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- U.S. sees a 4.6% increase in undocumented immigrants since 2020, totaling 11.0 million in 2022.
- Undocumented immigrants from Mexico decline by nearly 30% since 2010, while the average age increases.
- Most undocumented immigrants have resided in the U.S. for over a decade, with the majority in just ten states.
- Demographic shifts show a growing number of older undocumented immigrants, raising concerns for healthcare and socioeconomic equality.
Understanding the Shift in U.S. Undocumented Immigrant Population
A recent Homeland Security report reveals a slight rise in the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., reaching 11 million in 2022. Despite this increase, there’s been a notable decrease from the 2010 peak.
The study, which excluded legal residents and those under DACA or TPS, highlighted a significant drop in Mexican undocumented immigrants and an aging demographic. Data from the American Community Survey helped pinpoint the long-term residency of nearly 80% of these individuals, underscoring the need for legal reform. The report also noted a decline in undocumented immigrants from India and China, while numbers from Guatemala and Honduras rose, reflecting changing migration patterns influenced by economic and environmental factors.
California, Texas, and Florida are home to nearly half of the undocumented population, with the majority spread across ten states. However, only three states saw an increase from 2018 to 2022. The aging undocumented population poses new challenges, particularly in healthcare and socioeconomic disparities, calling for policy and community action.