The number of individuals residing in the United States illegally surged to an unprecedented 14 million in 2023, marking a significant increase from 11.8 million the year prior, according to the Pew Research Center. This figure surpasses the previous high of 12.2 million recorded in 2007.
The rise is largely attributed to approximately 6 million individuals who maintained some form of legal protection. Changes in immigration policies under President Donald Trump have contributed to the stripping of these protections since he took office in January.
Pew’s estimates indicate that while 2023 was the latest comprehensive analysis, preliminary data suggests a continued increase into 2024. However, this growth appears to have slowed after President Joe Biden enforced stricter asylum policies at the border in June of that year. Despite a reported drop in numbers during Trump’s tenure, estimates suggest the count remains above 14 million.
In total, the immigrant population in the United States reached an all-time high of more than 53 million in January 2025, constituting 15.8% of the country’s population. This marked the first occurrence of a population decrease since the 1960s.
Pew’s findings are among the most thorough attempts to quantify illegal immigration trends. A significant portion of the recent increases came from countries beyond Mexico, with Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and India contributing to the largest growth figures. Over the past two years, the number of individuals from countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Ukraine, and Peru more than doubled.
President Donald Trump has asserted that 21 million people entered the United States during his presidency, a claim that greatly exceeds official estimates and data concerning border arrests. The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimated the illegal population at 18.6 million in March, while the Center for Immigration Studies reported 14.2 million people living illegally in the U.S. last month, down from a peak of 15.8 million in January.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has highlighted the reported decrease of 1.6 million individuals within six months, calling it a “massive” decline in a recent press release. However, it is worth noting that her department’s own figures indicated that there were 11 million individuals living in the U.S. illegally in 2022—according to the most recent count.
The Center for Migration Studies has also provided estimates, with its latest figures placing the number of displaced individuals at 12.2 million in 2022, surpassing its earlier high of 12 million in 2008.
Pew’s analysis, drawing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Homeland Security, reflects the increase in individuals crossing the border to claim their right to seek asylum and the Biden-era policies that granted limited temporary legal status. Such policies included the border appointment system known as CBP One and specific permits extended to nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The Trump administration, in contrast, has sought to rescind or reverse many of Biden’s immigration policies, especially those that expand Temporary Protected Status for individuals already on U.S. soil from nations deemed unsafe to return to.
Among those living in the U.S. illegally, the largest demographic comes from Mexico, with numbers slightly increasing to 4.3 million in 2023. However, the overall growth in illegal immigration was predominantly from other countries, now totaling 9.7 million, rising from 6.4 million only two years earlier.
The states most affected by illegal immigration remain California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. While California continues to hold the highest numbers, Texas is quickly closing the gap. Notably, six states have reported declines in illegal populations compared to the peak in 2007, including Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Oregon.
Pew also estimates that a record 9.7 million unauthorized individuals were part of the U.S. workforce in 2023, comprising approximately 5.6% of the labor force. States with the highest concentrations of illegal workers included Nevada, Florida, New Jersey, and Texas.
The conversation around illegal immigration remains contentious, with Pew’s report providing substantial metrics that contribute to the ongoing discussion.
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