Illegal immigration to the United States

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United States citizenship and immigration
Immigration
Immigration to the United States Emigration from the United States Immigration policy of the United States Effects of immigration to the United States Permanent Residency (Green Card) Refugees and asylum Diversity Immigrant Visa Illegal immigrants Deportation of Americans from the United States
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Agencies
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Legislation
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History
Colonial nationality law Naturalization Act of 1790 Civil Rights Act of 1866 United States v. Wong Kim Ark Indian Citizenship Act Nationality Act of 1940
Relevant legislation
Citizenship Clause Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 / 1965 Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 Immigration Act of 1990 Child Citizenship Act of 2000
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Illegal immigration, or unauthorized immigration, occurs when foreign nationals, known as aliens, violate US immigration laws by entering the United States unlawfully,^[1][2] or by lawfully entering but then remaining after the expiration of their visas, parole or temporary protected status.

July 2024 data for border crossings showed the lowest level of border crossing since September 2020.^[3] Between 2007-2018, visa overstays have accounted for a larger share of the growth in the illegal immigrant population than illegal border crossings,^[4] which have declined considerably from 2000 to 2018.^[5] In 2022, only 37% of illegal immigrants were from Mexico, the smallest share on record.^[6] El Salvador, India, Guatemala and Honduras were the next four largest countries.^[6] As of 2016, approximately two-thirds of illegal adult immigrants had lived in the U.S. for at least a decade.^[7] As of 2022, unauthorized immigrants made up 3.3% of the U.S. population, though nearly one-third of those immigrants have temporary permission to be in the United States, such as those in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.^[6]

Opponents of illegal immigration worry about crime, as well as possible social and economic burdens caused by migration.^[8] Opponents also insist immigrants enter the United States through a formal process and do not want to reward those bypassing the system.^[9][10]

Research shows that illegal immigrants increase the size of the U.S. economy, contribute to economic growth, enhance the welfare of natives, contribute more in tax revenue than they collect, reduce American firms' incentives to offshore jobs and import foreign-produced goods, and benefit consumers by reducing the prices of goods and services.^{[11][12][13][14]} Economists estimate that legalization of the illegal immigrant population would increase the immigrants' earnings and consumption considerably, and increase U.S. gross domestic product.^{[15][16][17][18]} Most scientific studies have shown that illegal immigrants commit less crime than natives and legal immigrants.^[19][20][21] Sanctuary cities—which adopt policies designed to avoid prosecuting people solely for being in the country illegally—have no statistically meaningful impact on crime.^[22][23] Research suggests that immigration enforcement has no impact on crime rates.^[22][24][25]