Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2024) - A new report by the Center for Immigration Studies, based on the government’s monthly Current Population Survey, finds that the foreign-born or immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached a record high in March 2024 of 51.6 million, constituting a record high 15.6 percent of the total U.S. population. Since March 2022, the foreign-born population has increased by 5.1 million, marking the largest two-year increase in American history. Although many think of immigrants only as workers, the new analysis shows that less than half of those who arrived since 2022 are employed.
“Immigrants are not just workers; they are people,” said Steven Camarota the report’s lead author and the Center’s Director of Research. “Immigration has implications for everything from schools and hospitals to public coffers and culture. Thinking of immigrants solely as workers is both shortsighted and overly simplistic.”
Among the findings:
- In March 2024 the foreign-born population reached 51.6 million, 5.1 million more than in March 2022 — the largest two-year increase ever recorded in American History.
- The 51.6 million foreign-born residents in March of this year were 15.6 percent of the total U.S. population, also record highs in American history.
- Of the 6.6 million increase in the foreign born since President Biden took office in January 2021, we preliminary estimated that 58 percent is due to illegal immigration.
- Many observers think of immigrants solely as workers, but only 46 percent of those who arrived in 2022 or later were employed in the first part of 2024 — similar to the share of new arrivals employed during previous economic expansions.
- As in any human population, many newly arrived immigrants are children, elderly, disabled, caregivers, or others with no ability to work or interest in doing so.
- Just 8 percent of the 2.5 million new arrivals who are not working say they are actively looking for work.
- The dramatic increases in the foreign-born population represent net growth. The number of new arrivals had to be even higher but were offset by outmigration and natural mortality among those already here.
- There is also some undercount in this data, so the actual number of foreign born residents in the United States is larger.
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