Immigration is one of the most consistently debated topics in American politics, and the question of how many undocumented immigrants currently live in the United States comes up in nearly every conversation about policy, law enforcement, and public resources. Getting an accurate answer is harder than it might seem, because by definition, this is a population that does not register with government agencies and cannot be counted through standard census methods. What researchers and federal agencies can do is estimate the number using a combination of demographic modeling, border data, visa overstay records, and statistical analysis.
What those estimates consistently show is that the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States has remained relatively stable over the past decade, hovering in a range that most leading research organizations agree on, even if the exact figure varies depending on the methodology used. If you’re facing a legal matter involving an accident or injury, Trial Ninjas Law Group can help you understand your options.
How Many Undocumented Immigrants Are in the US?
The most widely cited and peer-reviewed estimates place the current unauthorized immigrant population in the United States at approximately 10.5 to 11 million people as of the most recent available data from 2025 and 2026. This figure represents roughly 3 percent of the total US population and includes both individuals who entered the country without authorization and those who entered legally on a visa but remained after that visa expired.
- The Department of Homeland Security and Pew Research Center consistently place estimates in the 10.5 to 11 million range using demographic modeling
- Approximately 7 to 8 million unauthorized immigrants are active participants in the US labor force
- A significant portion of this population has lived in the United States for 10 years or longer and has deep community ties
- Millions live in mixed-status families where at least one family member is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, including many US-born children
How Is the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Counted?
Because undocumented immigrants cannot be counted directly, researchers rely on a combination of data sources and statistical techniques to arrive at population estimates that are as accurate as possible given the inherent limitations involved.
- Census and survey data: The American Community Survey captures demographic information that researchers use as a baseline for estimating the total foreign-born population and subtracting those with legal status
- DHS records: The Department of Homeland Security tracks border encounters, visa issuances, and overstay data that feed into population models
- Demographic modeling: Researchers apply known rates of birth, death, emigration, and legal status changes to arrive at net population estimates over time
- Visa overstay tracking: A significant portion of the undocumented population entered legally and remained after their authorized period ended, a figure that federal agencies track through departure records
The result is a range rather than a precise number, and different organizations may arrive at slightly different totals depending on their assumptions and data sources.
What States Have the Most Undocumented Immigrants?
The unauthorized immigrant population is not evenly distributed across the United States and tends to concentrate in states with larger overall immigrant communities, more diverse economies, and historically established immigrant networks.
Texas
Texas consistently ranks among the states with the largest undocumented immigrant populations in the country, with estimates placing the number at approximately 1.6 million people. The state’s long shared border with Mexico, large agricultural and construction industries, and established Hispanic communities make it one of the primary destinations for unauthorized immigrants arriving from Central and South America. Houston, in particular, has one of the largest undocumented immigrant populations of any city in the United States.
California and New York
California has historically had the largest undocumented population of any single state, with estimates ranging from 2 to 2.5 million people concentrated heavily in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego metropolitan areas. New York ranks consistently among the top states as well, driven largely by the New York City metropolitan area, which has long been a destination for immigrant communities from around the world. Both states have enacted sanctuary policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Florida and Illinois
Florida’s undocumented population is concentrated in the Miami metropolitan area and has grown significantly in recent years, driven by migration from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and other Latin American countries. Illinois, primarily Chicago, rounds out the list of states consistently identified as having the largest unauthorized immigrant populations, with an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 individuals.
Has the Number of Illegal Immigrants Increased Recently?
Despite significant increases in border encounters reported between 2021 and 2024, the total unauthorized population living inside the United States has not increased sharply. Several factors explain why rising border crossings do not translate directly into a growing interior population:
- Many individuals encountered at the border are processed and removed or returned without being released into the interior of the country
- Deportations and voluntary departures offset a significant portion of new arrivals each year
- Deaths and emigration of existing residents also reduce the net population over time
- Many asylum seekers are in legal proceedings and are not counted in the unauthorized population until their cases are resolved
The result is that the overall unauthorized population has remained relatively stable compared to its peak of approximately 12 million in 2007, even during periods of increased border activity.
Do Undocumented Immigrants Have Legal Rights in Texas?
Yes, undocumented immigrants in Texas have significant legal rights regardless of their immigration status, and understanding those rights is important for anyone living and working in the state without legal authorization.
- Under the United States Constitution, all persons on American soil, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to due process and equal protection under the law
- Undocumented immigrants in Texas have the right to remain silent and to refuse consent to searches by law enforcement
- Children of undocumented immigrants are entitled to public education regardless of their own or their parents’ immigration status under a landmark Supreme Court ruling
- Undocumented immigrants who are victims of crimes in Texas have the right to report those crimes to law enforcement and to cooperate with prosecutors without that cooperation being used as grounds for deportation
Can Undocumented Immigrants File Personal Injury Claims in Texas?
Yes, undocumented immigrants injured in car accidents, truck accidents, or other incidents caused by someone else’s negligence in Texas have the same right to pursue compensation as any other injury victim. Texas personal injury law does not condition the right to recovery on immigration status, and an injured person’s documentation status is generally not relevant to the merits of a personal injury claim.
If you or someone you know was injured in an accident in Texas, regardless of immigration status, speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible is the most important step toward understanding your rights and protecting your ability to recover fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Undocumented immigrants injured in accidents in Texas face unique challenges when dealing with insurance companies and the legal system, and having experienced legal representation is especially important for protecting their rights throughout the claims process.
- Insurance companies may attempt to use immigration status as leverage to pressure unrepresented victims into accepting unfair settlements
- An experienced attorney ensures that immigration status cannot be improperly used to reduce or deny compensation that the injured person is legally entitled to pursue
- All communications with your attorney are protected by attorney client privilege, regardless of your immigration status
- At Trial Ninjas, every client is represented with the same dedication and commitment, regardless of where they came from or their current legal status in the country. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact us today to discuss your case.
Injured in Texas? Contact Trial Ninjas Today
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, truck accident, or any incident caused by someone else’s negligence in Texas, you have legal rights, and you deserve to have them protected by an experienced attorney who takes your case seriously. At Trial Ninjas, Gia Samavati and the team fight for every client with the same tenacity and commitment, regardless of background or immigration status. Contact us today for a free case evaluation with no fee unless we win.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 10.5 to 11 million undocumented immigrants currently live in the United States as of 2025 and 2026
- The unauthorized population has remained relatively stable over the past decade despite increased border encounters
- Texas has one of the largest undocumented populations of any state, with an estimated 1.6 million people
- All persons in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have constitutional rights, including due process and equal protection
- Undocumented immigrants injured in accidents in Texas have the same right to pursue personal injury compensation as any other victim
- Having experienced legal representation is especially important for undocumented injury victims to ensure their rights are fully protected
