Summary
In 2023, the number of people in the U.S. illegally reached 14 million, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. This represents an increase from the previous year and is the highest number recorded by Pew. The rise was mostly due to people entering legally but losing protections later, as well as an increase in arrivals seeking asylum.
Key Facts
- There were 14 million people in the U.S. illegally in 2023, an increase from 11.8 million in 2022.
- This number is the highest recorded by the Pew Research Center since it began tracking in 1990.
- Most of the increase came from countries other than Mexico, with major numbers from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and India.
- The overall U.S. immigrant population reached a high of over 53 million in January 2025, making up 15.8% of the U.S. population.
- President Joe Biden restricted asylum in June 2024, slowing the rate of increase.
- Former President Donald Trump ended several policies that offered temporary protections for immigrants.
- States with the largest populations of people in the country illegally included California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.
- Some states had fewer people in the country illegally in 2023 than in the previous peak year of 2007.
