This stands in contrast to the origins of visa overstays. The decline in the arrival of new unauthorized immigrants in recent years has resulted in a population that is increasingly settled in the U.S. About two-thirds of unauthorized immigrants (66%) had lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years as of 2017, up from 41% 10 years earlier. Migrants are seen at the Rio Grande near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Del Rio, Texas, on September 18, 2021 (Charlie C. Peebles/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images). However, our research shows that illegal aliens reside throughout the nation, not just near the border. ], ProCon.org, "US Undocumented Immigrant Population Estimates,", ProCon.org, "US Undocumented Immigrant Population Estimates. The number of unauthorized immigrants peaked in 2007 at 12.2 million, when this group was 4% of the U.S. population., Pew Research Center, Unauthorized Immigrant Population Stable for Half a Decade, pewresearch.org, Apr. //--> Rockville, Ingham County It is unlikely that the unauthorized immigrant population increased after 2007 given relatively high U.S. unemployment, improved economic conditions in Mexico, record low numbers of apprehensions of unauthorized immigrants at U.S. borders, and greater levels of border enforcement. Other states that made the top-10 list of the highest illegal immigration costs include New York and Florida, which may make sense. In recent years, immigrants from countries outside of Mexico and Central America accounted for almost 90% of overstays, and in 2017, there were more than 30 overstays for every border apprehension for these countries. According to a FAIR report, states that are nowhere near the Southern border and have relatively small foreign-born populations have slowly become ideal destinations for illegal aliens. Boulder County New York, Florida, Illinois and several more states along the Eastern seaboard also have a large population of undocumented people. Nearly 4.2 million (35 percent) of the total 11.8 million unauthorized residents in 2007 had entered in 2000 or later. [6] Todd Bensman, Catch and Release Resumes on Texas Border in the Face of Rising Migrant Numbers, Center for Immigration Studies, February 3, 2021, https://cis.org/Bensman/Catch-and-Release-Resumes-Texas-Border-Face-Rising-Migrant-Numbers. Oregon Estimated Undocumented Immigrants by State Illegal aliens, undocumented immigrants, or unauthorized residents, no matter which term is used, all refer to people who live in the United States but do not have proper government authorization. The undocumented population from Mexico, the principal source of immigrants to the United States, dropped to 4.4 million from 6.6 million during that period. Border Patrol apprehensions of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border are on the rise again. The typical undocumented immigrant has lived in the U.S. for 15 years, the researchers concluded from 2017 median numbers. Otherwise, they maybe have family in the U.S. who may or may not also have legal immigration status. [CDATA[// >