Sharp Multiyear Decline in Undocumented Immigration Suggests Progress at US-Mexico Border, Not a National Emergency

This paper combines data from two reports by the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statistics on apprehensions, adjustment of status, and removals, to illustrate major trends in undocumented immigration to the United States since 1990. It shows that the undocumented population and undocumented migration to the United States — which includes both entries without inspection (EWIs) and overstays of temporary visas — have fallen dramatically. In particular, the undocumented population has declined by one million since 2010; illegal entries have plummeted to historic lows; and, in recent years only one third of newly undocumented residents entered this population by crossing the southern border.

The paper includes four graphs that illustrate major demographic trends in the undocumented population since 2000 and a table that provides detailed information about the size and components of undocumented population change annually since 1990.

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