A Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Health Coverage Profile of Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States
Related Content
Highlights
Unauthorized immigrants are predominantly low-income, working adults, yet 71 percent of adults lacked insurance in 2011.
- In 2011, the unauthorized population totaled approximately 11.1 million; 72 percent were ages 19 to 44, men outnumbered women 55 to 45 percent, and 70 percent of adults were Limited English Proficient (LEP).
- Despite high labor force participation—87 percent of unauthorized men and 57 percent of women—32 percent of unauthorized adults and 51 percent of children had family incomes below the federal poverty level.
- In 2011, 71 percent of unauthorized immigrant adults and 47 percent of unauthorized children were uninsured.
This issue brief provides data on unauthorized immigrants in the United States, their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and health care coverage. The data are drawn from the Census Bureau's 2011 American Community Survey, with immigration status assigned based on responses to another national survey: the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Unauthorized immigrants are differentiated from legal immigrants based on answers to a SIPP question about whether noncitizens have a green card (i.e., have lawful permanent resident or LPR status). The analysis marks the first time that self-reported data on LPR status have been used to generate a national profile of unauthorized immigrants.
The findings described in the brief include the age and gender of the unauthorized immigrant population; its employment patterns and income levels; and its health insurance coverage (employer and other private coverage, public coverage, and the uninsured).
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Findings
III. Policy Implications
About the U.S. Immigration Policy Program
The U.S. Immigration Policy Program provides analysis of U.S. immigration pathways, the impacts of enforcement and other policies, and the characteristics of immigrant populations.
About the National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy
The Center is a national hub connecting policymakers, educators, community leaders, and service providers with evidence-informed policy research, technical assistance, and data to advance effective immigrant integration at U.S., state, and local levels.
