2009-04-13-皮尤-A_Portrait_of_Unauthorized_Immigrants_in_the_United_States_52页_1mb

Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States Analysis Report Summary

National Overview

• Estimated 11.9 million unauthorized immigrants lived in the U.S. as of March 2008.
• They constitute 4% of the national population and 5.4% of the labor force.
• Unauthorized immigrants are more geographically dispersed compared to previous years.
• Unauthorized immigrants are more likely to live in households with spouses and children than U.S.-born residents or legal immigrants.

Geographic Distribution

• Top states by unauthorized population: California, Texas, Florida, and New York concentrated the largest share.
• California's share of unauthorized immigrants declined from 42% to 22% between 1990 and 2008.
• Other fast-growing states, such as Georgia and North Carolina, have become significant recipients in recent years.

Family and Demographic Characteristics

• Unauthorized immigrants are younger on average, with a smaller proportion of elderly.
• About 76% are Hispanic, and 59% are from Mexico.
• 47% of unauthorized immigrant adults live with their own children under 18.
• 73% of children of unauthorized immigrants were born in the U.S.
• Mixed-status families (with unauthorized immigrant parents and U.S. citizen children) accounted for 5.3 million people in 2008.

Children and Education

• Children of unauthorized immigrants make up 6.8% of the U.S. student population (K-12).
• In five states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas), at least 10% of students have unauthorized immigrant parents.

Labor Force and Employment

• Unauthorized immigrants represented 8.3 million people in the U.S. labor force in 2008 (5.4% of the workforce).
• The labor force share remained stable since 2007, showing no significant recent growth.
• They are overrepresented in low-skilled jobs, especially construction (17%) and agriculture.
• The median household income was $36,000, significantly lower than U.S.-born residents ($50,000).

Education Attainment

• Unauthorized immigrants have lower educational attainment levels.
• 47% of unauthorized adults 25-64 years have less than a high school diploma.
• Only 49% attended college compared to 71% of U.S.-born adults.

Poverty and Health

• 33% of unauthorized immigrants and 34% of their children live in poverty.
• 59% of unauthorized adults lacked health insurance, with higher uninsured rates among unauthorized children (45% for unauthorized immigrant children) compared to U.S.-born children.

State-Level Specifics

• Unauthorized immigrants constitute 10-15% of the labor force in states like California and Arizona.
• Homeownership is lower among unauthorized immigrants (35% vs. 50% for U.S.-born households).
• Mobility is higher, with 18% relocating within the year compared to others.

Mexican-Origin Unauthorized Immigrants

• Mexico accounts for 7 million of the 11.9 million unauthorized immigrants.
• They have among the lowest educational attainment and household incomes (median $32,000).
• Higher concentration in states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Methodological Overview

• Estimates derived from Current Population Survey (CPS) data combined with residual estimation methods.
• Adjustment for undercount and statistical probability methodologies used to assign legal status.
• Uncertainties exist due to sampling variability, with adjustments for trends and regional differences.