The U.S.’s immigrant population is growing, so much that it has set a record for 2022.
New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the foreign-born population accelerated such that the gain in 2022 was equal to the gain in the previous four years combined. Last year alone, the number of people born somewhere else climbed by nearly one million to a record high of just over 46 million.
To put these numbers into further context, the Census Bureau estimates that the immigrant population grew by almost 30% between 2005 and 2022. Last year, those born in another country made up 13.9% of the U.S. population, up 1.5 percentage points from 2005.
What Has Increased Percentage Of Foreign-Born in U.S.?
Growth in immigrant numbers had been more or less flat since 2017 as a result of Trump administration policies and the pandemic, when processing visas and vetting refugees essentially ground to a halt. The recent uptick is attributable to the end of those eras, the gradual reboot of legal immigration, and the Biden administration opening the country’s doors to tens of thousands of people fleeing from Afghanistan and Ukraine – even as it struggles to respond to a record-setting influx of migrants from Central and South America arriving at the U.S.- Mexico border.
The Census Bureau’s survey estimates include immigrants who are living in the U.S. legally, as well as those who are not.
What The Immigration Data Shows Us
The data highlights that a large number of new arrivals to the U.S. had college or post-college degrees, suggesting that the U.S. is receiving several immigrants who are well-educated and can contribute significantly to the labor force.
The state that experienced the largest increase in its foreign-born population was Florida, which added more than 200,000 immigrants in 2022. This was more than twice as many as Georgia, the state with the second-largest growth. Other states that saw substantial gains in the share of immigrants include Maryland, Iowa, and New Jersey.
Contact Our Immigration Attorneys Today
Arriving in the United States from another country can be overwhelming. We at Reeves Immigration Law Group understand your concerns and will help you with whatever challenge you face. For over four decades, we’ve been helping individuals and their families with immigration issues of all kinds, including deportation defense, work permits and visas, family-based immigration, and citizenship. Our team of California immigration lawyers have a successful track record and will work diligently for you to secure the best possible outcome.
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