According to recent data, the immigrant population in the United States experienced its largest increase in over twenty years last year. The Pew Research Center analyzed figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, revealing that approximately 1.6 million more immigrants arrived in 2023, which is the biggest growth since 2000.
This surge brought the total number of immigrants in the U.S. to 47.8 million, up from 46.2 million in 2022.
Former President Donald Trump, running as the Republican candidate in the upcoming election, celebrated these figures, calling them a testament to those who “live out the American Dream.”
The increase is primarily attributed to legal immigration, especially from countries like India, Mexico, and China. In 2023, Mexico produced the largest immigrant group at 10.9 million (23% of the total), followed by India (2.9 million or 6%), China (2.4 million or 5%), and the Philippines (2.1 million or 4%).
Pew reports that nearly 75% of immigrants in the U.S. as of 2022 were either naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, or lawful temporary residents, while about 23% were in the country unlawfully. This growth reflects changing immigration trends, with more migrants arriving on temporary work visas and unauthorized entries constituting a smaller share compared to decades past.
Immigration is also shaping up to be a major topic in the 2024 election, second only to the economy for voter concern, with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris facing off against Trump. Recent polling indicates that 55% of voters, including nearly 30% of Democrats, support stricter immigration controls, the highest level recorded since 2001, according to Gallup.
Furthermore, a recent poll from Redfield and Wilton Strategies found that 47% of respondents trust Trump on immigration issues compared to 36% for Harris.
Trump reignited controversy during a recent Fox News interview, stating he would require over a million people under Humanitarian Parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to leave if he returns to office. He opined, “Get ready to leave because you’re going to be going out real fast.”
However, it’s important to note that people in such statuses usually can’t be deported unless they have committed a crime.
The prevailing data illustrates the complex dynamics of immigration correlating with both U.S. economic recovery and worldwide political changes. As the economy rebounds from the pandemic, sectors like healthcare and technology are increasingly in need of foreign workers, contributing to this upward trend in immigration.
Despite this growth, the immigrant share of the total U.S. population remains below historical highs. In 2023, immigrants comprised 14.3% of the U.S. population, significantly up from 4.7% in 1970 but still lower than the peak of 14.8% in 1890.