Noteworthy Information About U.S Immigrants- Facts and Figures From Recent Years

The United States is home to the largest number of immigrants when compared to all other countries around the world. According to the 2017 American Community Survey, one in seven U.S residents is not a U.S born. Today, the immigrants' share is 13.5% of the entire country’s population, comprising of people from diversified backgrounds and countries. Although, the figure has increased over time since the record low-4.7%- in 1970, it still falls below another record-14.8%- marked in 1890.

Where do they come from and what are the originating regions of these immigrants?

In 2016, smaller shares were owned by regions; Sub-Sahara Africa (4%), the Middle East (4%), South America (7%), Central America (8%), the Caribbean (10%) and Canada/Europe (13%). Immigrants from the regions of East & South Asia both, total to a share of 27%.

By the country of origin, Mexico was the highest contributor, making up 26% of immigrants followed by a few other large origin groups; India (6%), China (6%), Philippines (4%) and El Salvador (3%).

How is the immigrant population growing today?

It is estimated that the U.S is entered by more than a million immigrants each year, from the regions mentioned above. In 2016, India (12.6K) was the greatest source of immigrants; Mexico was at the second place (12.4K); China was at the third (12.1K) and at the last was Cuba (41K). It is also predicted that in the future years, by 2055, Asia will be the originating region of most of the immigrants, making up 38% of the total share; with blacks accounting for around 9%, whites around 20% and Hispanics around 31%.

However, a falling trend has been observed regarding the quantity of newly arriving immigrants in the United States. This can be associated greatly to the now decreasing quantity of unauthorized immigrants and partially to lesser Mexicans arriving in the U.S now with many more leaving the states.

What is the status of the immigrants regarding legality and authorization?

Results of a recent survey conducted in the States, in June 2018, has shown what the Americans know about the legal status of immigrants. 45% gave the correct response and 35% gave an incorrect response.

The truth about this is that most of the immigrants, 75% of the total number, are lawful immigrants. The number of recent unauthorized immigrants arriving has declined sharply, due to a fall in the number of Mexican immigrants' unofficial arrivals.

It has also been found that many immigrants arrive in the U.S legally, with valid visas, but overstay the date of their departure. A report for the 2017 fiscal year concluded that an estimated number of 700,000 overstaying immigrants were supposed to leave by September 2017.

Moreover, about 5 million children live with unauthorized immigrant parents. These parents are not recent arrivals, but people who had immigrated a long time ago.

What is the educational status of immigrants in the U.S?

Generally, immigrants were (2016) more likely to not have finished their high school studies than the U.S-borns. While, on the other hand, immigrants were almost as likely as U.S natives to earn a college bachelor's or advanced level degree, (32% vs 30%).

Of the immigrant population, those from Europe, Canada, Sub-Saharan Africa, East & South Asia and the Middle East were expected more to attain a college degree than those originating from Mexican and Central American regions.