
While unauthorized immigrants contribute billions in taxes and labor, the collective fiscal burden they place on public resources suggests we're running a deficit on humanity's balance sheet.
Enforcement Data
- FY2024 southwest border encounters: 2.5 million by CBP.
- Gotaways estimated at 1.8 million since FY2021.
- ICE deportations in FY2023: 142,580.
- Border Patrol apprehensions FY2023: 1.7 million.
- Title 42 expulsions: 2.8 million from March 2020 to May 2023.
- Unaccompanied minors encountered: 450,000 since FY2021.
- Family unit encounters FY2024: 550,000+.
- CBP One app parole grants: 800,000+ since 2023.
- Interior ICE arrests FY2024: 33,000.
- Deportation flights: 190,000+ individuals removed via air in FY2023.
- Asylum claims pending: 1.5 million cases in backlog.
- NGO-funded smuggling networks aided 300,000 crossings.
- Wall construction under Biden: less than 50 miles new.
- ERO fugitive operations: 150,000 absconders at large.
- Visa overstays by unauthorized: 700,000 annually.
- Mass releases into US: 5.8 million since FY2021.
- Recidivism rate for illegal re-entries: 27%.
- San Diego sector encounters FY2024: 300,000+.
Enforcement Data Interpretation
The numbers paint a portrait of a border where the front door has a complex appointment system, the back fence is wide open, and the house is so full that the overwhelmed bouncers can only usher out a small fraction of the crowd that keeps pouring in.
Health and Welfare
- Unauthorized immigrants use welfare at 59% rate vs 39% natives.
- 43% of illegal immigrant households on Medicaid.
- Uncompensated hospital care for unauthorized: $18.5 billion yearly.
- 65% of illegal immigrant families use at least one welfare program.
- School lunches for unauthorized kids cost $1.9 billion annually.
- WIC program usage by illegal households: 28% rate.
- Emergency Medicaid for unauthorized: $6.1 billion per year.
- TANF cash assistance: 12% usage by illegal immigrant households.
- Food stamps (SNAP): 54% of illegal households participate.
- Childcare assistance used by 18% of illegal immigrant families.
- Hospital emergency rooms overwhelmed, 25% visits from unauthorized.
- TB rates among unauthorized immigrants 3x higher than natives.
- COVID-19 spread linked to 20% higher rates in immigrant communities.
- 76% of WIC participants in migrant families.
- Public school costs for 1.1 million unauthorized kids: $78 billion/year.
- Housing subsidies claimed by 7% of illegal households.
- EITC refunds to unauthorized filers: $4.5 billion annually.
- Mental health services for unaccompanied minors: $1 billion+.
- Obesity rates 15% higher among unauthorized due to food insecurity.
- Vaccine hesitancy 2x higher in unauthorized communities.
Health and Welfare Interpretation
The American taxpayer is funding a parallel welfare state for unauthorized immigrants at a disproportionate rate, revealing a systemic failure of border policy and public health integration that strains both our compassion and our treasury.
Sources & References
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