Who Worries about Illegal Immigration?

A growing share of Americans is "not at all" worried about illegal immigration, according to a recent Gallup survey. In fact, the "not at all" worried contingent has never been larger, reaching 23 percent in 2022. This is more than double the share who felt this way in 2006, Gallup reports. 

Degree of worry about illegal immigration, 2022

41% a great deal

19% a fair amount

17% only a little

23% not at all 

But those who are "not at all" worried about illegal immigration are outnumbered by the 41 percent who worry "a great deal." And this contingent, too, is growing. At 41 percent in 2022, the greatly worried share has returned to levels not seen in more than a decade. 

The public's attitude toward illegal immigration is becoming increasingly polarized. Behind the polarization is a growing partisan gap, according to Gallup's findings. Among Democrats, 44 percent are "not at all" worried about illegal immigration, up from 26 percent who felt that way just two years ago in 2020. Among Republicans, 68 percent worry "a great deal" about illegal immigration, up from 47 percent in 2020.

Source: Gallup, Four in 10 Americans Still Highly Concerned about Illegal Immigration

31% Drop in Immigrants in 2020

707,362: that's the number of legal immigrants (persons granted lawful permanent resident status) who came to the United States in fiscal year 2020, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, that number is 31 percent less than the 1,031,765 legal immigrants of 2019. It is also the smallest number of immigrants admitted to the United States since 2003, when legal immigration plummeted in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Persons obtaining lawful permanent resident status for selected fiscal years, 2000 to 2020

2020:   707,362

2019: 1,031,765

2015: 1,051,031

2010: 1,042,625

2005: 1,122,257

2003:   703,542 (low point of the 2000s)

2000:   841,002

Almost every country in the world sent fewer immigrants to the United States in 2020 than in 2019. The only exceptions were Yemen, Burundi, Iran, Iceland, Monaco, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Serbia, and Libya. 

The number of immigrants fell by at least 50 percent between 2019 and 2020 in 18 countries, including Cuba and Iraq.

The biggest numerical declines between 2019 and 2020 were experienced by some of the countries that send us the most immigrants: Mexico (-56,000), China (-21,000), Dominican Republic (-20,000), Philippines (-20,000), and India (-8,000). 

The immigrant decline has contributed to labor shortages in the United States. But things may be turning around, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. After falling to a quarterly low of 79,000 in mid-2020, Pew reports that the volume of green cards issued in the final quarter of fiscal year 2021 (July-September) climbed to 282,000, higher than in any quarter since April-June 2017.

Source: Department of Homeland Security, 2020 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics

Movers from Abroad at 70-Year Low

Not only are Americans moving at a record low pace, but fewer people are moving to the United States from abroad. Only 611,000 movers from abroad came to the United States in 2021, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, the smallest number since 1951. 

Typically, more than 1 million movers from abroad arrive in the United States each year. The number first surpassed 1 million in 1962 and has remained above that level in most years since then. The number peaked at 1.8 million in 2005. 

The decline has affected all parts of the United States. Every region recorded a record low number of movers from abroad in 2021, according to the Census Bureau's regional data series dating back to 1981... 

Movers from abroad by region, 2021 (and peak number and year) 

Northeast: 81,000 (337,000 in 2001)

Midwest: 63,000 (357,000 in 2015)

South: 323,000 (685,000 in 2005)

West: 144,000 (629,000 in 1989)

Between the peak year and 2021, the number of movers from abroad fell 82 percent in the Midwest, 76 percent in the Northeast, 56 percent in the West, and 53 percent in the South. If you wonder why there is a labor shortage, this is one of the reasons. 

Source: Census Bureau, CPS Historical Migration/Geographic Mobility Tables