California
Undocumented Immigration Population in the U.S. Estimated at Up to 15.8 Million
New estimates put the U.S. undocumented immigrant population in mid-2024 at 14.6 million to 15.8 million, a sharp increase from around 11 million in the 2010s. Since then the non-citizen population has likely dropped, but the number is unclear since…
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Key points
- The undocumented immigrant population in the U.S. could reach up to 15.8 million by mid-2024.
- California, Texas, and Florida have the largest undocumented populations.
- Concerns about deportation may lead to underreporting in government surveys.
NewsWK — New estimates indicate that the population of undocumented immigrants in the United States could be as high as 15.8 million by mid-2024, a notable increase from around 11 million during the 2010s. The report suggests a range of 14.6 million to 15.8 million undocumented individuals currently reside in the country.
Factors contributing to this rise include record levels of unauthorized migrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border and the Biden administration‘s implementation of humanitarian parole programs aimed at managing border situations.
The Migration Policy Institute, which provided the higher estimate of 15.8 million, noted that the increase was largely influenced by these recent arrivals. In contrast, the Center for Migration Studies of New York estimated the population at 14.6 million, utilizing various data adjustments from the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to the Center for Migration Studies, California leads the states with the largest undocumented population at approximately 2.6 million, followed by Texas at 2.3 million and Florida at 1.4 million. Other states with significant numbers include New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.
While these estimates provide insight into the current situation, there is uncertainty about future trends. A monthly federal survey indicated a potential decrease in the non-citizen population, with nearly 3 million fewer non-citizens reported between January 2025 and June 2026. This decline may reflect an increasing reluctance among immigrants to participate in government surveys due to fears of deportation.
“Large numbers of immigrants targeted by ICE and CBP are now hunkering down in fear and are unlikely to provide any information about themselves to any strangers, especially government interviewers,” stated the Center for Migration Studies.
Based on reporting by Tim Henderson originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
