More than 1.1 million unlawful entries were estimated for 2022 using CBP counts and DHS methodology, yet ICE arrests in 2023 totaled about 212,000. That mismatch between border inflows, enforcement actions, and outcomes under federal programs helps explain why unauthorized immigrant life is shaped by detention timelines and daily risks like wage theft and workplace injuries. Here are the specific figures behind those tensions, from southwest border encounters to mental health stress and poverty rates.
Key Takeaways
- 6% of unauthorized immigrants are from El Salvador (DHS OIS 2019 estimate)
- 475,000 got a DHS nonimmigrant visa overstay/unauthorized status pathway in 2019 estimate age cohort mix (DHS-compiled OIS unauthorized profile)
- 2.4 million migrants encountered at the southwest border in Fiscal Year 2021 (CBP encounters total)
- 1,111,000 unlawful entries were estimated for Fiscal Year 2022 based on CBP counts and methodology (bounded estimate used by DHS OIG/CBP analytics)
- 251,000 total ICE arrests in Fiscal Year 2022 (ERO arrests total)
- 142,000 removals in Fiscal Year 2020 (ICE ERO removals)
- 6.7 million unauthorized immigrants do not qualify for most federal means-tested public benefits (2019 policy eligibility summary; Migration Policy Institute)
- 10.3% of unauthorized immigrants report depressive symptoms above clinical cutoffs (peer-reviewed analysis of survey data)
- 25% of unauthorized immigrants have experienced wage theft reported in peer-reviewed survey research (systematic review estimate)
- 30% of unauthorized immigrant households report food insecurity at some point (peer-reviewed household survey synthesis)
- 41% of unauthorized immigrants reported being employed in occupations with higher likelihood of workplace injury (NIH/peer-reviewed occupational risk synthesis)
- 18.6% of unauthorized immigrant adults live in poverty (peer-reviewed analysis using CPS/ACS-based inference methods)
- 10.9% of U.S. adults reported experiencing depressive symptoms in 2022 (PHQ-2/clinical symptom measure), relevant to mental health context affecting unauthorized immigrants
- In 2021, 10.4% of U.S. adults aged 18+ reported having symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder (past 2 weeks), relevant to mental health context for unauthorized immigrants
- 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses occurred in 2022 (BLS nonfatal injury/illness estimates), forming the denominator for injury risk experienced by workers in high-exposure sectors
Unauthorized immigrants face high detention and enforcement pressure while lacking benefits, with poverty and workplace risk common.
Related reading
01 · Category
Education And Demographics1 stats
01
6% of unauthorized immigrants are from El Salvador (DHS OIS 2019 estimate)[1]
Interpretation
Education And Demographics Interpretation
In the Education and Demographics picture, El Salvador accounts for 6% of unauthorized immigrants according to the DHS OIS 2019 estimate, suggesting a meaningful share of the population that could shape local demographic and educational planning.
02 · Category
Cross Border Flows2 stats
Interpretation
Cross Border Flows Interpretation
In the Cross Border Flows picture, the southwest border saw 2.4 million CBP encounters in Fiscal Year 2021 while a DHS-compiled estimate of 475,000 people used a nonimmigrant visa overstay or unauthorized status pathway in 2019, suggesting a significant mix of recent border activity alongside visa-based entries that can later become unauthorized.
03 · Category
Enforcement And Removals9 stats
01
1,111,000 unlawful entries were estimated for Fiscal Year 2022 based on CBP counts and methodology (bounded estimate used by DHS OIG/CBP analytics)[3]
02
251,000 total ICE arrests in Fiscal Year 2022 (ERO arrests total)[4]
03
142,000 removals in Fiscal Year 2020 (ICE ERO removals)[4]
04
172,000 total ICE arrests in Fiscal Year 2021 (ERO arrests total)[4]
05
212,000 total ICE arrests in Fiscal Year 2023 (ERO arrests total)[4]
06
1.5 million total enrollments under ICE alternatives to detention and related supervision options in 2022 (ICE reporting: individuals under ATD during year)[4]
07
61% of ICE detainees held in 2023 were held for less than 30 days (ICE detainee population time served distribution)[4]
08
84% of all removals in 2019 were of noncitizens with final orders (DHS Office of Immigration Statistics removal data analysis)[1]
09
100% of ERO Fugitive Operations arrests are reported within enforcement metrics tracked by ICE (ERO FO performance reporting includes total arrests)[4]
Interpretation
Enforcement And Removals Interpretation
In the Enforcement And Removals category, ICE enforcement is intensifying with ERO arrests rising from 251,000 in 2022 to 212,000 in 2023 while removals remain sizable at 142,000 in 2020, yet the detention system is short stay on average with 61% of detainees held less than 30 days.
04 · Category
Public Health And Services2 stats
Interpretation
Public Health And Services Interpretation
In the public health and services picture, 6.7 million unauthorized immigrants in the US are barred from most federal means-tested benefits while 10.3% report depressive symptoms above clinical cutoffs, underscoring how access limits may compound mental health needs.
05 · Category
Labor Market Trends3 stats
01
25% of unauthorized immigrants have experienced wage theft reported in peer-reviewed survey research (systematic review estimate)[7]
02
30% of unauthorized immigrant households report food insecurity at some point (peer-reviewed household survey synthesis)[8]
03
41% of unauthorized immigrants reported being employed in occupations with higher likelihood of workplace injury (NIH/peer-reviewed occupational risk synthesis)[6]
Interpretation
Labor Market Trends Interpretation
Labor market trends for unauthorized immigrants show that around 41% report working in occupations with higher workplace injury risk, alongside 25% reporting wage theft and 30% of households experiencing food insecurity.
More related reading
07 · Category
Demographics2 stats
01
10.9% of U.S. adults reported experiencing depressive symptoms in 2022 (PHQ-2/clinical symptom measure), relevant to mental health context affecting unauthorized immigrants[9]
02
In 2021, 10.4% of U.S. adults aged 18+ reported having symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder (past 2 weeks), relevant to mental health context for unauthorized immigrants[9]
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
For the Demographics angle, mental health concerns are fairly common in the general adult population, with 10.9% reporting depressive symptoms in 2022 and 10.4% reporting anxiety and/or depressive symptoms in 2021, suggesting that unauthorized immigrants may be navigating an environment where roughly one in ten adults experiences similar mental health challenges.
08 · Category
Labor & Wages6 stats
01
2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses occurred in 2022 (BLS nonfatal injury/illness estimates), forming the denominator for injury risk experienced by workers in high-exposure sectors[10]
02
The median weekly earnings for Hispanic workers were $850 in 2023 (BLS CPS-based earnings distribution), affecting economic outcomes for many unauthorized immigrants[10]
03
The poverty rate in the U.S. was 12.4% in 2022 (official CPS-based measure), setting the macro baseline for poverty experienced by unauthorized-immigrant households[11]
04
In 2022, 7.7% of employed people in the U.S. were in alternative work arrangements (a proxy for labor-market precarity relevant to unauthorized workers’ job stability)[10]
05
In 2022, 6.6% of employed persons had multiple jobs (BLS CPS), reflecting the prevalence of job juggling and potential income volatility relevant to unauthorized immigrants[10]
06
In 2023, 3.6% of workers were unemployed (BLS unemployment rate, U-3), a key labor-market condition affecting income for unauthorized immigrants[10]
Interpretation
Labor & Wages Interpretation
In the Labor and Wages picture, 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries in 2022 and a fragile labor market with 3.6% unemployment in 2023 and 7.7% of workers in alternative work arrangements point to heightened risk and income instability that can hit unauthorized immigrants particularly hard.
09 · Category
Law Enforcement1 stats
01
In 2022, 31,000 people were arrested by local law enforcement in connection with federal immigration enforcement task forces under 287(g) jurisdictions (activity scale reported by DOJ)[4]
Interpretation
Law Enforcement Interpretation
In 2022, local law enforcement arrests tied to federal immigration enforcement under 287(g) jurisdictions reached 31,000 people, underscoring how strongly Law Enforcement agencies are involved in immigration-related enforcement activity.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Illegal Immigrants Us Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigrants-us-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Illegal Immigrants Us Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigrants-us-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Illegal Immigrants Us Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigrants-us-statistics.
Sources & references
11 sources cited across this report