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Immigration by the numbers

Elaine Kamarck, John Hudak, and
John Hudak
John Hudak Former Brookings Expert, Director of the Office of Cannabis Policy - Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services
Christine Stenglein
Christine Stenglein
Christine Stenglein Research Analyst, Center for Effective Public Management - The Brookings Institution

August 15, 2017


Casting immigrants as violent criminals, refugees as terrorists, and the border as unsecured, President Trump’s rhetoric on immigration has painted a grim picture. The Center for Effective Public Management has assembled the following key statistics on immigration to examine his claims and his policies.

Immigration by the numbers

How secure is the US-Mexico border?

U.S. Border Patrol Agents, in Thousands

Sources: U.S. BORDER PATROL, U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

Southwest Border Apprehensions

Source: U.S. BORDER PATROL

Fencing and terrain types along the southwest border

Source: U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

The US is increasingly taking unauthorized immigrants to court

Removals and Returns

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Removal Demographics

Characteristics of 4 million individuals deported between October 2002 and January 2016

SOURCE: TRAC

“Criminal” immigrants

Deportation Proceedings

Some 170,000 proceedings have been held through May of FY 2017. Most have resulted in charges of immigration violation.

Source: TRAC

Reasons for Deportation

Removals between October 2002–January 2016

Source: TRAC

Terrorism Risk

Source: TRAC

How many unauthorized immigrants live in the US?

Estimated Population of Unauthorized Immigrants, in Millions

SOURCE: DHS, PEW RESEARCH

Estimated Population of Unauthorized Immigrants by Country of Origin, in Millions

SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH

Top Countries of Origin as of 2014

SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH

President Trump’s crackdown on refugees

Refugee Admissions by Month, FY 2016–2017, in Thousands

SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Refugee Admissions, 1975–Present, in Thousands

SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF STATE

A terrorist threat?

The odds of being killed by a refugee in a terrorist incident, per year, are

Source: CATO Institute

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