U.S. Immigration Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

U.S. Immigration Statistics

With 2.2 million people becoming lawful permanent residents in 2023 and 2.3 million individuals holding active H-1B work authorizations in 2024, the page puts modern U.S. immigration on one scoreboard from labor force participation to border encounters and asylum backlogs that topped 1.6 million cases in 2024. It also connects where policy meets everyday life, from USCIS naturalization processing and employment-based work approvals to the tax, GDP, and state service footprint immigrants help shape.

41 statistics41 sources17 sections10 min readUpdated 8 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

8.0% of persons granted lawful permanent resident status in 2023 were in employment-based categories

Statistic 2

3.8 million U.S. permanent residents (including conditional) were estimated to be in the labor force in 2022

Statistic 3

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)

Statistic 4

In 2023, 10.6% of U.S. workers were foreign-born (share of workforce)

Statistic 5

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

Statistic 6

In FY 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 2.4 million encounters between ports of entry and at/near ports of entry

Statistic 7

In FY 2023, CBP made 1.3 million apprehensions along the Southwest border

Statistic 8

In FY 2023, ORR received about 212,000 UAC referrals total

Statistic 9

In 2023, CBP reported about 1.3 million inadmissible aliens encountered at the Southwest border

Statistic 10

In FY 2023, USCIS issued about 900,000 citizenship certificates (naturalization)

Statistic 11

USCIS reported median case processing time for I-130 family petitions at about 29.0 months in FY 2023 (based on posted charts)

Statistic 12

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).

Statistic 13

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).

Statistic 14

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).

Statistic 15

$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).

Statistic 16

$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).

Statistic 17

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).

Statistic 18

$150 per 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).

Statistic 19

39% of asylum cases granted in FY 2023 were approved based on asylum merits (share of positive determinations; data compiled by TRAC).

Statistic 20

65,000 humanitarian parolees were authorized in 2023 under humanitarian parole programs (estimate from a DHS Office of Inspector General report summarizing parole authorizations).

Statistic 21

27% of California’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).

Statistic 22

22% of Texas’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).

Statistic 23

18% of Florida’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).

Statistic 24

13% of New York’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).

Statistic 25

1.9 million work-authorized “DACA” recipients were estimated to be active as of 2023 (number of DACA recipients; Migration Policy Institute estimate).

Statistic 26

2.2 million people became lawful permanent residents (LPRs) in 2023, the highest level since 2021

Statistic 27

8.2 million refugees and humanitarian migrants were resettled globally by UNHCR in 2023

Statistic 28

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)

Statistic 29

The backlog of pending asylum cases in the immigration court system exceeded 1.6 million cases in 2024

Statistic 30

About 4.2 million employment authorization documents (EADs) were in force during 2022 (EAD cards active)

Statistic 31

The employment-population ratio for foreign-born adults was 64.1% in 2023

Statistic 32

In 2023, the unemployment rate was 4.6% for foreign-born workers

Statistic 33

In 2023, foreign-born workers (16+) had a median weekly earnings of $790 compared with $825 for U.S.-born workers (16+)

Statistic 34

$1.4 trillion in immigrant economic contributions to U.S. GDP (direct + indirect), estimated annually

Statistic 35

In 2022, immigrants accounted for 27% of all workers in construction jobs in the United States

Statistic 36

In 2022, immigrants accounted for 29% of all workers in the transportation and warehousing sector

Statistic 37

In 2022, immigrants accounted for 25% of all workers in food preparation and serving-related occupations

Statistic 38

In 2022, immigrants accounted for 24% of all workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Statistic 39

In 2023, the U.S. Department of State processed about 8.1 million nonimmigrant visa applications (visa application workload indicator)

Statistic 40

In 2024, the U.S. had 2.3 million individuals with active H-1B work authorizations (work-authorization count estimate)

Statistic 41

In 2023, the U.S. issued 1.0 million Temporary Protected Status (TPS) work authorizations across TPS-designated countries (work authorization total)

Sources
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Leah Kessler

Written by Leah Kessler·Edited by Priyanka Sharma·Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 12, 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.

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

Immigration Flow

18.0% of persons granted lawful permanent resident status in 2023 were in employment-based categories[1]
Verified

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.

Workforce & Economy

13.8 million U.S. permanent residents (including conditional) were estimated to be in the labor force in 2022[2]
Verified
29.3% of people with a disability status among foreign-born persons were employed in 2022 (labor force statistics for foreign-born by disability status)[3]
Verified
3In 2023, 10.6% of U.S. workers were foreign-born (share of workforce)[4]
Directional
4The 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[5]
Verified

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.

Border & Enforcement

1In FY 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 2.4 million encounters between ports of entry and at/near ports of entry[6]
Directional
2In FY 2023, CBP made 1.3 million apprehensions along the Southwest border[7]
Directional
3In FY 2023, ORR received about 212,000 UAC referrals total[8]
Verified
4In 2023, CBP reported about 1.3 million inadmissible aliens encountered at the Southwest border[9]
Directional

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.

More related reading

Immigration Services

1In FY 2023, USCIS issued about 900,000 citizenship certificates (naturalization)[10]
Verified
2USCIS reported median case processing time for I-130 family petitions at about 29.0 months in FY 2023 (based on posted charts)[11]
Single source

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.

Work Authorization

15.6 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).[12]
Verified

Work Authorization Interpretation

In FY 2023, the U.S. issued 5.6 million work authorizations for H-1B employment-based temporary workers, underscoring the scale of work authorization tied to this specific visa category.

Labor Market Impact

117% 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).[13]
Verified

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.

Demographic Profile

134% 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).[14]
Verified

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.

More related reading

Cost & Fiscal Effects

1$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).[15]
Single source
2$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).[16]
Single source
325% 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).[17]
Verified
4$150 per 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).[18]
Verified

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.

Asylum & Protection

139% of asylum cases granted in FY 2023 were approved based on asylum merits (share of positive determinations; data compiled by TRAC).[19]
Single source
265,000 humanitarian parolees were authorized in 2023 under humanitarian parole programs (estimate from a DHS Office of Inspector General report summarizing parole authorizations).[20]
Single source

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.

Regional Distribution

127% of California’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).[21]
Directional
222% of Texas’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).[22]
Verified
318% of Florida’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).[23]
Verified
413% of New York’s population was foreign-born in 2022 (state profile figure; MPI state-level foreign-born share).[24]
Verified

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%.

More related reading

Unauthorized Immigration

11.9 million work-authorized “DACA” recipients were estimated to be active as of 2023 (number of DACA recipients; Migration Policy Institute estimate).[25]
Verified

Unauthorized Immigration Interpretation

Even within the unauthorized immigration category, about 1.9 million DACA recipients were estimated to be active in 2023, underscoring that large numbers of people living without permanent legal status still have work authorization.

Flows & Stocks

12.2 million people became lawful permanent residents (LPRs) in 2023, the highest level since 2021[26]
Verified
28.2 million refugees and humanitarian migrants were resettled globally by UNHCR in 2023[27]
Verified

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.

Program Operations

1In 2023, the U.S. sponsored 1.3 million international students at U.S. schools and universities under F-1 visas (total SEVIS-reported enrollment)[28]
Single source
2The backlog of pending asylum cases in the immigration court system exceeded 1.6 million cases in 2024[29]
Directional
3About 4.2 million employment authorization documents (EADs) were in force during 2022 (EAD cards active)[30]
Verified

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.

Work & Wages

1The employment-population ratio for foreign-born adults was 64.1% in 2023[31]
Single source
2In 2023, the unemployment rate was 4.6% for foreign-born workers[32]
Single source
3In 2023, foreign-born workers (16+) had a median weekly earnings of $790 compared with $825 for U.S.-born workers (16+)[33]
Single source

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.

More related reading

Fiscal & Social Impact

1$1.4 trillion in immigrant economic contributions to U.S. GDP (direct + indirect), estimated annually[34]
Verified
2In 2022, immigrants accounted for 27% of all workers in construction jobs in the United States[35]
Verified
3In 2022, immigrants accounted for 29% of all workers in the transportation and warehousing sector[36]
Verified
4In 2022, immigrants accounted for 25% of all workers in food preparation and serving-related occupations[37]
Verified
5In 2022, immigrants accounted for 24% of all workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting[38]
Directional

Fiscal & Social Impact Interpretation

From a fiscal and social impact perspective, immigrants are deeply embedded in key parts of the U.S. workforce, making up 27% of construction workers and 29% in transportation and warehousing in 2022 while contributing an estimated $1.4 trillion annually to U.S. GDP.

Compliance & Risk

1In 2024, the U.S. had 2.3 million individuals with active H-1B work authorizations (work-authorization count estimate)[40]
Verified
2In 2023, the U.S. issued 1.0 million Temporary Protected Status (TPS) work authorizations across TPS-designated countries (work authorization total)[41]
Verified

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.

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

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Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). U.S. Immigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-immigration-statistics
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Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "U.S. Immigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-immigration-statistics.

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