A recent public inquiry posed on social media by user "Soquel by the Creek" questioned the estimated number of undocumented immigrants residing in Sacramento and sought confirmation regarding any recent departures. While precise, real-time figures for specific cities are inherently difficult to obtain, data from various research organizations provide a comprehensive overview of the unauthorized immigrant population in the region and state.
Estimates from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) in 2016, widely cited by local news outlets such as The Sacramento Bee and CapRadio, placed the unauthorized immigrant population in the four-county Sacramento region at approximately 78,000. These figures represent a significant portion of the area's demographics, though experts caution that direct enumeration of this population is challenging due to its nature and lack of official tracking at granular levels.
Addressing the second part of the social media user's query about departures, statewide trends offer some insight. Data from the Pew Research Center indicates a notable decrease in California's overall undocumented immigrant population, from an estimated 2.8 million in 2007 to 1.8 million in 2022. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported 2.6 million undocumented immigrants in California in 2022, down from 2.76 million in 2015, suggesting a broader trend of stabilization or decline across the state.
This statewide reduction is attributed to a combination of factors, including increased border enforcement, voluntary returns, and shifting migration patterns from traditional source countries. While these trends are observed at the state level, specific data on departures from Sacramento itself are not publicly available from federal or state agencies, underscoring the complexities of tracking such demographic shifts locally.
Despite the statistical challenges, undocumented immigrants play a substantial role in California's economy and society. Studies, such as those from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, highlight that this population contributes billions of dollars annually in federal, state, and local taxes, underscoring their economic integration despite their legal status. This context is crucial for understanding the broader implications of immigration discussions.