CBP recorded 2,417,415 Southwest Border encounters in FY2023, giving enforcement headlines their immediate context. Long-run estimates place unauthorized immigration at 11.2 million in 2018, and labor force participation rose from 70% to 74% between 2010 and 2019. This article pairs those trend figures with counts on age, work, poverty, and enforcement to show both change and continuity.
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
01 · Category
Population Estimates12 stats
01
11.2 million estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the United States in 2018
02
10.5 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2017
03
10.9 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2016
04
11.3 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2015
05
12.2 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2014
06
12.0 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2013
07
11.4 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2012
08
11.6 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2011
09
11.6 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2010
10
11.2 million estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States in 2009
11
3.0 million unauthorized immigrants are in the 50+ age group in 2019 (DHS estimate)
12
0.2 million unauthorized immigrants were apprehended at the border in fiscal year 2022 (estimated unauthorized immigrant apprehensions)
Interpretation
Population Estimates Interpretation
In the Population Estimates, the estimated undocumented or unauthorized immigrant population in the United States peaked at 12.2 million in 2014 and then declined to 11.2 million by 2018, showing a gradual downward trend over these years.
02 · Category
Labor & Wages1 stats
01
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)
Interpretation
Labor & Wages Interpretation
In 2022, 3.0 million unauthorized immigrants were working in agriculture and another 0.6 million were employed in food processing jobs, underscoring how labor is heavily concentrated in food production work within the Labor and Wages category.
03 · Category
Health & Education1 stats
01
2.3 million DACA recipients were eligible but excluded from some benefits due to federal eligibility restrictions (policy impact estimate)
Interpretation
Health & Education Interpretation
With 2.3 million DACA recipients eligible but blocked from some benefits by federal restrictions, the Health and Education category shows how policy limits can directly reduce access to supports that help people stay healthy and keep learning.
More related reading
04 · Category
Enforcement & Policy4 stats
01
In FY2022, DHS issued 1,193,968 administrative arrests for immigration enforcement (agency action count)
02
In FY2022, ICE removed 109,016 individuals (removals count)
03
In FY2023, CBP processed 2,417,415 encounters at the Southwest Border (encounter count)
04
In 2022, 4.7 million immigrants (including unauthorized) had U.S.-citizen children, according to a Congressional Research Service estimate
Interpretation
Enforcement & Policy Interpretation
In 2022 to 2023, enforcement activity was intense with DHS making 1,193,968 immigration-related administrative arrests and ICE removing 109,016 people while CBP logged 2,417,415 Southwest Border encounters, even as CRS estimated 4.7 million immigrants with U.S.-citizen children were living in the country, underscoring how enforcement and policy decisions are occurring alongside a large, family-connected unauthorized population.
05 · Category
Labor & Employment1 stats
01
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).
Interpretation
Labor & Employment Interpretation
From 2010 to 2019, unauthorized immigrants’ labor force participation climbed from 70% to 74%, showing a clear strengthening in Labor and Employment engagement over that decade.
06 · Category
Economic & Fiscal2 stats
01
In 2020, undocumented immigrants had a poverty rate of 23% (peer-reviewed estimate from a study using nationally representative data).
02
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).
Interpretation
Economic & Fiscal Interpretation
In the Economic and Fiscal category, the evidence suggests that unauthorized immigrants face substantial financial vulnerability, with a 23% poverty rate in 2020, while the CBO estimated about 4.3 million living in the United States in 2021, underscoring the potential fiscal pressure linked to large and economically strained populations.
report visual · Projection
Estimated unauthorized/undocumented immigrant population over time
Estimates for the unauthorized immigrant population fluctuate in the late 2010s and early 2010s, peaking in the mid-2010s before declining by 2018.
11.2 Estimated number of unauthorized immigrants (millions)
Start
+1.73%
CAGR · 5y
12.2 Estimated number of unauthorized immigrants (millions)
Projected
20142019
source-verifieddhs.gov2014
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
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.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)