With 2,417,415 Southwest Border encounters logged by CBP in FY2023, the picture of undocumented immigration often feels immediate and dramatic. But the longer-term counts shift more quietly, such as unauthorized immigration estimated at 11.2 million in 2018 and a rise in labor force participation from 70% to 74% between 2010 and 2019. This post puts those moments side by side with age, work, poverty, and enforcement figures to show what changes and what stays stubbornly consistent.
Key Takeaways
- 11.2 million estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the United States in 2018
- 10.5 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2017
- 10.9 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2016
- 3.0 million unauthorized immigrants worked in agriculture and 0.6 million worked in food processing/related production occupations in 2022 (estimated employment by industry)
- 2.3 million DACA recipients were eligible but excluded from some benefits due to federal eligibility restrictions (policy impact estimate)
- In FY2022, DHS issued 1,193,968 administrative arrests for immigration enforcement (agency action count)
- In FY2022, ICE removed 109,016 individuals (removals count)
- In FY2023, CBP processed 2,417,415 encounters at the Southwest Border (encounter count)
- Between 2010 and 2019, unauthorized immigrant labor force participation rates rose from 70% to 74% (Cato Institute analysis of ACS-based estimates; labor force participation trend).
- In 2020, undocumented immigrants had a poverty rate of 23% (peer-reviewed estimate from a study using nationally representative data).
- In 2021, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that about 4.3 million unauthorized immigrants would live in the United States in 2022 (unauthorized population projection in CBO baseline).
In 2018 the United States had about 11.2 million undocumented people, despite slight shifts since 2009.
Related reading
Population Estimates
111.2 million estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the United States in 2018[1]
Verified
210.5 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2017[2]
Verified
310.9 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2016[3]
Directional
411.3 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2015[4]
Verified
512.2 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2014[5]
Verified
612.0 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2013[6]
Single source
711.4 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2012[7]
Directional
811.6 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2011[8]
Verified
911.6 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2010[9]
Single source
1011.2 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2009[10]
Verified
113.0 million unauthorized immigrants are in the 50+ age group in 2019 (DHS estimate)[11]
Verified
120.2 million unauthorized immigrants were apprehended at the border in fiscal year 2022 (estimated unauthorized immigrant apprehensions)[12]
Verified
Population Estimates Interpretation
Under the Population Estimates category, the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States stays in a fairly tight range, dipping from 12.2 million in 2014 to 10.5 million in 2017 before rising again to 11.2 million by 2018.
Labor & Wages
13.0 million unauthorized immigrants worked in agriculture and 0.6 million worked in food processing/related production occupations in 2022 (estimated employment by industry)[13]
Directional
Labor & Wages Interpretation
In 2022, unauthorized workers accounted for 3.0 million people in agriculture and another 0.6 million in food processing and related production, underscoring how labor for these key low-wage sectors heavily depends on undocumented work.
More related reading
Health & Education
12.3 million DACA recipients were eligible but excluded from some benefits due to federal eligibility restrictions (policy impact estimate)[14]
Directional
Health & Education Interpretation
Within the Health and Education category, 2.3 million DACA recipients who were eligible but left out of some federal benefits shows how policy restrictions can directly limit access to health and learning supports.
Enforcement & Policy
1In FY2022, DHS issued 1,193,968 administrative arrests for immigration enforcement (agency action count)[15]
Verified
2In FY2022, ICE removed 109,016 individuals (removals count)[16]
Directional
3In FY2023, CBP processed 2,417,415 encounters at the Southwest Border (encounter count)[17]
Verified
4In 2022, 4.7 million immigrants (including unauthorized) had U.S.-citizen children, according to a Congressional Research Service estimate[18]
Verified
Enforcement & Policy Interpretation
In the Enforcement and Policy landscape, FY2022 saw DHS carry out 1,193,968 immigration enforcement administrative arrests and ICE remove 109,016 people, while FY2023 CBP logged 2,417,415 Southwest Border encounters, underscoring how large-scale border processing and enforcement actions coexist with a broader family impact highlighted by the 4.7 million immigrants in 2022 who had U.S.-citizen children.
More related reading
Labor & Employment
1Between 2010 and 2019, unauthorized immigrant labor force participation rates rose from 70% to 74% (Cato Institute analysis of ACS-based estimates; labor force participation trend).[19]
Verified
Labor & Employment Interpretation
From 2010 to 2019, unauthorized immigrants increased their labor force participation from 70% to 74%, underscoring a clear strengthening trend in labor and employment engagement over the decade.
Economic & Fiscal
1In 2020, undocumented immigrants had a poverty rate of 23% (peer-reviewed estimate from a study using nationally representative data).[20]
Verified
2In 2021, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that about 4.3 million unauthorized immigrants would live in the United States in 2022 (unauthorized population projection in CBO baseline).[21]
Verified
Economic & Fiscal Interpretation
In the Economic and Fiscal category, a 23% poverty rate among undocumented immigrants in 2020 highlights substantial economic vulnerability, while the CBO’s projection of about 4.3 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2022 underscores the scale of the population shaping fiscal impacts.
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
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
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
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
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
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Undocumented Immigrants Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/undocumented-immigrants-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Undocumented Immigrants Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/undocumented-immigrants-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Undocumented Immigrants Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/undocumented-immigrants-statistics.
References
- 1uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/reports/Illegal%20Immigration%20Reform%20and%20Immigrant%20Responsibility%20Act%20(IIIRIRA)%20and%20Unauthorized%20Immigration%20Statistics.pdf
- 2dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized%20Immigrant%20Population%20in%20the%20United%20States%202017.pdf
- 3dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2016.pdf
- 4dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2015_0.pdf
- 5dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2014.pdf
- 6dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2013_0.pdf
- 7dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2012_0.pdf
- 8dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2011.pdf
- 9dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2010_0.pdf
- 10dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Unauthorized_Immigrant_Population_in_the_United_States_2009.pdf
- 11dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_1121_plcy_unauthorized_immigrant_population_estimate_2019.pdf
- 12dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/immigration-enforcement-actions-fy2022.pdf
- 13dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/2022-unauthorized-immigration-estimates.pdf
- 14cbpp.org/research/economy/impact-of-changes-to-daca-and-immigration-status-on-access-to-social-safety-net-programs
- 15ice.gov/doclib/news/library/reports/2022/ice_annual_report_fy2022.pdf
- 16ice.gov/doclib/news/library/reports/iceAnnualReportFY2022.pdf
- 17cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sw-border-migration/2023
- 18crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47009
- 19cato.org/immigration-research-policy-brief/unauthorized-immigrants-united-states-2019
- 20journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0197918320988365
- 21cbo.gov/publication/56977