President Biden’s wave of new illegal immigrants is upending the usual demographics of immigration and sending the education levels plummeting, according to a new report Thursday that raised big questions about the country’s ability to absorb the newcomers.
There are now 13.7 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., and 51.4 million immigrants overall — an increase of 6.4 million in three years since Mr. Biden took office, the Center for Immigration Studies reported. That averages 172,000 new immigrants each month, or roughly four times the rate in the Trump years and nearly three times the rate in the Obama years.
“Education is the single best predictor of how you’re going to do in the United States. What kind of job you’re going to do. How much you’re going to make. What fraction are going to be in or near poverty. What fraction are going to qualify for welfare programs — particularly their children,” said Steven A. Camarota, the study’s lead author.
As recently as 2018, 55% of immigrants had a bachelor’s degree. That’s now dipped to just 41%. Meanwhile, the share who didn’t make it past high school has risen from 29% to 44%, Mr. Camarota figures. Those changes challenge a chief selling point for backers of high immigration rates.
“The improvement in the education level of recent immigrants was a very positive sign that at least a smaller fraction of new arrivals were likely to struggle in the United States. But that’s changed, at least for now,” he said.
The U.S. now has by far the largest ratio of immigrants in its population, at 15.5%, up nearly 2 percentage points since 2020. The previous record was 14.8% in 1890.
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
Do you feel that the rise in illegal immigrants should influence U.S. immigration policy; why or why not?
@9L6XLG81mo1MO
The rise in illegal immigrants largely impacts the US population, so policies might need to change in the future if things get out of control.
@9L6XDM81mo1MO
I think that the immigration policy can be too lenient at times.
@9L6XBBD1mo1MO
I don't think that it should because it's unfair to all of the immigrants who moved to the US years ago.
@9L6X65PRepublican1mo1MO
We should figure out how to limit the number of illegal immigrants
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
In what ways might the addition of 13.7 million illegal immigrants challenge or benefit your community?
@9L6X9Q21mo1MO
I think that it will negatively impact my community. We are already struggling with the resources we have, now add 13.7 million?
@9L6X8G71mo1MO
illegal immigrants are not a bad thing
@9L6W7B21mo1MO
I think immigrants should be allowed if they arent harming anybody
@9L6YCWV1mo1MO
I think it's sad that so many people are fleeing their home country. Instead of kicking them out and treating them unfairly, we should help make things better in their home country so they won't need to leave in the first place.
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
Could the increase in illegal immigration under President Biden change your sense of security or cultural identity, and if so, how?
@9L6XQMHRepublican1mo1MO
The wall has seval immigrants with drugs.
@9L6X6WB1mo1MO
Bidens sense of home security is horrible.
Most immigrants come to the United states for a better life, but not all come with the same intention. Some immigrants come to the U.S to grow cartel business which increase criminale and non secure rates. While having people come to the U.S is beautiful because we get to see families grow and work hard for what they want and accomplish their goals, there is also selfish people who want to corrupt the government here as well.
@9L6VP8F1mo1MO
There should be no such thing as illegal immigrant… all foreigners should go through proper immigration process… process may need to change?
Vermont doesn’t even have 1 million people. What would Vermont do if they all lived there? Did they vote for Biden? Is that how their vote counted? They don’t have enough power to keep the lights on for 13M, let alone heat or shelter
we already had 11,000000 and that is not the got aways....the number is at least 30 mill and that is a low est.
@PuzzledD3legatePatriot1mo1MO
There are more than 40 million illegals in the U.S.
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