A Profile of Low-Income Immigrants in the United States
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Highlights
In 2019, nearly 15 million U.S. immigrants were low income and had higher uninsured rates and lower public benefits use than their U.S.-born counterparts at similar income levels.
- One-third of the 44 million immigrants in the United States in 2019 were low income (below 200 percent of the federal poverty level); 63 percent were from Latin America and the Caribbean, with one-third born in Mexico.
- One-third of low-income immigrants were unauthorized; another 30 percent lived in mixed-status families, including an estimated 3.5 million U.S.-citizen or legal immigrant children with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent.
- Low-income immigrants had higher rates of limited English proficiency (61 percent) and lower educational attainment than immigrants overall, and were less likely to hold a bachelor's degree (16 percent vs. 33 percent).
- Despite income eligibility, low-income immigrants used Medicaid, SNAP, and other federal public benefits at lower rates than comparable U.S.-born individuals.
The United States’ immigrant population is highly diverse in its origins, characteristics, and life experiences after arrival. Research has shown that immigrants see strong upward mobility overall, both over time and over successive generations. But the challenges of starting over in a new country, particularly for those with limited educational attainment and English proficiency, can leave some immigrants with relatively low incomes and their households facing economic hardship. Although low-income immigrants are a minority of all immigrants in the country, they are of particular interest to policymakers and service providers seeking to help individuals and families get on a path to upward economic mobility.
This fact sheet presents data on the origins, states of residence, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and employment outcomes of low-income immigrants in the United States. It results from MPI analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, and from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Population Size and Top States of Residence
3 Immigrant Origins
4 Immigration Status
5 Demographics
6 Socioeconomic Characteristics
7 Employment Characteristics
8 Conclusion
About the Human Services Initiative
The Initiative produced work focusing on U.S. federal, state, and local policies on immigration issues affecting children, families, and health and human services.
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.
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