The threat by President-elect Donald Trump to carry out mass deportations has brought attention to the more than 220,000 migrants—mostly asylum-seekers—who have flooded New York City shelters since the start of the inflow two years ago.
However, these are only a few of the most well-known immigrants in the state.
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Approximately 672,000 “undocumented” immigrants lived in New York state alone in 2022, according to statistics from the Center for Migration Studies. This well-known research tank monitors immigration and its demographics nationwide.
According to the Center’s data, most of those individuals had been in the nation for more than ten years.
“Undocumented” refers to a broad category of immigrants with various statuses, including long-term residents who have never dealt with immigration officials or lived in a local shelter, as well as visa overstayers, according to the center.
However, under Trump’s deportation proposal, any one of them may be detained or removed. The president-elect has pledged to launch the “largest deportation operation” in the nation’s history on his first day in office, with the assistance of the military, even though he has not specified which illegal individuals will be targeted.
His advisors have even hinted that they may devise a scheme to deprive certain naturalized immigrants of their citizenship.
Mario Russell, executive director of the Center for Migration Studies, estimates that around one-third of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the nation are also individuals who have the legal right to remain in the nation.
This covers those who are applying for asylum, those on humanitarian parole, and those who are beneficiaries of special immigration programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), sometimes known as “Dreamers.”
The information that is now available gives a general idea of the immigrants in New York who may be the focus of Trump’s campaign. With sizable populations from Asia and Latin America, many of whom reside in Queens and Brooklyn, it is a tapestry of diversity.
Additionally, compared to other immigrants and New Yorkers, its population has poorer economic and educational outcomes.
With more than one-third of its citizens being immigrants, New York City is one of the most immigrant-populated cities in the US and the world. Additionally, 5% of the city’s population is undocumented.
Here are some other facts regarding New York state’s undocumented population based on statistics from the Center for Migration Studies and other sources:
According to center statistics through 2022, the majority of illegal immigrants in New York state have been in the nation for more than ten years. Over three-quarters have lived in the US for more than five years.
The nation’s and New York’s most prevalent illegal immigrant country of origin has traditionally been Mexico.
However, compared to the rest of the United States, New York state has a lower percentage of illegal Mexican immigrants. Rather, the state is home to higher percentages of illegal immigrants from China, the Dominican Republic, and other nations.
The undocumented population of New York City is like the state’s and city’s overall immigrant population in many respects.
Professor Tyler Anbinder of George Washington University, who studies New York’s immigrant history, stated, “Always the groups that are the biggest immigrant groups are the biggest undocumented groups.”
Italians and Jews from Eastern Europe were among the biggest undocumented immigration groups in New York City in the 1920s, he added.
Asia was the continent with the highest percentage of illegal immigrants in New York state (one in five) as of 2022, according to CMS statistics. China accounts for 7% of all Asian immigration, or more than one-third. Furthermore, India has more illegal residents in New York than Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Peru put together.
In addition, a significant portion of illegal Black immigrants reside in New York: 11% of undocumented New Yorkers identify as Black, compared to 5% countrywide, as of 2022, prior to a surge of West African migrants, primarily asylum-seekers, seeking sanctuary in New York City last year.
subsequently spring 2022, about 70% of migrants who were admitted to the shelter system have subsequently departed. There are still about 57,000 at more than 200 sites.
Construction and service work are the most common employment among illegal New Yorkers. However according to a July analysis by the Center for Migration Studies, there are also a lot of illegal workers in 12 rapidly expanding occupations in the state. This includes drivers of cabs and delivery services, medical treatment assistants, home health care aides, and cooks.
Russell, the Center’s executive director, stated, “There’s this hidden story that they’re involved in growing advanced economies.”
In addition, undocumented New Yorkers are less likely to have health insurance and have greater poverty rates (18% against 14% of the state’s total population). Approximately 3 out of 5 undocumented New Yorkers have insurance, compared to 95% of the population.
Before 2022, New York City’s illegal immigrant population was mainly declining.
According to a study released last year by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, as of 2022, there were around 412,000 unauthorized immigrants residing in the city. Compared to 611,000 in 2012, that is less.
The largest percentage of the city’s illegal population resides in Queens and Brooklyn. According to a study released last year by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the two boroughs are home to almost 60% of the illegal population.
According to a study from the mayor’s office, undocumented New Yorkers also experience greater rates of congestion than other residents and immigrants.
In New York City, 16% of native-born Americans live in overcrowded families with more than one person per room, while nearly a third of illegal people do the same. More than one and a half individuals per room are found in families with 15% of illegal New Yorkers.
According to center statistics, 89% of illegal immigrants in New York state say they speak some English. Furthermore, 36% have “very good” English.
Compared to other New Yorkers, illegal residents have extremely low educational achievement rates.
Compared to 88% of all undocumented New Yorkers, two-thirds have completed high school or above. Additionally, just 22% of undocumented New Yorkers hold bachelor’s degrees or higher education, compared to 41% of the city’s total population.
