Immigration Accounted For All US Population Growth in 2022-23 as Trump Admin Doubles Down on Mass Deportations

All U.S. population growth in 2022-2023 happened because of immigration, rather than births, for the first time since 1850, according to a new report released Wednesday. The data comes as the Trump administration continues to crack down on immigration and promising mass deportation operations.

The new data comes from a new report by the nonpartisan think tank, Migration Policy Institute as part of its latest edition of "Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States." The study focuses on 2022-2023, the latest data available.

According to the analysis, U.S. immigrant population grew by 1.6 million between 2022 and 2023 to 47.8 million, which represents about 3.6% population increase. With that figure, immigrants now represent 14.3% share of the overall population— the highest ever.

Interestingly, in a separate study, the nonpartisan Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) looked at estimates from January 2025, finding an even larger rise in the immigrant population. According to that report, this group now stands at around 15.8%.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of immigrants in the U.S. are legally present and almost half are naturalized citizens, according to MPI. In addition to naturalized citizenship, those with legal status include green-card holders (legal permanent residents), refugees, those who have been granted asylum, had long-term visas as students, temporary workers or other categories.

The Census Bureau began collecting nativity data in 1850, when 2.2 million immigrants made up 10% of the U.S. population.

In 2023, birth rates among American women reached a record low for those aged between 20 and 24, while the rate also dropped overall for the larger group of 20-39 year olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This is not the first time this shift has been reported. In fact, another analysis from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), found that more immigrants were entering the workforce than American-born workers because of an aging population and the declining birth rate.

This new data comes as the Trump administration is doubling down on cracking down on immigration and promising to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in American history.

In the coming days, the Trump administration is expected to invoke a sweeping wartime authority to speed up the president's mass deportation pledge, according to CNN. The little-known 18th-century law, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, would give the president tremendous authority to target and remove undocumented immigrants.

That law is designed to be invoked if the U.S. is at war with another country, or a foreign nation has invaded the U.S. or threatened to do so. Legal experts say it would be difficult for Trump to use the act when the U.S. isn't being attacked by a foreign government, even if the administration does cite threats from gangs or cartels.