A new report released by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that more than half of the foreign-born population in the United States resides in just four states: California, Texas, Florida, and New York. The foreign-born population, estimated at 46.2 million people in 2022, makes up almost 14% of the total U.S. population. Most states have seen double-digit percentage increases in their foreign-born populations over the past twelve years, with California, New Jersey, New York, and Florida having over 20% of their populations comprised of foreign-born individuals.
The composition of the foreign-born population has shifted over the past dozen years, with half of the foreign-born residents in the U.S. coming from Latin America. However, there have been changes within this group, with fewer individuals from Mexico and increases in those from South America and Central America. The share of the foreign population from Asia has also decreased slightly, while the share of African-born individuals has seen a slight increase.
Immigration has become a significant issue in the 2024 presidential race, with the Biden administration facing challenges in managing an influx of migrants at the Southwest border. The report does not provide estimates on the number of people in the U.S. illegally, but it does highlight that more than half of the foreign-born population are naturalized citizens. European-born and Asian-born individuals have the highest naturalization rates, with around two-thirds of their populations being naturalized citizens. Additionally, two-thirds of the foreign-born population arrived in the U.S. before 2010.
The foreign-born population has seen an increase in age over the past twelve years, with the median age rising by five years to 46.7 years. The population has also become more educated, with three-quarters of foreign-born individuals holding at least a high school degree by 2022. This demographic shift reflects the changing characteristics of the foreign-born population in the United States.
As immigration continues to be a pressing issue, it has the potential to impact the upcoming elections and shape the control of Congress. Democrats are vying to address problems at the U.S.-Mexico border to appeal to voters, while the Biden administration faces challenges in managing the influx of migrants. The Census Bureau report highlights the demographics and characteristics of the foreign-born population in the United States, providing valuable insights into their educational background, naturalization rates, and age distribution. Follow Mike Schneider on X, formerly known as Twitter, for more updates on this topic.
