People move to new lands for many reasons. They may seek economic opportunity, flee injustice or oppression in their home countries, or seek to make a better life for their children. Throughout history, people from around the world have made the United States their home, contributing to its cultural richness and enriching our economy.
In 2023, more than 47 million people—14 percent of the nation’s population—were immigrants or had at least one immigrant parent. Despite lingering prejudice and discrimination, Americans are increasingly coming to recognize the positive contributions of immigrants. This belief is partly based on our historical image of the United States as a “nation of immigrants,” but it is also rooted in a growing body of research that shows most immigrants do indeed integrate into American society, and that their children do well in school and have positive impacts on our economy, culture and national character.
Immigration to the United States was at its peak in 2022, with a record 1.25 million legal and unauthorized arrivals. The majority of these newcomers were born outside the United States, with nearly half residing in California and New York City. The vast majority of newcomers are working-age adults, and most possess at least a high school diploma. Immigrants contribute billions of dollars to the economy as consumers, workers, and business owners. In 2023, households headed by unauthorized immigrants had $1.3 trillion in collective spending power (after-tax income). Immigrant entrepreneurs create tens of billions more in business revenue.
Immigrants come from around the world and settle in communities across the country, but some are highly concentrated in specific geographic areas. In 2023, California had the highest concentration of immigrant residents, followed by Texas and New York. Almost all Mexicans live in California, and the same is true for most Anglos from other Latin American countries.
In the past, most immigrants came from Europe. Then, following World War II, immigration from Latin America began to surge. The 1965 Immigration Act established a preference system that gave priority to family reunification and certain occupational skills. This new law, along with the end of the Bracero Program in 1964, changed the pattern. The number of immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries grew substantially, as did the influx of refugees.
Each year, the federal government admits a limited number of refugees—people who have been forced to leave their homes because of persecution on the basis of race or membership in a particular social group, religion or political opinion, or because of their national origin or ancestry. The refugees are selected from groups that are of special concern to the United States, as determined by Congress and the president. In addition, the refugee program provides opportunities for family reunification and employment.