{"id":196325,"date":"2024-12-20T09:28:59","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T14:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=fact-sheet&p=196325"},"modified":"2025-04-23T23:50:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T03:50:01","slug":"topic-government-aid-to-immigrants-in-the-u-s-illegally","status":"publish","type":"fact-sheet","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/fact-sheet\/topic-government-aid-to-immigrants-in-the-u-s-illegally\/","title":{"rendered":"Topic: Government aid to immigrants in the U.S. illegally"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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(Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
Legislative Semester Topic Briefs<\/a><\/div>
Affirmative Action in College Admissions<\/a>Freedom of the Press<\/a>Government Aid to Immigrants in the U.S. Illegally<\/a>Gun Ownership and Regulation<\/a>Legalizing Marijuana<\/a>Prayer in Schools<\/a>Why Public Opinion Matters and How To Measure It<\/a><\/div><\/i> Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, almost 48 million immigrants lived in the United States, either legally or illegally. This number has grown sharply over the past 50 years. Immigrants now make up roughly 14.3% of the U.S. population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mexico is the top country of birth for U.S. immigrants. The next largest is India. Beyond those two countries, immigrants come from all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most immigrants are in the U.S. legally. But in 2022, 23% of the nation\u2019s immigrants were in the country illegally. This means they either entered the country without legal permission or arrived on a nonpermanent visa and stayed after it expired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public opinion polling says \u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center conducted a survey of U.S. adults in August 2024 to learn more about public views on immigration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When Americans were asked whether immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally<\/em> should be eligible for public assistance provided by state and local governments, here\u2019s what they said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n