The population of undocumented immigrants in the United States increased from 10.7 million in 2019 to 13.7 million in mid-2023, when it represented 26% of immigrants in the country, following an increase in arrivals from South America and the Caribbean, according to a new published report.
The report, conducted by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), revealed that this jump of three million undocumented immigrants was the highest since the beginning of the millennium, and followed a decade of stagnation.
Among the factors behind this new wave of migration, the report attributed it to the speed with which the US economy recovered from the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, political instability in Central and South America, gang violence in Haiti, Ecuador and parts of Mexico, and political repression in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
But he also indicated that the border and humanitarian ‘parole’ policies of the government of former President Joe Biden (2021-2025) encouraged more people to try to cross into the United States.
Mexican nationality continues to be the most common among undocumented immigrants in the United States, with more than 5.5 million people, after two years of successive increases after this figure reached a minimum of 5.3 million in 2021.
However, the arrivals of undocumented immigrants between 2019 and 2023 were driven by people from Central American countries such as Honduras and Guatemala, as well as South American countries Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil.
“Undocumented” foreigners
By mid-2023, undocumented immigrants represented 26% of foreigners in the United States. MPI estimated that about 4 million of them were holders of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA), had a pending asylum application or an active grant of humanitarian parole.
Additionally, nearly 4.2 million of them were married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident permit holder, although the vast majority faced problems applying for citizenship because of a 1996 immigration law.
This situation seriously affects minors, according to the report, which counted 6.3 million children – only 1 million of them with US citizenship – who lived with at least one parent in an irregular status.
“These children are often severely affected by their parents’ limited employment opportunities and restrictions on accessing public assistance, as well as the threat of separation due to immigration control measures,” the report warned.
Despite the recent wave of immigration, the organization pointed out that 4 out of every 5 undocumented immigrants had been living in the United States for more than five years, and about half had been there for more than twenty years.
Construction work
About 10 of the 13 million undocumented immigrants of working age had work or were looking for an opportunity. Construction was the most common sector among them, representing 22% of these immigrants. In second position on the list is employment in food services, housing 10%.
Los Angeles, considered a sanctuary city for its policies to protect undocumented immigrants, is the preferred location to live for most of them, followed by Houston.
By states, California, with 2.9 million, Texas, with 1.96 million, and Florida, with 1.22 million, are the ones that host the most undocumented immigrants.
However, the report noted that the number of such immigrants in the United States is likely to have decreased by 2025, due to the enforcement of immigration laws and the general anti-migration atmosphere in the country.
Both phenomena have been especially evident since the return to power of US President Donald Trump last January, who has promoted an increase in raids against undocumented immigrants and the end of pro-migration programs, increasing the number of deportations.
