Beyond the headlines and heated debates, the complex reality of America's 11 million undocumented immigrants is one woven with surprising contradictions—a community responsible for 4.6% of our national workforce yet 47% less likely to be incarcerated, paying billions in taxes while often barred from the benefits, and whose contributions and challenges defy simple narratives.
Key Takeaways
- As of 2022, the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States was estimated at 11.0 million, representing 3.3% of the total U.S. population
- The unauthorized immigrant population grew by 700,000 from 2019 to 2022, reaching 11 million
- About 66% of unauthorized immigrants in 2022 had lived in the U.S. for over a decade
- Undocumented immigrants accounted for 4.6% of the U.S. workforce in 2022, with about 8.3 million unauthorized workers
- Undocumented workers make up 26% of the farming workforce and 17% of construction, per 2022 estimates
- Undocumented immigrants comprised 5.2% of the U.S. labor force in agriculture in 2022
- In fiscal year 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended 2.2 million migrants at the southwest border, many of whom were undocumented
- In 2023, encounters of undocumented migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border reached over 2.4 million
- In FY 2023, 3.2 million encounters were recorded at the southwest border by CBP
- Undocumented immigrants are 47% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans according to 2020 data from Texas
- Native-born Americans have an incarceration rate 60% higher than undocumented immigrants in Texas from 2012-2018
- Undocumented immigrants in Arizona were 42% less likely to be convicted of crimes than natives from 2018-2020
- From 2017-2021, unauthorized immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal taxes annually on average
- Unauthorized households use 55% less welfare per capita than native households, per 2018 data
- Undocumented immigrants contributed $35.1 billion to state and local taxes in 2022
Undocumented immigrants make significant economic contributions despite facing ongoing enforcement challenges.
Border Encounters
- In fiscal year 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended 2.2 million migrants at the southwest border, many of whom were undocumented
- In 2023, encounters of undocumented migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border reached over 2.4 million
- In FY 2023, 3.2 million encounters were recorded at the southwest border by CBP
- CBP expelled or removed 1.1 million undocumented migrants under Title 42 from March 2020 to May 2023
- From Oct 2023 to July 2024, over 2.5 million migrant encounters at southwest border
- Southwest border encounters hit 2.06 million in FY2022, mostly undocumented
- CBP reported 1.7 million "gotaways" (undetected undocumented crossings) in FY2021-2023
- From FY2019-FY2023, 10.8 million encounters at borders, many undocumented repeaters
- 189,000 undocumented non-detained docket cases in immigration courts as of 2023
- Title 8 apprehensions of undocumented at border: 1.1 million in FY2023
- 700,000+ unaccompanied undocumented minors encountered FY2021-2023
- CBP southwest border gotaways estimated 1.6 million FY2021-FY2023
- Family unit encounters (undocumented): 1.2 million FY2023
- Single adults undocumented encounters: 1.9 million FY2023
- Undocumented court backlog: 2 million cases as of 2024
Border Encounters Interpretation
The numbers paint a chaotic, Sisyphean portrait: our border is a revolving door where millions are processed in, millions are processed out, and the line for a fair hearing in court stretches so long it has effectively become its own undocumented nation.
Crime
- Undocumented immigrants are 47% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans according to 2020 data from Texas
- Native-born Americans have an incarceration rate 60% higher than undocumented immigrants in Texas from 2012-2018
- Undocumented immigrants in Arizona were 42% less likely to be convicted of crimes than natives from 2018-2020
- In California, undocumented immigrants had a 2020 homicide conviction rate 41% below natives
- Undocumented immigrants in Texas had an incarceration rate of 782 per 100,000 vs 1,797 for natives in 2022
- In FY2021, ICE detained 11,352 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions
- Undocumented immigrants 50% less likely to be convicted of homicide in Texas 2013-2022
- In Florida, undocumented conviction rate 64% below natives for 2012-2021
- Undocumented sex offense conviction rate 37% below natives in Texas 2012-2022
- Undocumented larceny conviction rate 52% below natives in Arizona 2018-2020
- Undocumented immigrants 30% less likely for drug crimes in Texas 2012-2022
- Undocumented DUI arrest rate 72% below natives in Texas 2012-2018
- Undocumented violent crime rate 37% lower than natives in Texas 2020
- Undocumented property crime conviction 46% below natives AZ 2018-2020
- Undocumented general offense rate 60% below natives TX 2012-2022
- ICE arrests of undocumented criminals: 20,000 in FY2023
Crime Interpretation
Despite the persistent political narrative depicting them as a lawless threat, the data from across multiple states paints a consistent and inconvenient picture: undocumented immigrants are statistically far more likely to mind their own business than to commit a crime.
Demographics
- As of 2022, the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States was estimated at 11.0 million, representing 3.3% of the total U.S. population
- The unauthorized immigrant population grew by 700,000 from 2019 to 2022, reaching 11 million
- About 66% of unauthorized immigrants in 2022 had lived in the U.S. for over a decade
- Mexico-origin undocumented immigrants numbered 4.0 million in 2022, 37% of the total unauthorized population
- Central American undocumented immigrants (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras) totaled 2.3 million in 2022
- 45% of undocumented immigrants lived in just three states (CA, TX, FL) in 2022
- Asian-origin undocumented immigrants reached 1.6 million in 2022, up from prior years
- 36% of undocumented immigrants arrived before 2010, per 2022 Pew estimates
- 23% of undocumented immigrants were from Central America in 2022
- Undocumented women made up 4.1 million of the unauthorized population in 2022
- 62% of undocumented immigrants were working-age adults (18-64) in 2022
- Undocumented population peaked at 12.2 million in 2007, declined to 11.0 million by 2022
- 2.7 million undocumented children under 18 lived in U.S. in 2022, mostly U.S.-born to undocumented parents
- 77% of undocumented immigrants spoke English proficiently or well in 2022
- South American undocumented immigrants numbered 850,000 in 2022
- 43% of undocumented had at least some college education in 2022
- Other regions (Africa, Europe) undocumented: 650,000 in 2022
- Undocumented population share in CA: 6% of state pop in 2022
- TX undocumented pop: 1.6 million or 5% state pop 2022
- Undocumented median age 42 years in 2022
- FL undocumented pop: 1.2 million 2022
- NY undocumented pop: 650,000 2022
- NJ undocumented pop: 450,000 2022
Demographics Interpretation
While the political rhetoric often paints a picture of a sudden, surging tide, the data reveals a more settled reality: nearly two-thirds of America's 11 million undocumented immigrants have been woven into the fabric of our communities for over a decade, with the vast majority speaking English and a surprising 43% having some college education, suggesting they are less an invading force and more a long-established, under-acknowledged pillar of the national workforce.
Employment
- Undocumented immigrants accounted for 4.6% of the U.S. workforce in 2022, with about 8.3 million unauthorized workers
- Undocumented workers make up 26% of the farming workforce and 17% of construction, per 2022 estimates
- Undocumented immigrants comprised 5.2% of the U.S. labor force in agriculture in 2022
- 4.8 million unauthorized immigrant men were in the U.S. labor force in 2022
- Undocumented workers filled 15% of construction jobs in 2022
- Undocumented labor force participation rate was 68% for men in 2022, higher than natives at 64%
- Undocumented immigrants comprised 19% of janitorial services workforce in 2022
- Undocumented immigrants in food preparation sector: 9% of workforce in 2022
- Undocumented median earnings $42,000 vs $52,000 for natives in 2022
- Undocumented filled 24% of production jobs in manufacturing in 2022
- Undocumented unemployment rate 5.2% vs 3.6% natives in 2022
- Undocumented in transportation: 7% of workforce 2022
- 81% of undocumented adults were in labor force or looking in 2022
- Undocumented in leisure/hospitality: 18% workforce 2022
- Undocumented in private households: 12% workforce 2022
Employment Interpretation
While the debate rages over their presence, the numbers show a quieter truth: undocumented immigrants are a cornerstone, not a crack, in the foundation of America's economy, disproportionately filling the tough, essential jobs that keep the country running.
Fiscal Impact
- From 2017-2021, unauthorized immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal taxes annually on average
- Unauthorized households use 55% less welfare per capita than native households, per 2018 data
- Undocumented immigrants contributed $35.1 billion to state and local taxes in 2022
- The net fiscal cost of undocumented immigrant-headed households was $68.6 billion annually after taxes, per 2023 CIS analysis
- Undocumented immigrants paid $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes in 2022 without benefits
- Average undocumented household paid $10,829 in taxes but used $18,268 in services in 2022, per CIS
- Undocumented contributed $7.0 billion to Medicare taxes in 2022, ineligible for benefits
- Lifetime fiscal cost per undocumented immigrant estimated at $68,000 net, per Heritage
- Undocumented paid 8.5% sales taxes on $154 billion spending in 2022
- Undocumented households received 14% less welfare benefits per capita than natives in 2018
- Total undocumented taxes to all gov't levels: $96.7B in 2022
- Undocumented education cost: $13B annually to states, per FAIR estimate 2023
- Net fiscal drain per undocumented household: $7,439/year per CIS 2023
- Undocumented income taxes paid: $32.3B federal in 2022
- Undocumented property taxes: $15.8B to state/local 2022
- Undocumented payroll taxes: $28.9B federal 2022
Fiscal Impact Interpretation
A serious look at these figures reveals a system where undocumented immigrants are paying tens of billions in taxes and using less welfare, yet are still branded a net fiscal drain primarily because they fund benefits they cannot legally access.
Sources & References
- Reference 1PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 2CBPcbp.govVisit source
- Reference 3CIScis.orgVisit source
- Reference 4ITEPitep.orgVisit source
- Reference 5BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 6CATOcato.orgVisit source
- Reference 7ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 8HOMELANDhomeland.house.govVisit source
- Reference 9HERITAGEheritage.orgVisit source
- Reference 10AMERICANIMMIGRATIONCOUNCILamericanimmigrationcouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 11FAIRUSfairus.orgVisit source