A recent report by the Center for Immigration Studies shows that out of the more than 50 million total immigrants in the United States, nearly 14 million are illegally in the country.
Overall, the number of foreign-born or immigrant population (legal and illegal) has risen by nearly 6.5 million since President Joe Biden took office, said the report.
Immigrants now comprise 15.5 percent of the total population in the United States, a record high which is up by nearly two percentage points since 2020, according to the report, surpassing the previous record of 14.8 percent in 1890.
This means an average of over 170,000 new immigrants enter each month, which is roughly four times higher than during the Trump administration and three times higher than during the Obama administration.
Education Levels
Of the most recent wave of immigrants, most originate from Latin America, and over 3.5 million entered illegally. Nearly half of them have no education beyond high school, with a large number not having completed high school at all.
“Education is the single best predictor of how you’re going to do in the United States. What kind of job you’re going to do. How much you’re going to make. What fraction are going to be in or near poverty. What fraction are going to qualify for welfare programs — particularly their children,” said Steven A. Camarota, the study’s lead author, as reported by the Washington Times.
More than half of immigrants in 2018 had a bachelor’s degree, a figure that has now dropped to just over 40 percent, according to Mr. Camarota. Those who haven’t graduated high school have risen from just under 30 percent to nearly 45 percent in the same time period.
“The improvement in the education level of recent immigrants was a very positive sign that at least a smaller fraction of new arrivals were likely to struggle in the United States. But that’s changed, at least for now,” he said.
The report comes amid growing debates over what role immigrants play in the U.S. economy.
Although some say the rise in immigration has contributed to overall growth in gross domestic production due to the presence of more people in the labor force, Mr. Camarota said this is no indication that those in the workforce are benefiting as a result.
Effectively this is contrasted by a rise of 1 percent in the GDP and a 2 percent rise in population, which ostensibly dilutes any economic gains.
“Immigration makes the economy larger, and it makes per capita GDP lower,” Mr. Camarota said.
This will likely impact those Americans with lower education levels more, as they will have to compete with immigrants at those same education levels.
Bigger Picture
In its conclusion, the report raised concerns over the impact of the high volumes of immigration on American society more broadly.
“Much of the news coverage on immigration has focused on the workers immigration has provided employers or by how immigration makes the economy larger,” the report said.
“There are fewer discussions about the impact the dramatic increase has on everything from the nation’s education and healthcare systems to its physical infrastructure and political representation,” it said.
“Perhaps the most fundamental question these numbers raise is whether America can successfully incorporate and assimilate this many people.”
