The population of illegal immigrants in the United States has surged to a record 14 million in 2023, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center. This figure marks an increase of 3.5 million since 2021 and surpasses the previous high of 12.2 million recorded in 2007.
Preliminary data for the upcoming years indicates that while the growth rate of illegal immigrants is slowing, their numbers remain elevated. Significantly, the report reveals that the majority of this increase stems from immigrants hailing from countries outside Mexico, with Mexicans comprising 4.3 million, or 30% of the total. Notable increases have been observed among immigrants from Venezuela (650,000), Cuba (475,000), Guatemala (850,000), El Salvador (850,000), Honduras (775,000), and India (680,000).
Geographically, illegal immigrants are predominantly located in six states, which together account for 56% of the total: California (2.3 million), Texas (2.1 million), Florida (1.6 million), New York (825,000), New Jersey (600,000), and Illinois (550,000). From 2021 to 2023, 32 states witnessed an increase in illegal immigrant populations, with Florida experiencing the largest growth at 700,000, followed by Texas (450,000) and California (425,000).
In 2023, approximately 4.6 million U.S.-born children under the age of 18 lived with at least one illegal immigrant parent, a rise of 600,000 since 2021. Furthermore, 1.5 million illegal immigrant children entered the country, nearly doubling the number since 2021. Currently, illegal immigrants make up 5.6% of the U.S. workforce, a record high, as previously reported.
