In a year where over three million people were encountered at our nation's borders, a staggering figure that represents more than just numbers but immense human movement and systemic strain, the reality of illegal immigration unfolds with profound complexity and consequence.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 2,475,669 migrant encounters at the southwest border, including 1,414,130 apprehensions between ports of entry
- CBP reported 670,674 encounters of single adults at the southwest border in FY 2023, comprising 27% of total encounters
- Family unit encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border reached 510,032 in FY 2023, up 45% from FY 2022
- Illegal alien population estimated at 11 million in 2022 by DHS
- Pew Research estimates unauthorized immigrants at 11.0 million in 2022, stable from 2007 peak
- 66% of unauthorized immigrants lived in 20 major metro areas in 2022 per Pew
- FAIR estimates annual net cost of illegal immigration at $150.7 billion in 2023
- Illegal immigrant households cost taxpayers $8,776 per household annually per CIS 2023 data
- FAIR calculates $182 billion in total costs for services to illegal aliens and citizens in 2023
- ICE deported 142,580 illegal aliens in FY 2023
- ICE removals totaled 271,484 in FY 2022, highest since 2010
- 89% of FY 2023 ICE deportees were criminal aliens with convictions
- Texas DPS arrested 39,000 illegal aliens for 68,000 crimes since 2011
- ICE data shows 13,099 illegal aliens convicted of homicide in US since 2017
- 15,811 illegal aliens convicted of sexual assault per ICE FY 2017-2023
Record-high illegal border crossings and an enormous unauthorized population create severe national security and economic burdens.
Border Encounters and Apprehensions
1In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 2,475,669 migrant encounters at the southwest border, including 1,414,130 apprehensions between ports of entry
Verified2CBP reported 670,674 encounters of single adults at the southwest border in FY 2023, comprising 27% of total encounters
Verified3Family unit encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border reached 510,032 in FY 2023, up 45% from FY 2022
Verified4Unaccompanied children encounters totaled 148,385 at the southwest border in FY 2023, a 58% increase from FY 2022
Directional5CBP expelled or removed 2.8 million migrants under Title 42 from March 2020 to May 2023 at the southwest border
Single source6In FY 2022, southwest border encounters hit a record 2,378,944, including over 700,000 from Mexico
Verified7Gotaways, or known got-aways, estimated at 600,000 in FY 2023 by CBP, evading apprehension
Verified8Encounters from non-Mexican nationalities surged to 1.1 million in FY 2023, 49% of total southwest border encounters
Verified9CBP's USBP apprehensions of OTMs (other than Mexicans) reached 1.6 million from FY 2021-2023
Directional10Southwest border USBP Title 8 apprehensions were 1,043,098 in FY 2023
Single source11In calendar year 2023, CBP recorded over 3 million nationwide encounters, with 2.5 million at southwest border
Verified12Northern border encounters rose to 189,383 in FY 2023, up 916% from FY 2020
Verified13CBP Office of Field Operations inadmissible encounters at ports totaled 1.1 million in FY 2023
Verified14Repeat encounters accounted for 27% of southwest border total in FY 2023, per CBP data
Directional15Venezuelans led non-Mexican encounters with 247,000 at southwest border in FY 2023
Single source16Colombians encountered 123,000 times at southwest border in FY 2023
Verified17Ecuadorians had 89,000 southwest border encounters in FY 2023
Verified18Haitians recorded 78,000 encounters at southwest border FY 2023
Verified19Nicaraguans at 72,000 southwest border encounters in FY 2023
Directional20Southwest border encounters from India reached 96,000 in FY 2023
Single source21Chinese nationals encountered 24,000 times at southwest border FY 2023
Verified22CBP seized 21,100 lbs of fentanyl at southwest border in FY 2023, linked to illegal crossings
Verified23Methamphetamine seizures at southwest border totaled 119,000 lbs in FY 2023 by CBP
Verified24Heroin seizures hit 31,000 lbs at southwest border FY 2023
Directional25Cocaine seizures at southwest border were 28,000 lbs in FY 2023
Single source26CBP marijuana seizures at southwest border reached 528,000 lbs FY 2023
VerifiedBorder Encounters and Apprehensions Interpretation
The sheer scale of these numbers—from millions of encounters and a shadow population of 'got-aways' to the tragic influx of families and unaccompanied children, all underscored by tons of seized narcotics—paints a picture of a border system not just strained but fundamentally overwhelmed, presenting a profound humanitarian, security, and logistical challenge that can no longer be dismissed as a simple political talking point.
Crime and Public Safety
1Texas DPS arrested 39,000 illegal aliens for 68,000 crimes since 2011
Verified2ICE data shows 13,099 illegal aliens convicted of homicide in US since 2017
Verified315,811 illegal aliens convicted of sexual assault per ICE FY 2017-2023
Verified4GAO reports 27% of federal inmates are illegal aliens in 2021
Directional5CIS analysis: Illegal immigrants 3.8x more likely to be convicted of homicide than natives 2013-2022
Single source6Texas: Illegal aliens arrested for 805 homicides 2013-2022 per DPS
Verified7ICE: 7,700 illegal aliens convicted of kidnapping since 2017
Verified8267,000+ illegal aliens with criminal convictions at large per ICE 2024
Verified9FBI data cited by CIS: Non-citizens 2.5x more likely for conviction than natives 2011-2016
Directional10NYC: 60% of suspects in felony assaults 2022 were migrants per NYPD
Single source11MS-13 gang: 10,000+ members in US, mostly illegal Salvadorans per FBI
Verified12Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang active in 8 US states with 400 members per DHS 2024
Verified13ICE arrested 588 illegal aliens for child exploitation in FY 2023
Verified14425,000 illegal aliens on ICE's violent criminal docket as of 2024
Directional15Arizona: Illegal aliens 18% of state prisoners but 4% population per state data
Single sourceCrime and Public Safety Interpretation
These numbers paint a grim portrait not of the peaceful family seeking a better life, but of a dangerous, embedded criminal class whose significant overrepresentation in violent crime statistics demands a sober and urgent policy response.
Economic Impacts
1FAIR estimates annual net cost of illegal immigration at $150.7 billion in 2023
Verified2Illegal immigrant households cost taxpayers $8,776 per household annually per CIS 2023 data
Verified3FAIR calculates $182 billion in total costs for services to illegal aliens and citizens in 2023
Verified4Unauthorized immigrants paid $35.1 billion in federal taxes in 2022 per IRS estimates cited by ITEP
Directional5CIS reports 63% of non-citizen households access welfare vs 35% US-born in 2022
Single source6Illegal immigration costs US education system $78 billion yearly per FAIR 2023
Verified7Medical costs for uncompensated care to illegal aliens $18.5 billion annually per FAIR
Verified8Unauthorized workers comprised 4.8% of US workforce in 2022, adding $1.6 trillion GDP per CBO
Verified9ITEP estimates undocumented immigrants contribute $96.7 billion in taxes yearly including state/local
Directional10FAIR justice/ law enforcement costs for illegal immigration $47 billion in 2023
Single source11CBO projects immigration will add $7 trillion to federal budget deficit over 2024-2034
Verified12Unauthorized immigrants remit $150 billion annually abroad per World Bank 2022
Verified13CIS finds 59% of illegal immigrant-headed households use at least one welfare program
Verified14FAIR welfare costs for illegal aliens $42 billion net annually after taxes in 2023
Directional15Undocumented pay 8% effective state/local tax rate, higher than top 1% at 7.2% per ITEP
Single source16Illegal immigration depresses wages for low-skill US workers by 5.1% per Harvard economist G. Borjas
Verified17CBO estimates recent immigration surge boosts GDP by 0.5% annually through 2034
Verified18FAIR general government services to illegal aliens cost $116.5 billion in 2023
Verified19Unauthorized immigrants in construction: 1.4 million workers, 13% of sector in 2022 per BLS via Pew
Directional2026% of US farming workers unauthorized in 2022 per Pew
Single sourceEconomic Impacts Interpretation
Weighed together, the numbers paint a portrait of an enormous fiscal and social ledger where undocumented immigrants are simultaneously a significant net taxpayer burden and a deeply embedded, productive economic force whose labor and taxes subsidize sectors we depend on while their costs are felt acutely in public budgets.
Enforcement and Deportations
1ICE deported 142,580 illegal aliens in FY 2023
Verified2ICE removals totaled 271,484 in FY 2022, highest since 2010
Verified389% of FY 2023 ICE deportees were criminal aliens with convictions
Verified4ICE arrested 73,822 criminal illegal aliens in FY 2023
Directional5Over 435,000 illegal aliens on ICE's NTA docket as of FY 2023 end
Single source6ICE detained average 36,621 illegal aliens daily in FY 2023
Verified7170,595 criminal aliens removed by ICE FY 2019-2023 cumulative
Verified8ICE ERO interior arrests: 38,295 in FY 2023
Verified91.4 million illegal aliens with criminal convictions at large per ICE 2023
Directional10CBP repatriations: 179,400 in FY 2023
Single source11Title 42 expulsions: 2.4 million from ports of entry FY 2020-2023 per CBP
Verified12ICE alternatives to detention monitored 258,000 illegal aliens monthly in FY 2023
Verified1359,000 fugitive aliens removed by ICE in FY 2023
Verified14ICE gang arrests: 1,100 MS-13 members in FY 2023
Directional1515,800 sex offenders among criminal aliens arrested by ICE FY 2023
Single source16HSI arrested 8,300 illegal alien criminals in FY 2023
Verified17ICE deported 20,000+ child sex predators since 2009 cumulative
Verified1878% of ICE interior removals were criminals in FY 2023
Verified19DOJ prosecuted 33,000+ illegal entry/reentry cases in FY 2023
Directional20EOIR immigration courts had 3 million pending cases in FY 2023
Single sourceEnforcement and Deportations Interpretation
The numbers paint a stark picture of a system playing whack-a-mole on a continental scale, where record deportations of dangerous criminals exist alongside a backlog of millions and a staggering population of convicted fugitives still at large.
Population and Demographics
1Illegal alien population estimated at 11 million in 2022 by DHS
Verified2Pew Research estimates unauthorized immigrants at 11.0 million in 2022, stable from 2007 peak
Verified366% of unauthorized immigrants lived in 20 major metro areas in 2022 per Pew
Verified4Mexican unauthorized immigrants numbered 4.0 million in 2022, 37% of total per Pew
Directional5Unauthorized from Central America at 1.7 million in 2022, 15% of total per Pew
Single source6South American unauthorized immigrants totaled 1.0 million in 2022 per Pew Research
Verified745% of unauthorized immigrants have lived in US 10+ years as of 2022 per Pew
Verified8MPI estimates unauthorized population at 11.3 million in 2021
Verified94.6 million unauthorized immigrant households used at least one welfare program in 2022 per CIS
Directional10Unauthorized immigrants comprised 5.2% of US population in 2022 per DHS
Single source118.3 million unauthorized immigrants in US labor force in 2022 per Pew
Verified125 million US-born children live with unauthorized immigrant parent per MPI 2019 data
Verified13Unauthorized immigrants accounted for 22% of US foreign-born population in 2022 per Pew
Verified14California hosted 1.85 million unauthorized immigrants in 2022 per Pew
Directional15Texas had 1.6 million unauthorized immigrants in 2022 per Pew
Single source16Florida unauthorized population at 1.2 million in 2022 per Pew
Verified17New York state had 650,000 unauthorized immigrants in 2022 per Pew
Verified18New Jersey unauthorized at 475,000 in 2022 per Pew
Verified1977% of unauthorized immigrants age 25+ had high school diploma or less in 2022 per Pew
Directional20Only 7% of unauthorized immigrants had bachelor's degree in 2022 per Pew
Single source21FAIR estimates 15.5 million illegal aliens in US as of 2023
Verified22DHS reports 1.5 million unauthorized immigrants overstayed visas in FY 2022
VerifiedPopulation and Demographics Interpretation
While the exact headcount is hotly debated, the static core data paints a picture of a deeply rooted, largely working-class population that has become a structural, if unofficial, part of the American demographic and economic landscape.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CBPcbp.govVisit source
- Reference 2DHSdhs.govVisit source
- Reference 3PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 4MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 5CIScis.orgVisit source
- Reference 6FAIRUSfairus.orgVisit source
- Reference 7ITEPitep.orgVisit source
- Reference 8CBOcbo.govVisit source
- Reference 9WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 10NBERnber.orgVisit source
- Reference 11ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 12JUSTICEjustice.govVisit source
- Reference 13DPSdps.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 14GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 15CITY-JOURNALcity-journal.orgVisit source
- Reference 16FBIfbi.govVisit source
- Reference 17AZLEGazleg.govVisit source