E.g., 06/09/2024
E.g., 06/09/2024
United States

United States

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Historically a nation of immigrants, the United States is home to nearly 45 million immigrants, who represent 13.7 percent of the total population and play a key role in the economic, civic, and cultural life of the country. The research collected here covers many facets of immigration to the United States, by the numbers and how immigrants fare in the country's classrooms and workplaces, the policies and regulations that shape the admission of new immigrants, the enforcement programs and polices in place at U.S. borders and within the interior, and integration policies and efforts taking place in local communities, in states, and at the federal level.

A naturalization ceremony at the White House.
Articles

Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States

Immigration touches on many facets of life in the United States. Get the facts with this useful resource, which compiles in one place answers to some of the most often-asked questions about immigration and immigrants in the United States now and historically. This article contains essential data on the immigrant population, immigration levels, trends in immigration enforcement, and much more.

A man in a high-visibility jacket and gloves at work
Policy Briefs

A New Way Forward for Employment-Based Immigration: The Bridge Visa

U.S. employment-based visa policies, last updated in 1990, are not aligned with the country’s current and future labor market needs. This policy brief outlines MPI’s proposal for a new visa pathway that could help the United States better leverage immigration to meet its labor market needs, boost protections for both U.S.- and foreign-born workers, and flexibly adapt to future economic and demographic changes.

Inadmissible migrants, some seeking asylum, are processed by CBP officers
Reports

Outmatched: The U.S. Asylum System Faces Record Demands

The U.S. humanitarian protection system, known for its long history of assisting those in need, has come under incredible pressure in recent years. The asylum adjudications system, which is under-resourced, is struggling to keep up with record asylum seeker arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border. This report examines the state of the asylum system, including changes under the Biden administration and potential lessons for other countries.

President Joe Biden signs an executive order.
Articles

Biden at the Three-Year Mark: The Most Active Immigration Presidency Yet Is Mired in Border Crisis Narrative

In three years, President Joe Biden has surpassed the number of immigration-focused executive actions taken by the Trump administration throughout its entire four-year term, making his the most active U.S. presidency ever on immigration. Yet the Biden administration has been repeatedly accused of inaction at the U.S.-Mexico border, where record levels of migrant encounters have occurred. This article reviews the Biden track record on immigration.

Recent Activity

Articles
January 1, 2003
Ridge Tapped to Head Homeland Security Department
By Deborah Waller Meyers
Articles
January 1, 2003
The New Immigrant Survey in the U.S.: The Experience over Time
By Guillermina Jasso, Douglas S. Massey, Mark R. Rosenzweig, and James P. Smith
Articles
December 1, 2002
Homeland Security Department Gets Green Light
By Deborah Waller Meyers
Doris Meissner
Articles
December 1, 2002
Interview with Doris Meissner
By MPI Staff
Articles
December 1, 2002
Characteristics of the Foreign Born in the United States: Results from Census 2000
By Elizabeth Grieco
Articles
November 1, 2002
Legislation Introduced to Legalize Undocumented Workers
By Deborah Waller Meyers
Articles
November 1, 2002
Temporary High-Skilled Migration
By Maia Jachimowicz, Deborah Waller Meyers
Articles
October 1, 2002
Settlement Patterns of the Foreign Born in the United States: Results from Census 2000
By Elizabeth Grieco

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Recent Activity

Articles
January 1, 2003

English Abilities of the U.S. Foreign-Born Population in 2000

Using Census 2000 data, MPI Data Manager Elizabeth Grieco examines the ability to speak English among the foreign born at the national, regional, and state levels.

Articles
January 1, 2003

Data Sources on the Foreign Born and International Migration at the U.S. Census Bureau

This article maps out the key features of three of the primary U.S. Census Bureau data resources used to research immigration: the census itself, the American Community Survey, and the Current Population Survey.
Articles
December 1, 2002

Characteristics of the Foreign Born in the United States: Results from Census 2000

This Spotlight by Elizabeth Grieco, MPI Data Manager, examines some of the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the foreign-born population in the United States.
Articles
December 1, 2002

Interview with Doris Meissner

MPI Senior Fellow Doris Meissner, former head of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, shares her perspective on changes in U.S. migration policy since September 11, the prospects for an immigration agreement with Mexico, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Articles
December 1, 2002

Homeland Security Department Gets Green Light

Department of Homeland Security Bill Clears House and Senate... Registration of Foreigners to Expand... Bishops Advocate on Behalf of Migrants... President Signs Border Commuter Bill... Recent Caribbean Arrivals Highlight Inequities in U.S. Policy...
Articles
November 1, 2002

Temporary High-Skilled Migration

Globalization has made the international mobility of high-skilled workers a vital issue for the United States. MPI's Maia Jachimowicz and Policy Analyst Deborah W. Meyers explain the complicated visa system for high-skilled temporary workers.
Articles
November 1, 2002

Legislation Introduced to Legalize Undocumented Workers

House Democrats Propose Legalizing Undocumented Workers... Appeals Court Allows Secret Deportation Hearings... Laser Visas Now Required for Mexican Border Crossers... U.S. Accepting Applications for Annual Diversity Lottery... Fees Rise for Visitor Visas
Articles
October 1, 2002

Court Challenges Secrecy in Post-Sept. 11 Deportation Proceedings

Court Rules Secret Deportation Hearings Unconstitutional... Major Changes to Board of Immigration Appeals... New LPRs Break One Million Mark... U.S., Canada Agree to Final Draft of Safe Third Country Agreement... Refugee Admissions Fall Below Target... President Signs Child Status Protection Act...

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