Immigrants Line up at a Remote US Border Patrol
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In 2022, California and Texas emerged as the leading states for undocumented immigrant populations, accounting for 42 per cent of the estimated 10.99 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States.
California reported approximately 2.6 million unauthorized immigrants, while Texas had around 2.1 million. The information, sourced from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), comes at a time when immigration policy is under intensive scrutiny. In this context, President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to carry out the most expansive mass deportation operation in America's history.
This move could incite notable tension in states with substantial undocumented populations, particularly California and Texas. In addition to California and Texas, significant numbers of unauthorized immigrants are found in Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, and New York, with populations of 590,000, 490,000, 420,000, and 410,000, respectively.
Collectively, the top ten states contain 72 percent of the entire unauthorized immigrant population in the US. North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, and Arizona also rank among the top ten states, with populations ranging between 290,000 and 360,000. These states have experienced varied trends, with some seeing slight increases while others experienced minor declines.
Between 2018 and 2022, Texas observed an increase of 110,000 unauthorized immigrants. Conversely, Florida and New York grappled with decreases of nearly 100,000 and approximately 200,000, respectively. California's unauthorized immigrant population remained relatively stable, experiencing a slight dip in 2020 before rebounding in 2022.
Overall, the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States has increased slightly from 10.51 million in 2020 to 10.99 million in 2022, suggesting evolving migration patterns in recent years. These figures signal significant implications for immigration policy and state-level resource allocation discussions.
Julia Gelatt, associate director of the US Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, has emphasized the positive contributions of immigration, noting its role in sustaining population growth, enriching the labour force, and fostering community diversity. She advocates for the importance of family reunification and employer access to necessary labour.
Conversely, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham expresses support for Trump's proposed focus on deporting violent criminal immigrants. She indicates that the Texas General Land Office stands ready to assist in securing the southern border. With Republican control of the presidency, Senate, and House, the party may face limited resistance in advancing its immigration agenda.
In anticipation of these shifts, Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups are preparing for significant changes to immigration policy, reflecting a period of profound transition in the US immigration landscape.