This article looks at the 7 Cities with Most Illegal Immigrants in the US. If you wish to check out our detailed discussion on the immigration issue in the U.S., you may go to 30 Cities with Most Illegal Immigrants in the US.
7. Chicago
Illegal Immigrants: 400,000
Suburban communities are expressing their opposition amidst a surge in illegal arrivals in 2024, which the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes as “unprecedented,” with over 10,000 illegal entries on multiple days last month. Democratic mayors of major cities, such as Eric Adams of New York and Brandon Johnson of Chicago, have been urging the Biden administration for assistance in managing the increasing influx.
6. Houston
Illegal Immigrants: 413,316
Approximately 413,316 immigrants in Houston are believed to be undocumented. Out of this total, 196,000 immigrants qualify for either the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program or the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, enabling them to obtain legal work authorization and residency in the United States.
5. Washington
Illegal Immigrants: 425,000
Following the recent decline in arrivals, projections indicate that illegal border crossings were expected to exceed 10,000 per day in 2023, following the Biden administration’s decision to lift the pandemic-related Title 42 border policy. Additionally, migrants seeking assistance are making their way to the District independently by car, plane, or commuter bus after facing challenges in finding stability in other U.S. cities.
4. Dallas
Illegal Immigrants: 475,000
The daily lives of undocumented immigrants in Dallas pose significant challenges. These individuals often undertake perilous border crossings and evade border patrols in their home countries in a bid to escape poverty and dire living conditions. Their migration to the U.S. is driven by the hope for a better future and a chance to break free from impoverished circumstances.
3. Miami
Illegal Immigrants: 626,596
In Miami, one of the initial arrests made under Florida’s stringent SB 1718, regarded as one of the nation’s strictest state laws concerning migrants, involved a Mexican citizen detained for driving without U.S. documentation and transporting undocumented individuals at the end of 2023.
2. Los Angeles
Illegal Immigrants: 925,000
Reportedly, individuals entering Los Angeles without legal documentation originate from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Venezuela. The Migration Policy Institute estimated in 2019 that approximately 951,000 undocumented immigrants were living in Los Angeles County, accounting for nearly 10% of the county’s total population and representing the highest concentration of migrants in any U.S. County.
1. New York City
Illegal Immigrants: 1,100,000
In 2024, New York City is expected to receive over 100,000 new asylum seekers. Many of these newcomers have already integrated into the underground economy in New York, becoming part of the existing group of undocumented workers vulnerable to deportation and exploitation. Undocumented immigrants in New York State reportedly contributed $3 billion in taxes.
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