The estimated population of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. stands at around ** million people. Although the number has stabilized, the United States has seen a spike in migrant encounters in the last few years, with over * million cases registered by the U.S. Border Patrol in 2023. This is a slight decrease from the previous year, when there were over *** million cases registered. Due to its proximity and shared border, Mexico remains the leading country of origin for most undocumented immigrants in the U.S., with California and Texas being home to the majority.

Immigration and political division

Despite the majority of the population having immigrant roots, the topic of immigration in the U.S. remains one of the country’s longest-standing political debates. Support among Republicans for restrictive immigration has grown alongside Democratic support for open immigration. This growing divide has deepened the polarization between the two major political parties, stifling constructive dialogue and impeding meaningful reform efforts and as a result, has led to dissatisfaction from all sides. In addition to general immigration policy, feelings toward illegal immigration in the U.S. also vary widely. For some, it's seen as a significant threat to national security, cultural identity, and economic stability. This perspective often aligns with support for stringent measures like Trump's proposed border wall and increased enforcement efforts. On the other hand, there are those who are more sympathetic toward undocumented immigrants, as demonstrated by support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

From January to June 2025, the highest number of illegal immigrants that arrived in Spain via land and sea came from Mali, with approximately ***** people. The immigrants from Senegal and Algeria were the second and third most numerous group, with ***** and ***** people leaving their country of residence, respectively. More than ****** illegal immigrants reached the Iberian country in 2024. A risky journey Spain, together with Italy and Greece, are the main points of entry to Europe for illegal migration. Most arrivals happen through the Mediterranean Sea, which is a very dangerous journey for migrants. While active since 2006, the migration route from the coasts of West Africa to the Canary Islands (the closest territory of the European Union) has become particularly popular in recent years, even though so many people lost their lives their. Undocumented minors Among those reaching the Spanish territory are undocumented and unaccompanied minors, known in Spanish as "menas” (Menores Extranjeros No Acompañados). In 2018, the number of unaccompanied and separated children that arrived by sea exceeded *****, which represented the largest figure since at least 2014. This number decreased by approximately ***** cases in 2020. Nearly half of them came from Morocco, separated from Spain by merely ** kilometres of water at the Gibraltar Strait's narrowest point.

In January 2022, it was estimated that about 1.85 million male illegal immigrants living in the United States were aged between 35 and 44 years old. In that same year, it was estimated that 1.52 million female illegal immigrants living in the U.S. were between 35 and 44 years old.

In 2024, there were approximately 239,159 illegal border crossings made at borders of the European Union, with Syrian's being the most common nationality, at 44,237.

The provided data includes: year, tonnage, fisheries products, agricultural products, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, firearms, smuggling, others, subtotal, cancellations, fines, and other field data.

The statistic shows the number of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. from 2000 to 2012, as estimated by the Department of Homeland Security. As of 2012, about 11.4 million illegal immigrants were living in the United States.

Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Pg: Illegal Immigrants data was reported at 4,705.000 Unit in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,347.000 Unit for Nov 2017. Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Pg: Illegal Immigrants data is updated monthly, averaging 4,461.000 Unit from Jan 2014 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13,608.000 Unit in Mar 2017 and a record low of 2,460.000 Unit in Jan 2014. Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Pg: Illegal Immigrants data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Employment. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G007: No of Aliens Work Permit.

According to the source, ***** irregular migrants arrived in Spain in January 2021, which represented the highest number of irregular migrants of the study period, second only to October 2018, with ***** cases. February, March and April tend to be the months with the lowest arrival of illegal migrants.

Acknowledgement

The following table is imported from the 2019 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics under the Department of Homeland Security:

The 2019 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics is a compendium of tables that provide data on foreign nationals who are granted lawful permanent residence (i.e., immigrants who receive a “green card”), admitted as temporary nonimmigrants, granted asylum or refugee status, or are naturalized. The Yearbook also presents data on immigration enforcement actions, including apprehensions and arrests, removals, and returns.

Table 39. Aliens Removed or Returned: Fiscal Years 1892 to 2019 (https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook/2019/table39)

Inspiration

The data was collected to observe trends in history reflecting the number of immigrants deported - more specifically removed or returned.

Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Illegal Immigrant data was reported at 66,483.000 Unit in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 65,125.000 Unit for Sep 2018. Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Illegal Immigrant data is updated monthly, averaging 25,261.000 Unit from Jan 1994 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 298 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 206,014.000 Unit in Nov 1997 and a record low of 4,557.000 Unit in Nov 1996. Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Illegal Immigrant data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Foreign Workers Administration (Work Permit). The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G007: No of Aliens Work Permit.

According to the source, the number of immigrants that arrived in Spain illegally in 2018 amounted to approximately ******, representing the peak of the period under consideration. In 2024, over ****** irregular immigrants arrived at the Mediterranean country.

In 2022, the greatest number of illegal aliens apprehended in the United States were from Mexico, with ******* illegal aliens apprehended. Guatemala, Cuba, Honduras, and Venezuela rounded out the top five in that year.

Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Bangkok: Illegal Immigrant data was reported at 5,516.000 Unit in Mar 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,531.000 Unit for Feb 2018. Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Bangkok: Illegal Immigrant data is updated monthly, averaging 2,103.000 Unit from Jan 1994 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 291 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,196.000 Unit in Jul 2009 and a record low of 0.000 Unit in Mar 1999. Thailand Number of Aliens Work Permit: Bangkok: Illegal Immigrant data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Foreign Workers Administration (Work Permit). The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.G008: No of Aliens Work Permit.

Opinion on the right of everyone to live and work in any country. - Scale of sympathy towards different countries. - Degree of concern about the marriage of a child to a citizen of: Portugal, another EU country, USA, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Morocco, another North African country or some black African country. - Degree of refusal for children to share the same class at school with children from foreign immigrant families. - Degree of refusal to have as neighbors or co-workers citizens of the aforementioned countries. - Evaluation of the abolition of borders between the countries of the European Union and the free installation in Spain of its workers and professionals. - Opinion on the reception of political refugees. Topics that most concern Spaniards in general and the interviewee in particular: public services, the environment, housing, immigration, drugs, crime, unemployment, the political situation, labour disputes and the maintenance of living standards. - Assessment, in general terms, of immigration. - Opinion on the number of foreigners living in Spain. - Expectations of the increase of foreigners in Spain. - Comparison of Spain with France, Italy and Germany in the number of immigrants. Immediate thought when talking about foreign immigrants. - Opinion on the intention to stay of the majority of immigrants arriving in Spain. - Assessment of the laws that regulate the entry and stay of foreigners in Spain. - Opinion on the extension of the rights of foreign workers living in Spain. - Degree of control by the Spanish authorities of the illegal stay of foreigners in Spain. Opinion on the treatment of illegal immigrants: legalize/return them to their countries. - Knowledge of the process of regularization of Spanish immigrants being carried out by the Spanish authorities. - Opinion on the most appropriate policy for immigrant workers. - Opinion on immigration policies in the European Union. - Degree according to the annual quota, established by the Spanish Government, for the entry of immigrants. - Assessment of the living conditions of immigrants in Spain. - Living conditions of immigrant workers, comparing it with Spaniards. - Opinion on the facilities that could be given to foreign immigrants to: bringing family, housing, education, healthcare, work, association and religion. - Rights that every foreigner working in Spain should have. - Degree of agreement with the following opinions on immigrants: They do jobs that the Spaniards do not want to do, they lower wages, they take jobs away from the Spaniards, they favor crime. Opinion on whether or not immigrants in their integration should preserve their culture. - Treatment of Spaniards to immigrants in general and those of another race in particular. - Relations with immigrants. - Time of residence outside Spain and countries in which you have lived. - Reasons for having lived abroad. - Assessment of the treatment of foreigners in general and Spaniards in particular, outside Spain. - Assessment of violent attacks on foreign immigrants in Spain. - Expectations for Spain of violent actions against foreign immigrants. Attitude to the rise of certain European political parties with racist ideology. - Opinion on the degree of acceptance in Spain of a political party with racist ideology. - Political ideology scale of the interviewee. - Remembrance of the vote in the 1996 general election.