This is How the Undocumented Immigrant Population in the US is Changing
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12.2 million
Ronald Reagan's istration (1981-1989), the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 granted amnesty to nearly 3 million undocumented individuals, the majority of whom were Mexican. Bill Clinton, the construction of the wall on the border between San Diego (California) and Tijuana (Mexico) had begun. G.W. Bush of the United States and 
V. Fox of Mexico agreed on an immigration reform to legalize about 3 million workers. The negotiations were thwarted by the 9/11 attacks. Obama arrives with the la promise of immigration reform in his first 100 days (delayed to his second term). Massive raids on workplaces of undocumented immigrants occur. Obama is reelected. Faced with Congress' inaction, he creates DACA, protecting at least 1.4 million undocumented youth who entered the United States before the age of 16. Obama recognizes the crisis, warned by the UN, and establishes deportation priorities. Obama opens detention centers or undocumented immigrants on military bases and increases bed capacity in ICE jails. Obama's calls to resume the debate on reform and discuss a law to regularize the "dreamers" protected by DACA. Donald Trump wins the presidential election. Trump initiates the "zero tolerance" policy: he accelerates deportations and brings criminal charges against those who cross the border without authorization seeking asylum. Forced family separation takes place. Trump cancels DACA and Temporary Protected Status programs. The count of successful illegal crossings is eliminated. Biden dismantles "zero tolerance": he prioritizes the expulsion of foreigners who pose a threat and creates a task force to reunify families forcibly separated. For over a decade, the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has remained stable compared to the peak reached in 2007 when 12.2 million people lived in the country without authorization. These periods of high immigration often coincide with times of economic prosperity. This was the case in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the arrival of immigrants primarily for jobs in the agriculture, construction, and service industries.
The flow of migration also increased sharply when promises of immigration reform were heard during presidential campaigns, such as in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2020, when candidates like George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden offered the possibility of legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
All of them came to the presidency, yet none succeeded or has succeeded in pushing through those reforms. The attacks of September 11, 2001, derailed Bush's plan to legalize three million undocumented individuals, mainly Mexican agricultural workers. In 2013, the Senate approved a bipartisan immigration reform bill that included a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, but it was dismissed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. In 2021, the House of Representatives ed two bills sent by the Joe Biden White House. In the Senate, controlled by Democrats with only 51 votes, they faced Republican rejection.
A population becoming increasingly diverse
Total undocumented immigrants
Undocumented immigrants from Mexico
For the first time,the
total of immigrants from
other countries
sures the total number of
undocumented Mexicans
Millions of people
15
12
9
6
3
0
90
98
03
06
08
10
12
14
16
18
21
95
00
05
07
09
11
13
15
17
19
Great Recession
starts
Pandemic
starts
Total undocumented immigrants
Undocumented immigrants from Mexico
For the first time,the
total of immigrants from
other countries
sures the total number of
undocumented Mexicans
Millions of people
15
12
9
6
3
0
90
95
98
00
03
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
21
Great Recession
starts
Pandemic
starts
Total undocumented immigrants
Undocumented immigrants from Mexico
For the first time,the
total of immigrants from
other countries
sures the total number of
undocumented Mexicans
Millions of people
15
12
9
6
3
0
1990
95
98
00
03
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
21
Great Recession starts
Pandemic starts
Total undocumented immigrants
Undocumented immigrants from Mexico
For the first time,the
total of immigrants from
other countries
sures the total number of
undocumented Mexicans
Millions of people
15
12
9
6
3
0
1990
95
98
00
03
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
21
Great Recession starts
Pandemic starts
Why is Mexico losing prominence?
The recession of 2008-2009 severely diminished job opportunities, and many immigrants returned to Mexico. During those years, many authorized Mexicans working in construction and housing lost their jobs, while many undocumented individuals failed to find employment in the country.
In turn, the birth rate dropped from seven children per woman in 1970 to just over two children in 2000. “By 2010, the number of Mexicans entering the workforce turning 16 or 17 years old, had dropped considerably. The Mexican labor market didn't have the pressure that it had before of trying to create jobs because of population growth. That push factor, meaning lots of excess labor in Mexico, diminished, while the pull factor in the US also diminished with the drop in unemployment”, emphasized the expert.
Fertility rate
in Mexico
Undocumented
immigrants in the US
from Mexico
Births per woman
Millions of people
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
9
6
3
0
6.8
4.1
1.8
1960
70
80
90
00
10
20
1960
70
80
90
00
10
20
Fertility rate
in Mexico
Undocumented
immigrants in the US
from Mexico
Births per woman
Millions of people
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
9
6
3
0
6.8
4.1
1.8
1960
70
80
90
00
10
20
1960
70
80
90
00
10
20
Fertility rate
in Mexico
Undocumented immigrants in the US from Mexico
Births per woman
Millions of people
9
6
3
0
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
6.8
4.1
1.8
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Fertility rate
in Mexico
Undocumented immigrants in the US from Mexico
Births per woman
Millions of people
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
9
6
3
0
6.8
4.1
1.8
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
It is also likely that, as more Mexican migrants use legal channels to come to the United States, including the H-2A visa (for seasonal or temporary agricultural workers), fewer people feel inclined to migrate without permission or illegally, as stated by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).
The undocumented immigrant population is not static. While new undocumented foreigners enter the United States, others leave the country due to lack of opportunities without legal documents. Additionally, they cannot bring their immediate family , such as spouses and children, and choose to return to be closer to relatives and friends. In turn, the MPI reports that over 4.7 million have been deported, and some have died.
The arrival of other nationalities
Evolution of the undocumented immigrant population in the USA, according to their country of origin.
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
Great Recession starts
6 million
5
4
Pandemic
starts
3
2
1
0
Mexico
1 million
0
Brazil
0
Canada
0
China
0
Colombia
0
Dominican R.
0
Ecuador
0
El Salvador
0
Guatemala
0
Haiti
0
Honduras
0
India
0
Korea
0
Filipinas
0
USSR (former)
0
Venezuela
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
Note: the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The immigrant population from Korea includes North Korea and South Korea.
Evolution of the undocumented immigrant population in the USA, according to their country of origin.
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
Great Recession starts
6 million
5
4
Pandemic
starts
3
2
1
0
Mexico
1 million
0
Brazil
0
Canada
0
China
0
Colombia
0
Dominican R.
0
Ecuador
0
El Salvador
0
Guatemala
0
Haiti
0
Honduras
0
India
0
Korea
0
Filipinas
0
USSR (former)
0
Venezuela
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
Note: the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The immigrant population from Korea includes North Korea and South Korea.
Evolution of the undocumented immigrant population in the USA, according to their country of origin.
Great Recession starts
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
6 million
5
4
Pandemic
starts
3
2
1
0
Mexico
1 million
0
Brazil
0
Canada
0
China
0
Colombia
0
Dominican R.
0
Ecuador
0
El Salvador
0
Guatemala
0
Haiti
0
Honduras
0
India
0
Korea
0
Filipinas
0
USSR (former)
0
Venezuela
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
Note: the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The immigrant population from Korea includes North Korea and South Korea.
Evolution of the undocumented immigrant population in the USA, according to their country of origin.
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
Great Recession starts
6 million
1 million
1 million
5
0
0
Colombia
Honduras
4
Pandemic
starts
1
1
3
0
Dominican R.
India
2
1
1
1
0
0
Ecuador
Korea
0
Mexico
1
1
1
0
0
0
Brazil
El Salvador
Filipinas
1
1
1
0
0
Canada
Guatemala
USSR (former)
1
1
1
0
0
0
China
Haiti
Venezuela
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
1990
95
00
05
10
15
21
Note: the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The immigrant population from Korea includes North Korea and South Korea.
Where are they coming from?
Undocumented immigrant populations that increased in the United States during the last 5 available years (2017-2021), according to their country of origin.
Each point represents 1,000 people
Haiti
10,000
Canada
30,000
USSR (former)*
50,000
Venezuela
60,000
USA
Brazil
40,000
Honduras
125,000
Guatemala
100,000
India
200,000
El Salvador
50,000
(*) The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Where are they coming from?
Undocumented immigrant populations that increased in the United States during the last 5 available years (2017-2021), according to their country of origin.
Each point represents 1,000 people
Haiti
10,000
Canada
30,000
USSR (former)*
50,000
Venezuela
60,000
USA
Brazil
40,000
Honduras
125,000
Guatemala
100,000
India
200,000
El Salvador
50,000
(*) The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Where are they coming from?
Undocumented immigrant populations that increased in the United States during the last 5 available years (2017-2021), according to their country of origin.
Each point represents 1,000 people
Canada
30,000
Haiti
10,000
Venezuela
60,000
USA
USSR (former)*
50,000
Honduras
125,000
Brazil
40,000
Guatemala
100,000
India
200,000
El Salvador
50,000
(*) The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Where are they coming from?
Undocumented immigrant populations that increased in the United States during the last 5 available years (2017-2021), according to their country of origin.
Canada
30,000
USSR (former)*
50,000
USA
Haiti
10,000
Guatemala
100,000
Venezuela
60,000
Each point represents 1,000 people
India
200,000
El Salvador
50,000
Honduras
125,000
Brazil
40,000
(*) The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) comprised Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Unlike most of these undocumented individuals from the Northern Triangle, who cross the border illegally through Mexico, those coming from more distant regions to the United States often exceed the allowed time of stay established by their visas. In the case of India, that country is one of the main recipients of work authorizations and other entry permits to the country.
Where are they today?
Despite illegal border crossings reaching historic levels in the last two years following the pause caused by the pandemic, it is expected that this stable trend will continue, with no major increases in unauthorized immigration from Mexico, indicated el.