WASHINGTON, DC – FWD.us released new data today that estimates that about 10.6 million U.S. citizens live with an undocumented immigrant. Additionally, these estimates show that more than 22 million people in the U.S. live in mixed-status households, where at least one undocumented person lives with U.S. citizens, green card holders, or other lawful temporary immigrants. This means more than 1 in 20 people in the U.S. lives in a mixed-status household. The new data shows the urgent need for Congress to establish a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants to provide them and their loved ones with much-needed certainty and stability.
It’s been 20 years since the Dream Act was first introduced and nearly three decades since Congress last passed meaningful immigration reform.This fall, Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and essential workers through the reconciliation process. Congress must fix our failed immigration system now.
This is urgent, as more mixed-status families than ever face uncertainty about whether they could be separated from their family members and loved ones, including many children and spouses. FWD.us’ analysis finds that about 5.8 million U.S. citizen children live with undocumented household members, with 4.9 million of these children having at least one undocumented parent. Additionally, nearly 1.7 million U.S. citizens have a spouse who is undocumented.
“Millions of undocumented immigrants and their loved ones continue to live in limbo due to congressional inaction on immigration reform,” said Phillip Connor, FWD.us Senior Demographer. “In addition to the economic benefits a pathway to citizenship would provide, we have a moral imperative to keep mixed-status families and all undocumented immigrant families safe and together. A pathway to citizenship from Congress is the only solution.”
According to the new report, undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and undocumented parents of U.S. citizen children could make as much as 58% more after taxes after securing U.S. citizenship, adding $59 billion more to the economy each year and an additional $16 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local tax revenue. Further, California, Texas, Florida, and New York lead the nation in states with the highest numbers of U.S. citizens living with undocumented immigrants.
To learn more and utilize FWD.us’ interactive tool that provides state- and district-level data on mixed-status households, read FWD.us’ full blog HERE.
