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handle is hein.crs/goveqrr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gressionol Research Service
Informing the IegisI9tive debate since 1914

Updated September 17, 2024
Citizenship and Immigration Statuses of the U.S. Foreign-Born
Population

The U.S. foreign-born population consists of individuals
living in the United States who were not U.S. citizens at
birth. In 2023, according to the American Community
Survey (ACS), an estimated 47.8 million foreign-born
people resided in the United States, representing 14.3% of
the total U.S. population. The ACS is a U.S. Census Bureau
survey conducted each month with a sample of households
in 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The proportion of foreign-born individuals among the total
U.S. population has changed over time. Since 1850 (the
first decennial census to collect data on nativity), the
foreign-born proportion of the total U.S. population has
ranged from to a high of 14.8% (1890) to a low of 4.7%
(1970). During the late 19th and early 20th century, the
foreign-born proportion remained relatively consistent,
averaging around 14%, through 1920 (Figure 1). From
1910 to 1970, the foreign-born proportion declined each
decade; since 1970, it has steadily increased.
Figure I. U.S. Foreign-Born: Total and Percentage of
Total Population, 1850-2023
Tota Foreign Born                0 % Foreign-Born
60m                                            16%
20m
1Dm
Om                              0%
Source: 1850-2000: Campbell Gibson and Kayjung, Historical
Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United
States: 1850 to 2000, U.S. Census Bureau Population Division, 2006.
2010 and 2023: ACS, Table B05001.
The foreign-born are heterogeneous with regard to citizenship
and immigration status. They include the following:
* resident nonimmigrants, who are a subset of
nonimmigrant (temporary) visa holders admitted for a
limited period of time and specified purpose whose
classes of admission are associated with U.S. residency,
including temporary workers, students, exchange
visitors, and diplomats;
* lawful permanent residents (LPRs, or green card
holders), who can reside and work lawfully and
permanently in the United States;

* naturalized U.S. citizens, who acquired U.S.
citizenship generally after fulfilling residency and other
requirements; and
* unauthorized immigrants who have entered the United
States without inspection or have overstayed their period of
lawful admission, including those who hold a temporary,
discretionary status such as Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Researchers find that government surveys tend to
undercount the foreign-born population, particularly the
unauthorized, compared with the native-born population.
Because of these undercounts, and different survey and
administrative data sources used, the sum of the subgroups
enumerated in each section of this In Focus exceeds the
total foreign-born population as measured by the ACS.
Resdent Nonimmigrants
Nonimmigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals for
specific purposes and on temporary bases. Typically, the
Department of State (DOS) has issued 9 million to 10
million nonimmigrant visas annually. In FY2023, DOS
issued 10.4 million nonimmigrant visas.
The majority of nonimmigrant visas are issued in categories
related to nonresidential purposes (e.g., tourists). However,
some nonimmigrants are admitted for purposes associated
with U.S. residence. Approximately 3.2 million
nonimmigrant workers, students, exchange visitors,
diplomats, and their relatives were residing in the United
States in 2019, according to the most recent Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) estimate. Nonimmigrant workers
represented the largest category (1.4 million).
Lawful Permanent Resrdents
DHS's Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS)
estimates that 12.7 million LPRs lived in the United States
in January 2023. Typically, approximately 1 million people
become LPRs each fiscal year. In FY2023, 1.2 million
persons obtained LPR status; 48% were new arrivals to the
United States and 52% adjusted to LPR status from a
nonimmigrant status within the United States.
The largest number of LPRs are admitted through family-
sponsored categories, followed by employment-based
categories, grants of refugee status and asylum, and the
diversity visa (DV) program (Figure 2).