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Updated October 6, 2023
Citizenship and Immigration Statuses of the U.S. Foreign-Born
Population
The U.S. foreign-born population consists of individuals
• naturalized U.S. citizens, who acquired U.S.
living in the United States who were not U.S. citizens at
citizenship generally after fulfilling residency and other
birth. In 2022, according to the American Community
requirements; and
Survey (ACS), an estimated 46.2 million foreign-born
• unauthorized immigrants who have entered the United
people resided in the United States, representing 13.9% of
States without inspection or have overstayed their period of
the total U.S. population. The ACS is a U.S. Census Bureau
lawful admission, including those who hold a temporary,
survey conducted each month with a sample of households
discretionary status such as Deferred Action for Childhood
in 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
The proportion of foreign-born individuals among the total
Researchers find that government surveys tend to
U.S. population has changed over time. Census data for the
undercount the foreign-born population, particularly the
period from 1850 to 2000 show the foreign-born population
unauthorized, compared with the native-born population.
was at its highest proportion (greater than 14%) in 1910,
Because of these undercounts, and different survey and
1890, and 1870.
administrative data sources used, the sum of the subgroups
Data from the last century show that the percentage of
enumerated in each section of this In Focus exceeds the
foreign-born persons in 1920 (13.2%) was similar to current
total foreign-born population as measured by the ACS.
levels. It then declined over the next five decades, reaching
Resident Nonimmigrants
a low of 4.7% in 1970. Over the last five decades, the
proportion has increased (Figure 1).
Nonimmigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals for
specific purposes and on temporary bases. Typically, the
Figure 1. U.S. Foreign-Born: Total and Percentage of
Department of State (DOS) has issued 9 million to 10
Total Population, 1920-2022
million nonimmigrant visas annually. Nonimmigrant visa
issuances were substantially lower in FY2020 (4 million)
and FY2021 (2.8 million) due to COVID-19-related
closures at U.S. embassies and consulates, the temporary
suspension of entry for some categories of nonimmigrants
during those years, and travel disruptions. In FY2022,
nonimmigrant visa issuances increased to 6.8 million.
The majority of nonimmigrant visas issued are in categories
related to nonresidential purposes (e.g., tourists). However,
some nonimmigrants are admitted for purposes associated
with U.S. residence. Approximately 3.2 million
nonimmigrant workers, students, exchange visitors,
diplomats, and their relatives were residing in the United
Source: 1920-2000: Campbell Gibson and Kay Jung, “Historical
States in 2019, according to the most recent Department of
Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United
Homeland Security (DHS) estimate. Nonimmigrant workers
States: 1850 to 2000,” U.S. Census Bureau Population Division, 2006.
represented the largest category (1.4 million).
2010 and 2022: ACS, Table B05001.
LPRs
The foreign-born are heterogeneous with regard to citizenship
and immigration status. They include the following:
DHS estimates that 12.9 million LPRs lived in the United
States in 2022. Typically, approximately 1 million people
• resident nonimmigrants, who are a subset of
become LPRs each fiscal year. Like nonimmigrant
nonimmigrant (temporary) visa holders admitted for a
admissions, LPR admissions for permanent residence were
limited period of time and specified purpose whose
relatively low in FY2020 (707,362) and FY2021 (740,002)
classes of admission are associated with U.S. residency,
likely due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic. Admissions
including temporary workers, students, exchange
increased to 1,018,349 in FY2022; 46% were new arrivals
visitors, and diplomats;
to the United States and 54% adjusted to LPR status from a
• lawful permanent residents (LPRs, or green card
nonimmigrant status within the United States.
holders), who can reside and work lawfully and
The largest number of LPRs are admitted through family-
permanently in the United States;
sponsored categories, followed by employment-based
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Citizenship and Immigration Statuses of the U.S. Foreign-Born Population
categories, grants of refugee status and asylum, and the
Unauthorized Population
diversity visa (DV) program (Figure 2).
The unauthorized population is challenging to measure.
Figure 2. LPRs by Category of Admission, FY2022
There are no official counts of unauthorized immigrants
living in the United States. Census Bureau surveys like the
ACS measure whether an individual is foreign-born and
whether they are a U.S. citizen but most do not collect
information on immigration status. However, federal
agencies and nongovernmental researchers have long
produced estimates of the unauthorized population, drawing
on survey data and various methodologies.
Source: Department of Homeland Security, 2022 Yearbook of
Recent estimates range from 10.3 million to 11.4 million
Immigration Statistics, Table 6.
unauthorized individuals living in the United States. Based
Statutory caps limit the annual number of individuals who
on these estimates, the unauthorized population represents
can be granted LPR status through the family-sponsored
about 23% to 26% of all foreign-born individuals living in
system (480,000), employment-based system (140,000),
the United States.
and DV program (55,000). Family-sponsored categories
Some policies allow certain foreign nationals to remain in
include numerically limited (226,000) preference
the United States regardless of whether they have a lawful
immigrants and numerically unlimited immediate
immigration status, but they do not provide pathways to
relatives of U.S. citizens. Therefore, the number of persons
LPR status. Individuals covered by these programs are
who acquire LPR status through the family-sponsored
generally included in unauthorized population estimates.
system may, and regularly does, exceed its annual
They include individuals granted TPS (610,630 as of March
permeable limit. LPRs from any single country cannot
2023), which is a blanket form of humanitarian relief; and
exceed 7% of the total annual limit of numerically limited
DACA (578,680 as of March 2023), which is granted to
family-sponsored and employment-based preference
certain eligible persons brought to the United States as
immigrants.
children.
DHS estimates that 9.2 million LPRs were eligible to
Other individuals may be allowed to remain in the United
naturalize, or become U.S. citizens, in FY2022, based on
States temporarily with immigration parole, also referred to
meeting U.S. residence and other requirements for
as humanitarian parole, on a case-by-case basis, for urgent
application.
humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. In recent
Naturalized Citizens
years, the Biden Administration has extended special parole
processes for particular populations who meet specific
Approximately 24.5 million foreign-born individuals in the
criteria. There is no publicly available government source
United States are naturalized U.S. citizens, representing
of the total number of individuals residing in the United
about half (53%) of the foreign-born population in 2022. In
States with parole grants.
FY2022, 969,380 individuals naturalized.
Recent Migrant Arrivals in Removal
During the last century, the proportion of naturalized
Proceedings
citizens relative to the total foreign-born population peaked
in 1950 (74.5%) and then declined, reaching its lowest
During the past two years, the United States has
point (40.3%) in 2000, before increasing to its current level
experienced an unprecedented level of migration at the
(Figure 3).
U.S.-Mexico border by individuals who, in many cases, are
seeking asylum and do not otherwise have permission to
Figure 3. Naturalized Foreign-Born as a Proportion of
enter the country. Individuals who are charged with an
the Total Foreign-Born, 1920-2022
immigration violation by DHS may pursue their asylum
claims in the removal process and, if they are not subject to
mandatory detention, may be released to reside temporarily
in the United States while they await their removal
(deportation) proceedings in immigration court.
In FY2022, DHS’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) released 780,000 migrants. In FY2023 (through
August), CBP charged and released approximately 764,000
migrants who are awaiting removal proceedings (according
to CBP Custody and Transfer Statistics). Some of these
Source: 1900-2000: Campbell Gibson and Kay Jung, “Historical
individuals are covered by certain legal protections such as
Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United
humanitarian parole or TPS; others may be released with no
States: 1850 to 2000,” U.S. Census Bureau Population Division,
other status or protection.
February 2006. 2010 and 2022: ACS data, Table B05001.
Note: The 1960 Decennial Census did not ask respondents about
Holly Straut-Eppsteiner, Analyst in Immigration Policy
their citizenship status.
IF11806
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Citizenship and Immigration Statuses of the U.S. Foreign-Born Population
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