Where do most illegals in the US come from?
Asked by: Dr. Valentine Lehner | Last update: February 16, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (43 votes)
Most unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. come from Latin America, with Mexico historically being the largest single country, though countries in Central America (like Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras) and Asia (like India, China) have significantly increased their share in recent years, fleeing violence, poverty, and persecution.
What is the nationality of most illegal immigrants in the US?
In the majority of states, undocumented residents comprise less than 1 percent of the population. Mexico is the leading country of origin, with 2.7 million, or 54 percent, of the population. The Mexican undocumented population has grown at an average annual level of just over 150,000 since 1988.
Where do most legal US immigrants come from?
Almost half of immigrants are from Latin America, but a higher share of recent arrivals are from Asia. The vast majority of California's immigrants were born in Latin America (49%) or Asia (41%).
What is the biggest immigrant group in the USA?
Key Takeaways
- America's total foreign-born population was 47.8 million people as of 2023.
- Mexico is the largest source of immigrants by a huge margin, with other leading sources including India, China, and the Philippines.
Where did 70% of immigrants enter the United States?
Over 70% of immigrants entered the United States through New York City, particularly at the Ellis Island immigration station (1892-1954) and before that, Castle Garden near Manhattan, earning it the nickname the "Golden Door" for processing millions arriving from Europe and elsewhere.
The law that broke US immigration
Which country takes in the most immigrants?
The United States takes in the most immigrants by total number, hosting tens of millions more than any other country, followed by countries like Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. However, if looking at the percentage of immigrants relative to the total population, smaller nations like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait have much higher shares of foreign-born residents.
Which U.S. city receives the most immigrants?
Among U.S. cities with more than 200,000 residents, New York City has the greatest population of immigrants, with nearly 3 million foreign-born residents.
Who are the top 5 immigrants in the US?
The top 5 countries of origin for immigrants in the U.S. consistently include Mexico, India, China, the Philippines, and El Salvador, though their exact order and representation can shift slightly depending on the time period, with Mexico remaining the largest source, followed by major Asian and Central American nations like India, China, the Philippines, and El Salvador. Recent data (2021-2023) also highlights growing numbers from South America, with Venezuela and Colombia entering the top ranks.
What race has the highest immigration rate?
No single "race" migrates the most globally, but people from Asia and Latin America are the largest groups migrating to the United States, with Mexicans being the single largest national origin group, though this is shifting towards India and China for newer arrivals; globally, India, Mexico, and China are top origin countries for migrants. Migration is driven by economic, political, and environmental factors, not race, leading to varied patterns from specific countries and regions.
How did so many illegal immigrants get into the US?
Between 2007 and 2018, visa overstays have accounted for a larger share of the growth in the undocumented immigrant population of the United States than illegal border crossings, which have declined considerably from 2000 to 2018. In 2022, 37% of unauthorized immigrants were from Mexico, the smallest share on record.
What did Biden do to increase immigration?
President Biden's administration has focused on expanding legal pathways, protecting certain immigrants, increasing enforcement, and reversing Trump-era policies, including establishing new parole programs for migrants, granting citizenship to nearly 3.5 million people, extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and a major June 2024 action allowing undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for green cards without leaving the country. Efforts include streamlining processes, increasing refugee admissions, boosting work authorizations, and targeting enforcement on national security threats, while also managing record border encounters.
What country has sent the most immigrants to the US?
Between 1492 and 1820, approximately 2.6 million Europeans immigrated to the Americas, of whom just under 50% were either British or Irish, 40% were Spanish or Portuguese, 6% were Swiss or German, and 5% were French.
Which country has the most illegal immigrants in the world?
The United States has the world's largest population of unauthorized immigrants, with estimates around 14 million in 2023, primarily from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, though data varies by source. While the U.S. leads in sheer numbers, Western nations like Germany and the UK also have significant undocumented populations, but with lower proportions relative to their total populations compared to the U.S.
Is there actually a crisis at the border?
Deaths along the border
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) documented 686 deaths and disappearances of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022, making it the deadliest land route for migrants worldwide.
Are Iranians successful in the USA?
Almost one in three Iranian-American households have annual incomes of more than $100,000 (compared to one in five for the overall U.S. population). Ali Mostasahri, a founding member of the Iranian Studies Group, offers a reason for the relative success of Iranian-Americans compared to other immigrants.
Do illegal immigrants go to jail or get deported?
The foreign national may be held in a detention center before trial or deportation. Find out how to locate someone detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After ICE detains a noncitizen, they may go before a judge in immigration court during the deportation process.
Which 5 states have the most undocumented immigrants?
The six states with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations in 2023 were:
- California (2.3 million)
- Texas (2.1 million)
- Florida (1.6 million)
- New York (825,000)
- New Jersey (600,000)
- Illinois (550,000)
What did Trump do for immigration in 2016?
In 2016, Donald Trump's immigration policy centered on building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants, ending programs like DACA, implementing "extreme vetting," reducing refugee admissions, and cracking down on "sanctuary cities," all aimed at drastically tightening border security and enforcement through executive action and stricter laws to curb illegal immigration and shift legal immigration towards a merit-based system, making it a cornerstone of his campaign.
What is the most successful immigrant group in the US?
Indian Americans have long stood out as one of the most successful immigrant groups in the United States. They are the largest Asian subgroup in several key swing states. They also hold the highest median household income of any ethnic group, nearly double that of white households.
How many immigrants are deported from the US every year?
Figure A shows that, typically, the U.S. deports about 300,000 people per year. Deportation rates just exceeded that during the 2014–2019 period but dropped during the onset of the pandemic, primarily due to immigration restrictions that expelled migrants more immediately at the border.
What country sends the most immigrants to the United States?
Since 1965, about half of U.S. immigrants have come from Latin America, with about a quarter from Mexico alone. About another quarter have come from Asia. Large numbers have come from China, India and the Philippines.
Which state is most friendly to immigrants?
California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington consistently rank as the most immigrant-friendly states due to comprehensive laws, sanctuary policies, and support for services like driver's licenses and in-state tuition, though rankings vary slightly by source, with others like New York, Maryland, and Colorado also noted for strong protections.
What is the biggest immigrant group in the US?
Mexico is the largest immigrant group in the U.S., with over 10 million foreign-born individuals, though its share has declined as immigrants from India, China, and other Asian and Latin American countries grow, with India and China now the second and third largest groups, respectively. While Mexico remains the biggest source, the overall U.S. immigrant population is diversifying, with significant numbers from Asia and Latin America, according to 2023 data.
Where is the safest place for immigrants in the US?
The states with the most protective laws
Two states have the strongest laws protecting immigrants: Oregon (4.3) and Illinois (4.3). Three others also have fairly broad sanctuary statutes: California (3.95), New Jersey (4.05), and Washington (4.05).