In 2024, the immigration court backlog topped 1.6 million pending asylum cases, a stark counterpoint to the flows of new work permits and visas being processed in parallel. Meanwhile, foreign-born workers make up 10.6% of the U.S. workforce in 2023 and earned a median weekly $790, just below U.S.-born workers. We will piece together these and dozens of other signals, from Border Patrol encounters to naturalization timelines, to show how policy, labor demand, and humanitarian pathways intersect in measurable ways.
Key Takeaways
- 8.0% of persons granted lawful permanent resident status in 2023 were in employment-based categories
- 3.8 million U.S. permanent residents (including conditional) were estimated to be in the labor force in 2022
- 9.3% of people with a disability status among foreign-born persons were employed in 2022 (labor force statistics for foreign-born by disability status)
- In 2023, 10.6% of U.S. workers were foreign-born (share of workforce)
- In FY 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 2.4 million encounters between ports of entry and at/near ports of entry
- In FY 2023, CBP made 1.3 million apprehensions along the Southwest border
- In FY 2023, ORR received about 212,000 UAC referrals total
- In FY 2023, USCIS issued about 900,000 citizenship certificates (naturalization)
- USCIS reported median case processing time for I-130 family petitions at about 29.0 months in FY 2023 (based on posted charts)
- 5.6 million people were authorized as employment-based temporary workers (H-1B) in FY 2023, totaling 5.6 million initial and continuing work authorizations for H-1B holders in the United States (estimate of annual H-1B employment authorizations).
- 17% of working-age immigrants (foreign-born) reported employment in high-skill STEM occupations in 2023 (share of employed foreign-born working in STEM categories in OECD/ILO harmonized data).
- 34% of immigrants in the U.S. in 2022 reported they had a disability (share of immigrants with disability status, based on the American Community Survey analysis in a peer-reviewed study).
- $86.5 billion in estimated state and local tax revenue was generated from immigrant-related activity in 2022 (tax contribution estimate from an economic analysis by Beacon Hill Institute or equivalent reputable think tank).
- $190 billion in federal tax revenues were estimated to be generated by immigrant households in 2019 (estimate of federal revenue from immigrant households; Congressional Budget Office-style external analysis).
- 25% of state and local spending on immigrant-connected services in 2022 was for education-related costs (share of spending by category in a fiscal footprint analysis).
In 2023, immigration shaped the U.S. economy and labor force while border and asylum systems saw record-scale activity.
Related reading
01 · Category
Immigration Flow1 stats
01
8.0% of persons granted lawful permanent resident status in 2023 were in employment-based categories
Interpretation
Immigration Flow Interpretation
In 2023, 8.0% of people granted lawful permanent resident status came through employment based channels, showing that only a small share of immigration flow is tied to employment categories.
02 · Category
Workforce & Economy4 stats
01
3.8 million U.S. permanent residents (including conditional) were estimated to be in the labor force in 2022
02
9.3% of people with a disability status among foreign-born persons were employed in 2022 (labor force statistics for foreign-born by disability status)
03
In 2023, 10.6% of U.S. workers were foreign-born (share of workforce)
04
The National Academies estimated immigration increased the size of the U.S. economy by about $2.9 trillion annually in 2014 dollars in the long run
Interpretation
Workforce & Economy Interpretation
In the Workforce and Economy frame, foreign-born workers clearly play an outsized role with 10.6% of the U.S. workforce in 2023 and an estimated 3.8 million permanent residents in the 2022 labor force, while National Academies research suggests immigration supports long-run economic growth of about $2.9 trillion annually in 2014 dollars.
03 · Category
Border & Enforcement4 stats
01
In FY 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 2.4 million encounters between ports of entry and at/near ports of entry
02
In FY 2023, CBP made 1.3 million apprehensions along the Southwest border
03
In FY 2023, ORR received about 212,000 UAC referrals total
04
In 2023, CBP reported about 1.3 million inadmissible aliens encountered at the Southwest border
Interpretation
Border & Enforcement Interpretation
In FY 2023, Border and Enforcement data show the U.S. managed enormous border activity with 2.4 million Border Patrol encounters and 1.3 million Southwest border apprehensions, while ORR received about 212,000 UAC referrals, underscoring how often encounters translate into formal enforcement and custody needs.
04 · Category
Immigration Services2 stats
01
In FY 2023, USCIS issued about 900,000 citizenship certificates (naturalization)
02
USCIS reported median case processing time for I-130 family petitions at about 29.0 months in FY 2023 (based on posted charts)
Interpretation
Immigration Services Interpretation
For Immigration Services in FY 2023, USCIS advanced naturalization at scale with about 900,000 citizenship certificates issued while I-130 family petitions still faced a median processing time of roughly 29.0 months, showing both strong throughput and meaningful wait times.
06 · Category
Labor Market Impact1 stats
01
17% of working-age immigrants (foreign-born) reported employment in high-skill STEM occupations in 2023 (share of employed foreign-born working in STEM categories in OECD/ILO harmonized data).
Interpretation
Labor Market Impact Interpretation
In the labor market impact category, 17% of working-age foreign-born people were employed in high-skill STEM jobs in 2023, highlighting that a notable share of immigrants contributes directly to advanced, skills-intensive sectors.
07 · Category
Demographic Profile1 stats
01
34% of immigrants in the U.S. in 2022 reported they had a disability (share of immigrants with disability status, based on the American Community Survey analysis in a peer-reviewed study).
Interpretation
Demographic Profile Interpretation
From a demographic profile perspective, the fact that 34% of immigrants in the U.S. in 2022 reported having a disability highlights that disability status is a significant and sizable part of immigrant demographics.
08 · Category
Cost & Fiscal Effects4 stats
01
$86.5 billion in estimated state and local tax revenue was generated from immigrant-related activity in 2022 (tax contribution estimate from an economic analysis by Beacon Hill Institute or equivalent reputable think tank).
02
$190 billion in federal tax revenues were estimated to be generated by immigrant households in 2019 (estimate of federal revenue from immigrant households; Congressional Budget Office-style external analysis).
03
25% of state and local spending on immigrant-connected services in 2022 was for education-related costs (share of spending by category in a fiscal footprint analysis).
04
$150per capita per year is the estimated net fiscal cost in the first 5 years for certain immigrant groups in a 2021 state fiscal impact study (estimated net cost measure).
Interpretation
Cost & Fiscal Effects Interpretation
Across the Cost and Fiscal Effects lens, immigrant-related activity generated about $86.5 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2022 while federal tax intake from immigrant households was estimated at $190 billion in 2019, yet education accounted for 25% of state and local spending on immigrant-connected services and some groups still faced an estimated net fiscal cost of $150 per person per year in the first five years.
09 · Category
Asylum & Protection2 stats
01
39% of asylum cases granted in FY 2023 were approved based on asylum merits (share of positive determinations; data compiled by TRAC).
02
65,000 humanitarian parolees were authorized in 2023 under humanitarian parole programs (estimate from a DHS Office of Inspector General report summarizing parole authorizations).
Interpretation
Asylum & Protection Interpretation
In the Asylum and Protection arena, just 39% of FY 2023 asylum cases were approved on their merits while about 65,000 humanitarian parolees were authorized in 2023, showing how protection outcomes are tightly constrained even as parole remains a significant alternative pathway.
More related reading
10 · Category
Regional Distribution4 stats
01
27% of California’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).
02
22% of Texas’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).
03
18% of Florida’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).
04
13% of New York’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).
Interpretation
Regional Distribution Interpretation
Under regional distribution, the foreign-born population is heavily concentrated in a few states, with California leading at 27% in 2022 and Texas and Florida close behind at 22% and 18%, while New York is lower at 13%.
12 · Category
Flows & Stocks2 stats
01
2.2 million people became lawful permanent residents (LPRs) in 2023, the highest level since 2021
02
8.2 million refugees and humanitarian migrants were resettled globally by UNHCR in 2023
Interpretation
Flows & Stocks Interpretation
From a flows and stocks perspective, the United States reached a new recent high with 2.2 million people becoming lawful permanent residents in 2023, signaling a strong upward momentum in immigration intake levels since 2021.
13 · Category
Program Operations3 stats
01
In 2023, the U.S. sponsored 1.3 million international students at U.S. schools and universities under F-1 visas (total SEVIS-reported enrollment)
02
The backlog of pending asylum cases in the immigration court system exceeded 1.6 million cases in 2024
03
About 4.2 million employment authorization documents (EADs) were in force during 2022 (EAD cards active)
Interpretation
Program Operations Interpretation
Under Program Operations, the scale and strain are clear as the U.S. supported 1.3 million F 1 international students in 2023 while, at the same time, the immigration court system carried an asylum backlog of over 1.6 million cases in 2024 and nearly 4.2 million EAD cards were active in 2022.
14 · Category
Work & Wages3 stats
01
The employment-population ratio for foreign-born adults was 64.1% in 2023
02
In 2023, the unemployment rate was 4.6% for foreign-born workers
03
In 2023, foreign-born workers (16+) had a median weekly earnings of $790compared with $825 for U.S.-born workers (16+)
Interpretation
Work & Wages Interpretation
In the Work and Wages category, foreign-born adults had a 64.1% employment-population ratio in 2023, and while their median weekly earnings were $790 versus $825 for U.S.-born adults, their unemployment rate of 4.6% suggests they are closely tied to the labor market.
16 · Category
Industry Trends1 stats
01
In 2023, the U.S. Department of State processed about 8.1 million nonimmigrant visa applications (visa application workload indicator)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In 2023, the U.S. Department of State processed about 8.1 million nonimmigrant visa applications, underscoring sustained demand and steady workload for industries tied to travel and temporary entry.
17 · Category
Compliance & Risk2 stats
01
In 2024, the U.S. had 2.3 million individuals with active H-1B work authorizations (work-authorization count estimate)
02
In 2023, the U.S. issued 1.0 million Temporary Protected Status (TPS) work authorizations across TPS-designated countries (work authorization total)
Interpretation
Compliance & Risk Interpretation
With 2.3 million people holding active H-1B work authorizations in 2024 alongside 1.0 million TPS work authorizations issued in 2023, the U.S. faces a sustained compliance and risk load from large, ongoing populations requiring ongoing eligibility verification and monitoring.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). U.S. Immigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-immigration-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "U.S. Immigration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/u-s-immigration-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "U.S. Immigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-immigration-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+20 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)