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JULY 2010

Immigration Statistics in the United States

Over the past several decades, immigration rates in the United States have increased dramatically. Over time, immigrants have become a substantial part of the United States, making up 12.5% of the total U.S. population in 2008. This has raised concerns for many United States citizens, as the competition for work and resources has increased. As a result, the United States has employed several tools for limiting foreign-born rates, such as border patrol and worksite enforcement. Still, many immigrants reside in the United States in hopes of becoming citizens, in order to provide for their families. See below to learn the statistics and facts of United States immigration.

Immigrant Population

  • As of 2008, the foreign-born population accounted for 12.5% of the total U.S. population, whereas, in 1990 they only accounted for 7.9% of population.
  • From 2000 to 2008, the immigrant population increased 22%.
  • The Census Bureau estimated the foreign-born population to be 38 million in 2008. 

Citizen Status

  • In 2008, 43 perccent of immigrants were U.S. citizens.
  • On average, only about 10.2 percent of those entering in 2000 or later are U.S. citizens.
  • Generally, it takes at least five years of residence in the United States to be eligible for citizenship.
  • In 2009, over 740,000 people became naturalized US citizens, whereas in 2008, over one million people became naturalized US citizens.
  • People who naturalized in 2009 spent an average of seven years in legal permanent resident status before becoming citizens.
  • In 2008, the illegal alien population was estimated to be 13 million.

Immigrants' Presence in the Workforce

  • In 2008, immigrants made up 15.8 percent of the United States workforce.
  • Immigrants accounted for 44.3 percent of civilian employed workers with no high school degree.
  • Of immigrant workers in the United States in 2007, 42.8 percent were naturalized citizens, and 57.2 percent were not citizens.
  • The top three occupations of immigrant workers in the United States are management, service occupations, and sales/office occupations.
  • Immigrants accounted for 24.3 percent of all low-wage full-time workers and 13.1 percent of high-wage full-time workers.

Children in Immigrant Families

  • Children residing with at least one immigrant parent accounted for 23.2 percent of children under age 18 in 2008.
  • Of all children with immigrant parents in the United States, 85.6 percent were U.S. citizens by birth.
  • Children of immigrants accounted for 29.9 percent of all children in low-income families in 2008, whereas, in 1990 they made up 16.7 percent of all children in low-income families.

Illegal Immigrant Detention and Removal from U.S.

  • Between 1998 and 2007, over two million illegal immigrants were removed from the country. 
  • About 110,000 of the illegal aliens who were removed between 1998 and 2008 had children who were U.S citizens.
  • More than one third of the illegal immigrant parents removed in this time interval committed previous offences while residing in the States. 

SOURCES:

Migration Policy Institute; http://www.migrationinformation.org

Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR): http://www.fairus.org

Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov

Disclaimer: Although we try to use the most credible sources, we are not responsible for any incorrect findings.

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