What are the top 3 states with illegal immigrants?

The top three U.S. states with the largest populations of unauthorized (illegal) immigrants are California, Texas, and Florida.

State Population Breakdown

According to estimates from official and demographic research organizations like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the American Immigration Council, the numbers for these leading states are:

• California: Approximately 2.6 million unauthorized immigrants.
• Texas: Approximately 2.1 million unauthorized immigrants.
• Florida: Approximately 590,000 unauthorized immigrants.

Together, these three states account for nearly half (48%) of the entire undocumented population living in the United States. They are followed by New Jersey, Illinois, and New York.

California and Texas lead the United States with the highest total populations of unauthorized immigrants.

States with the Most Unauthorized Immigrants

According to research from organizations like the Pew Research Center and reports analyzed by outlets like Axios, a small group of states consistently holds the majority of the nation's undocumented population:

• California: Traditionally ranks first, home to approximately 1.8 million unauthorized immigrants.
• Texas: Ranks second, with roughly 1.6 million unauthorized immigrants, and sees the highest volume of border crossings and apprehensions along the southern border.
• Florida: Hosts an estimated 1.2 million unauthorized immigrants, representing one of the highest proportions relative to its total population.
• New York: Home to about 650,000 undocumented residents, concentrated largely in New York City.
• New Jersey: Contains roughly 475,000 unauthorized immigrants.
• Illinois: Accommodates around 400,000 undocumented individuals, primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Impact and Distribution Trends

• Border States: Texas, Arizona, California, and New Mexico experience the most direct logistical and enforcement impacts from border encounters.
• Interior and High-Share States: States like Florida, Nevada, and New Jersey also feature high concentrations or high percentages of unauthorized immigrants relative to their overall state populations.
• Shifting Demographics: Recent demographic studies indicate that unauthorized populations are increasingly spreading to non-traditional interior states due to economic changes and expanding job markets in agriculture, construction, and service sectors.

Texas and California host the largest total populations of unauthorized immigrants in the United States, according to data from research groups like the Pew Research Center.

Whether a state has the "biggest" immigration problem depends on how the issue is measured: by total population, border crossings, or public and political strain.

Total Immigrant and Unauthorized Populations

• Texas and California: These two states consistently rank at the top for the highest overall number of unauthorized immigrants residing within their borders.
• Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois: Along with Texas and California, these six states house the majority of the nation's unauthorized immigrant population.
• Population Share: States like California, Nevada, and Texas also have some of the highest proportional shares of foreign-born or undocumented residents relative to their total populations.

Operational and Fiscal Pressures

• Texas: As a border state, Texas faces direct operational pressures from federal border crossings and has implemented major state-level enforcement initiatives, as well as transporting thousands of migrants to interior U.S. cities.
• Inland Destination States: States and major cities like New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois have reported significant strains on local public services, housing, and budgets due to arriving migrants.
• Public Perception: Public opinion polls, such as those from the Monmouth University Polling Institute, show that large majorities of Americans view illegal immigration as a serious national problem, though localized impacts vary widely depending on state policies and geographic location.

Texas and New York consistently record the highest absolute numbers of pending deportation cases and removal orders in the United States.

Leading States in Deportation and Removal Proceedings

Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) indicates that the states with the largest volume of deportation cases and removal orders generally include:

• Texas
• New York
• Florida
• New Jersey
• California (which also has one of the largest overall immigrant populations)

When measured by absolute volume, major metropolitan centers in Texas (such as Houston and Dallas) and New York (New York City) frequently lead the nation in individuals ordered removed by immigration judges.

State Enforcement Actions

According to data compiled by the Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC), states like Texas and Florida have dedicated the most state and local resources toward state-level immigration enforcement and criminalization laws. However, overall enforcement, detentions, and removal operations are primarily managed federally through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection.

Several U.S. states and the District of Columbia limit, restrict, or prohibit local law enforcement and state agencies from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), functioning as sanctuary jurisdictions or enacting explicit bans on local 287(g) partnership agreements.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice Sanctuary Jurisdiction List and tracking by legal organizations like Bolts Magazine, the states and districts with statewide restrictions, executive directives, or sanctuary designations include:

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• New Jersey (enforced via executive directive)
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington

Note: The exact level of restriction varies by state, with some banning local jail contracts and data-sharing, while others focus specifically on prohibiting local police from acting as deputized immigration agents.