The estimated population of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. stands at around 11 million people. Although the number has stabilized, the United States has seen a spike in migrant encounters in the last few years, with over two million cases registered by the U.S. Border Patrol in 2023. This is a slight decrease from the previous year, when there were over 2.2 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.

In the fiscal year of 2020, the United States Border Patrol apprehended 400,651 people trying to cross the Southwest border. This was a significant decrease from the previous year, when there were 851,508 apprehensions by Border Patrol at the Southwest border. This decrease is likely due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In 2024, the net migration rate in France reached 152,000. In recent years Europe and France have seen more people arrive than depart. The net migration rate is the difference between the number of immigrants (people coming into an area) and the number of emigrants (people leaving an area) throughout the year. France's highest net migration rate was reached in 2018 when it amounted to 201,000. Armed conflicts and economic migration are some of the reasons for immigration in Europe. The refugee crisis Studies have shown that there were 331,000 immigrant arrivals in France in 2022, which has risen since 2014. The migrant crisis, which began in 2015 in Europe, had an impact on the migration entry flows not only in France but in all European countries. The number of illegal border crossings to the EU over the Eastern Mediterranean route reached a record number of 885,386 crossings in 2015. Immigration in France Since the middle of the 19th century, France has attracted immigrants, first from European countries (like Poland, Spain, and Italy), and then from the former French colonies. In 2023, there were approximately 8.9 million people foreign-born in France. Most of them were living in the Ile-de-France region, which contains Paris, and in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in the Southeastern part of the country. In 2022, the majority of immigrants arriving in France were from Africa and Europe.

In 2023 there were over 350,000 illegal border crossing detecting on the borders of the European Union, the most crossings recorded since 2017 when there were over 204,000. Illegal border crossings peaked in 2015 at the height of the European migrant crisis, when over 1.8 million illegal border crossing were detected.

After Russia started its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, approximately 40 million border crossings from Ukraine to other countries were recorded as of December 2024. Most of the refugees fled to Poland. More than 6.2 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded in Europe as of December 16, 2024.

In 2023, it was estimated that 3,105 migrants died while crossings the Mediterranean Sea. As of 2024, 2,333 casualties were recorded. However, the accurate number of deaths recorded in the Mediterranean Sea cannot be ascertained. Between 2014 and 2018, for instance, about 12,000 people who drowned were never found. Casualties and missing people Worldwide, it was estimated that 8,000 people died in the attempt to flee their country. According to estimations, over 5,000 refugees lost their lives in the attempt to reach the European shores in 2016. Therefore, the Mediterranean Sea was the deadliest migration route. Indeed, over the last couple of years, the Mediterranean Sea held the largest number of casualties and missing people. Western, Central, and Eastern route According to migration studies, the Mediterranean Sea is crossed by a Western, a Central, and an Eastern route. Out of these routes, the Central Mediterranean route was the deadliest. In 2016, roughly 4,600 people lost their lives while pursuing this route. The identification of bodies is challenging due to the sea. In 2019, for instance, the vast majority of refugees who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea were not identified and their country of origin untraceable.

In 2024, nearly nine million refugees from Ukraine have crossed the Polish border. The largest number on March 6, 2022 — more than 142,200 people.The Government Security Center informs refugees from Ukraine about the possibility of taking refuge in Poland. Due to the Russian attack, as of Thursday, February 24, Ukrainians can cross the border without documents. These individuals are also exempt from the coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine. According to the government's decision, all citizens of Ukraine can cross the border, even those who do not have any identity documents. This also applies to people whose papers are invalid or incomplete. In this case, to enter Poland, the consent of the Commander of the Border Guard is sufficient, which is given during the border crossing. Such a permit is issued for a stay of up to 15 days. After 15 days, the refugees will decide whether to stay in Poland or return to Ukraine if the situation there normalizes.People traveling with animals do not need to have proof of vaccination, and the animal itself does not need to be microchipped.Border services have also set up reception points at border crossings. Those who do not have a guaranteed place to stay in Poland can seek help there. At these points, refugees are provided temporary accommodation in Poland, a hot meal, a drink, basic medical care, and a resting place.Citizens of Ukraine can travel free of charge in class 2 on TLK and IC national economy trains. The passage takes place based on a passport confirming Ukrainian citizenship. Travelers will receive a free ticket.

Over 1.2 million refugees from Ukraine due to the Russian invasion fled to Germany as of January 2025. Furthermore, the second-highest number was recorded in Russia as of the end of 2024. In total, around 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees were registered across Europe and 6.8 million worldwide as of January 2025. Most of them fled the country by crossing the border with Poland. Ukrainian refugees in Germany As of January 2025, over 1.2 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded in Germany. The first increases in the number of Ukrainian refugees were registered in March and April 2022. At the end of January 2023, over one million refugees were officially counted by the authorities. Germany had the highest monthly financial allowance for Ukrainians who fled the war compared to other European countries as of June 2022. Temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in the EU European Union (EU) members implemented the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), which guaranteed access to accommodation, welfare, and healthcare to refugees from Ukraine. People fleeing the war had a right to a residence permit in the EU, enter the labor market, and enroll children in educational institutions. The protection is granted until March 4, 2026, but it can be extended in the future depending on the situation in the country.