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This brief provides demographic information for the foreign-born in the United States, including permanent and temporary legal admissions, refugees, and unauthorized migrants, using the most recent data available
The brief also includes additional resources for demographic data of the foreign-born at the national and state level.
U.S. Population Summary
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Total U.S. population
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319 million
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Total foreign-born population
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42 million
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% Foreign Born
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13%
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Foreign-Born Population
- Naturalized Citizens 18 million
- Legal Noncitizens 13 million
- Unauthorized immigrants 11 million
Main Source Countries/Regions
As of 2013, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, Mexico was the single largest source country (28%) followed by South or East Asia at 26%. Other regions accounting for significant shares were the Caribbean, at about 10%, Central America (8%), South America (7%), the Middle East (4%) and sub-Saharan Africa (4%).
Permanent Residence | People Approved
In 2013, 990,553 visas were issued for permanent residence
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Family & immediate Relatives
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649,763
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65.6%
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Employment
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161,110
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16.3%
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Refugees and Asylees
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119,630
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12.1%
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Diversity (underrepresented countries)
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45,618
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4.6%
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Of the 990,553 permanent visas
Of the 990,553 permanent visas
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530,802 adjustments were within the United States
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53.6%
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459,751 were new arrivals
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46.4%
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Main source of legal immigrants by country and year
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2011
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2012
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2013
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Mexico 13.5%
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Mexico 14.2%
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Mexico 13.6%
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China 8.2%
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China 7.9%
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China 7.2%
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India 6.5%
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India 6.4%
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India 6.9%
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Total
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1,062,040
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1,031,631
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990,553
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Temporary Visas | Nonimmigrant
Temporary visas are issued to business visitors and tourists, students, temporary workers and representatives of foreign governments or international organizations. In 2014, the U.S. Department of State issued approximately 9.9 million nonimmigrant visas. About 65 percent of the issuances are temporary visitors for business and for pleasure. China is the leading country for temporary visa issuances (1,8 million), followed by Mexico, Brazil, India and Colombia.
Refugee | Humanitarian
In 2013, 69,909 refugees were admitted to the U.S. The main countries of origin were: Iraq 27.9 percent, Burma 23.3 percent, Bhutan 13.1 percent, Somalia 10.9 percent, and Cuba 6 percent. The ceiling for admissions was 70,000.
In 2013, 25,199 individuals were granted asylum. The main countries of origin were: China 34 percent, Egypt 13.5 percent, Ethiopia 3.5 percent, Nepal 3.4 percent and Syria 3.2 percent.
Refugee main countries of origin
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2011
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2012
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2013
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Burma 30.1%
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Bhutan 25.9%
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Iraq 27.9%
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Bhutan 26.6%
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Burma 24.3%
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Burma 23.3%
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Iraq 16.7%
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Iraq 20.9%
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Bhutan 13.1%
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Somalia 5.6%
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Somalia 8.4%
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Somalia 10.9%
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Total
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56,384
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58,179
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69,909
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:
Asylee main countries of origin
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2011
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2012
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2013
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China 34.4%
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China 34.5%
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China 34.1%
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Venezuela 4.4%
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Egypt 9.8%
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Egypt 13.5%
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Ethiopia 4.3%
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Ethiopia 3.8%
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Ethiopia 3.5%
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Egypt 4.1%
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Nepal 3.3%
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Nepal 3.4%
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Total
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24,988
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29,367
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25,199
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Refugees must adjust to legal permanent resident status after one year of residence. Asylees may apply for lawful residence one year after their grant of asylum.
Unauthorized Immigration
In 2012, approximately 11 million unauthorized were estimated to be residing in the United States. Approximately, three-fourths of unauthorized immigrants were from North America (Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America), with most immigrants coming from Mexico (about 59 percent, 6.7 million). Roughly 85 percent of unauthorized immigrants fell into age groups below 44 years (61 percent were ages 25 to 44).
Additional Resources
Government
Research Institutions
Prepared by Ann Morse and Veronica Ibarra, NCSL Spring Fellow 2016