Who Are America’s Immigrants, and How Are They Changing This Country?

Who Are America’s Immigrants, and How Are They Changing This Country?

By Patricia D. López, Ph.D.

For generations, people have immigrated to the United States to provide better opportunities for themselves and their children. Immigrants are our neighbors, colleagues, family, and friends. Recently, the Evelyn and Walter Hass Jr. Fund posted a test your knowledge quiz to gauge just how much the general public knew about  immigrant communities’ contributions of to the US economy and broader society. Here are some of the important facts:

What percentage of the U.S. population are immigrants?

13%. Today, the United States is home to about 40 million people who were born in other countries. As of 2011, nearly one in six people in the U.S. workforce were immigrants, and immigrants continue to play an important role in the creation and growth of U.S. businesses. At last count, 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by a first- or second-generation U.S. immigrant. In addition, nearly one in five small businesses (18 percent) in the United States are owned by immigrants; these businesses employed 4.7 million workers in 2007.

What state has the largest population of immigrants?

California. More than 10 million immigrants live in California: that’s one-fourth of the total immigrant population in the United States. The majority of California’s immigrants are documented residents, but the state still is home to 2.6 million undocumented people. This means California has more to gain than any other state from the national effort to fix the country’s broken immigration system.

Of California’s undocumented immigrants, how many have lived in the United States for 10 years or more?

50%. According to a report from the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, the typical undocumented immigrant in California came to the United States at the age of 20 and has lived here for nine years. California has the largest undocumented population (2.6 million) in the country. The state’s undocumented immigrants are a diverse group; 85 percent are Latino and 12 percent are Asian/Pacific Islander.

What percentage of undocumented immigrants are here because they overstayed a visa?

40%. Undocumented immigrants are a remarkably diverse population of people and families who arrived in the United States in a wide variety of ways. About four in ten of the estimated 11 million undocumented Americans living in this country arrived here on a legitimate visa, and then extended their stay. 

What percent of the United States undocumented immigrant population were brought to the U.S. as children?

17%, or roughly one in six. Nationally, there are an estimated 1.9 million young immigrants who came to the United States with their parents as children and who are denied many rights and opportunities that their peers take for granted. For many of these “Dreamers” (named for a federal law that would grant them citizenship if they meet certain conditions), the United States is the only country they have ever known. And yet Dreamers face considerable barriers when it comes to getting a postsecondary education, finding work and realizing their dreams.

Which of the following U.S. Presidents oversaw the highest number of deportations of immigrants in a four-year period?

President Obama. Between 2008 and 2012, the United States deported 1.6 million immigrants back to their countries of origin. Despite the common assumption that a Democratic administration would deport fewer immigrants, President Obama oversaw a record number of deportations during his first four years in office. In his second term, the U.S. government deported an average of 1,000 people every day. The agency responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration law has come under fire from immigrant rights organizations in recent years for overly aggressive tactics that have resulted in unnecessary detention, separation of families, and deportation of “low-priority” immigrants without criminal records.

How many U.S. immigrants are “green card holders” who are eligible for citizenship right now?

8 million. One in five immigrants living in the United States qualifies for citizenship, but only 8 percent of them become citizens each year. The problem? High application fees, a complex citizenship process, and unscrupulous people who take advantage of immigrants seeking legal help.

What is the overall economic impact of providing legal status and citizenship to 11 million undocumented immigrants?

Providing legal status would provide a significant economic boost. As immigrants become part of the fabric of America, everyone benefits because of the businesses and the jobs they create, the taxes they pay, and the many things they do to strengthen our communities and our society.