Immigration Facts and Numbers (Social Justice Resource Center)
Agricultural Workers:
There are approximately 2.9 million agricultural workers in the United States. National Center for Farmworker Health
These workers travel and work throughout the U.S., serving as the backbone for $1 trillion agricultural industry. U.S. Department of Agriculture
70% of agricultural workers in the U.S. are foreign born. National Center for Farmworker Health
9 of the 18 U.S. industries with the highest percentage of undocumented workers are related to the food system. Pew Research Center
Strict immigration laws passed in several states have demonstrated the severe impacts of farm labor shortages. For example, a University of Georgia study found that House Bill 87, adversely affected the state’s agricultural output. Georgia lost over $181 million in less than a year due to increased labor shortages. National Center for Farmworker Health
The median annual wage for agricultural workers is $34,790 or $16.73 per hour. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
In addition to low wages, agricultural workers rarely have access to worker’s compensation, occupational rehabilitation, or disability compensation benefits. National Center for Farmworker Health
Although many agricultural workers meet income guidelines for programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), very few are able to secure these benefits because of different state eligibility requirements and having families with mixed immigration statuses. National Center for Farmworker Health
Asylum Seekers:
The United States is obliged to recognize valid claims for asylum under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. As a signer to these agreements, the U.S. is further obliged not to return or "refoul" refugees to the place where they would face persecution. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
About 80% of asylum claims in the U.S. fail or are rejected in immigration court. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Nearly 38,500 immigrants are being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers across the U.S. Syracuse University
In 2022, the immigration courts had a backlog of 470,000 asylum cases with an average wait of 1,942 days (over 5 years). Syracuse University
Undocumented:
Undocumented people represent approximately 3.3% of the total U.S. population, but 23% of the foreign-born population. Pew Research Center
The 6 states with the largest undocumented immigrant populations are California (1.8 million), Texas (1.6 million), Florida (1.2 million), New York (650,000), New Jersey (475,000), and Illinois (400,000). Pew Research Center
The countries with the largest undocumented immigrant populations in the U.S. are Mexico (4,000,000), El Salvador (750,000), India (725,000), Guatemala (675,000), and Honduras (525,000). Pew Research Center
Almost 25% of undocumented immigrants are from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Pacific Islands. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
On average undocumented immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes of $8,889 per person. In other words, for every 1 million undocumented immigrants who reside in the country, public services receive $8.9 billion in additional tax revenue. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
At the state and local levels, 46%, ($15.1 billion) of the tax payments made by undocumented immigrants are through sales and excise taxes levied on their purchases. Most other payments are made through property taxes, such as those levied on homeowners and renters 31% ($10.4 billion), or through personal and business income taxes 21% ($7 billion). Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
Undocumented immigrants are 50% less likely to arrested for violent crimes, 40% less likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 25% less likely to be arrested for property crimes than U.S.-born citizens. U.S. Department of Justice
There are approximately 2.9 million agricultural workers in the United States. National Center for Farmworker Health
These workers travel and work throughout the U.S., serving as the backbone for $1 trillion agricultural industry. U.S. Department of Agriculture
70% of agricultural workers in the U.S. are foreign born. National Center for Farmworker Health
9 of the 18 U.S. industries with the highest percentage of undocumented workers are related to the food system. Pew Research Center
Strict immigration laws passed in several states have demonstrated the severe impacts of farm labor shortages. For example, a University of Georgia study found that House Bill 87, adversely affected the state’s agricultural output. Georgia lost over $181 million in less than a year due to increased labor shortages. National Center for Farmworker Health
The median annual wage for agricultural workers is $34,790 or $16.73 per hour. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
In addition to low wages, agricultural workers rarely have access to worker’s compensation, occupational rehabilitation, or disability compensation benefits. National Center for Farmworker Health
Although many agricultural workers meet income guidelines for programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), very few are able to secure these benefits because of different state eligibility requirements and having families with mixed immigration statuses. National Center for Farmworker Health
Asylum Seekers:
The United States is obliged to recognize valid claims for asylum under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. As a signer to these agreements, the U.S. is further obliged not to return or "refoul" refugees to the place where they would face persecution. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
About 80% of asylum claims in the U.S. fail or are rejected in immigration court. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Nearly 38,500 immigrants are being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers across the U.S. Syracuse University
In 2022, the immigration courts had a backlog of 470,000 asylum cases with an average wait of 1,942 days (over 5 years). Syracuse University
Undocumented:
Undocumented people represent approximately 3.3% of the total U.S. population, but 23% of the foreign-born population. Pew Research Center
The 6 states with the largest undocumented immigrant populations are California (1.8 million), Texas (1.6 million), Florida (1.2 million), New York (650,000), New Jersey (475,000), and Illinois (400,000). Pew Research Center
The countries with the largest undocumented immigrant populations in the U.S. are Mexico (4,000,000), El Salvador (750,000), India (725,000), Guatemala (675,000), and Honduras (525,000). Pew Research Center
Almost 25% of undocumented immigrants are from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Pacific Islands. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
On average undocumented immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes of $8,889 per person. In other words, for every 1 million undocumented immigrants who reside in the country, public services receive $8.9 billion in additional tax revenue. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
At the state and local levels, 46%, ($15.1 billion) of the tax payments made by undocumented immigrants are through sales and excise taxes levied on their purchases. Most other payments are made through property taxes, such as those levied on homeowners and renters 31% ($10.4 billion), or through personal and business income taxes 21% ($7 billion). Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
Undocumented immigrants are 50% less likely to arrested for violent crimes, 40% less likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 25% less likely to be arrested for property crimes than U.S.-born citizens. U.S. Department of Justice