The United States has experienced an unprecedented immigration surge since 2021, with annual net migration averaging 2.4 million people from 2021 to 2023, according to analysis of government data by The New York Times and the Congressional Budget Office. This period marks the largest immigration boom in U.S. history, surpassing even the levels recorded in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As stated in a recent social media post, "The immigration surge since 2021 has been the largest in U.S. history, surpassing even the levels of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
This significant influx has pushed the foreign-born population in the U.S. to a new high of 15.2 percent in 2023, an increase from 13.6 percent in 2020. The previous peak was 14.8 percent in 1890, underscoring the current period's exceptional nature. The total U.S. foreign-born population reached a record 47.8 million in 2023, marking the largest annual increase in over two decades.
Several factors have contributed to this surge, including shifts in immigration policies. The Biden administration's adjustments to immigration policies, intended to counter the more restrictive stance of the previous administration, played a role. A Goldman Sachs report based on government data indicates that approximately 60 percent of immigrants entering the country since 2021 have done so without legal authorization, primarily through increased encounters at the Southwest border.
While the surge peaked between 2021 and early 2024, unauthorized immigration has shown signs of an abrupt decline more recently, partly due to new administrative policies aimed at border control. This shift could have implications for economic growth, as the Dallas Federal Reserve noted that the recent decline in unauthorized immigration might lead to lower GDP growth projections. Public sentiment regarding immigration has also seen fluctuations, with recent polls suggesting a decrease in the desire for reduced immigration compared to previous years.