United States undocumented immigrant estimate reaches 15.8 million, 920,000 in New York City

The Institute for Migration Policy estimates that the United States has about 15.8 million undocumented immigrants, with roughly 920,000 residing in New York City. The rise is attributed to record numbers of unauthorized arrivals at the southern border and the use of humanitarian parole programs during the Biden administration. Immigrants from South America and the Caribbean, including many Dominicans, make up a growing share, and 45 % of the undocumented population has lived in the country for 20 years or more.

Christine Hartley, deputy director of the U.S. Census Bureau, said the slowdown in overall population growth is largely due to a decline in net international migration, which fell from 2.7 million to 1.3 million between July 2024 and June 2025. She noted that policy shifts, such as former President Donald Trump’s proposals to increase deportations and restrict visas, could further affect future population trends.