Illegal Migration Hits Record 14 Million in America, Large Share from India Too

International News: The number of people living in the United States without legal documents has touched a record high of 14 million in 2023, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. The research group, which regularly studies immigration data, highlighted that this is the highest level ever recorded in American history.

Rise Despite Tough Policies

This report comes at a time when President Donald Trump has adopted a strong stance against illegal immigration since taking office in January 2025. In fact, one of his early moves was to cancel many legal protections given to undocumented migrants by previous administrations. According to Pew, the illegal immigrant population rose from 11.8 million in 2022 to 14 million in 2023. The last time numbers were close to this level was in 2007, when 12.2 million undocumented migrants were reported.

Reasons Behind the Growth

Experts say that the increase can be linked to about six million people who were given some type of legal protection earlier, such as temporary permits. However, when many of these protections were withdrawn, the affected people were left without proper documents, pushing the overall number higher.

Border Restrictions Showed Some Effect

The report also noted that in June 2024, when President Joe Biden introduced tougher restrictions at the border, the number of illegal crossings started to decline. Even after that, the figures remained high under the Trump administration, though there was a slight fall. Despite these measures, the total remained above 14 million, making it a serious challenge for U.S. authorities.

Growing Immigrant Population

As of January 2025, America had a total of 53 million immigrants, including both legal and illegal residents. Apart from Mexico, large numbers of immigrants came from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and India. In the last two years, migration from Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, Ukraine, and Peru has also doubled, further increasing the immigrant count.

Visa Holders Under Review

Along with tackling illegal migration, the U.S. State Department has begun reviewing records of more than 55 million valid visa holders. The purpose of this review is to identify cases of overstaying visas, criminal activity, public safety risks, or involvement in terrorism.

Action Against Violations

Officials have clarified that if any visa holder is found in violation, their visa will be cancelled. If the person is inside the U.S., they may face deportation. The department said that checks are being carried out using law enforcement data, immigration files, and updated information that comes in after visas are issued.

U.S. Government’s Stand

Authorities stressed that these measures are essential for national security and for maintaining control over immigration. The challenge of balancing humanitarian needs with legal enforcement remains at the center of America’s immigration debate.