Immigration 101

The U.S. immigration system is complex and can be difficult to understand. These resources provide key data points, historical information, and background on hot topics in immigration. Learn the basics about immigration.

Recent Features

Why Don’t Immigrants Apply for Citizenship?

There is no line available for undocumented immigrants and the “regular channels” do not include them.

READ MORE

Fact Sheet
Temporary Protected Status: An Overview

This fact sheet provides an overview of how Temporary Protected Status designations are made, what benefits TPS confers, and how TPS beneficiaries apply for and regularly renew their status.

READ MORE

How the United States Immigration System Works

U.S. immigration law is very complex. Here's basic information about how the U.S. legal immigration system is designed.

READ MORE

All Immigration 101 Content

  • Fact Sheet

How the United States Immigration System Works

Publication Date: 
June 24, 2024
U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. This fact sheet provides basic information about how the U.S. legal immigration system is designed.
  • Fact Sheet

An American Immigration Council Analysis of the President’s 212(f) Proclamation and Interim Final Rule Restricting Asylum

Publication Date: 
June 5, 2024
On June 4, the Biden administration issued a presidential proclamation and an Interim Final Rule restricting access to asylum for people crossing into the United States without legal status. The...
  • Fact Sheet

Naturalization in the United States

Publication Date: 
January 19, 2024
This fact sheet provides an overview of the benefits of obtaining naturalized citizenship in the United States, as well as information about the naturalized population and those who meet the...
  • Fact Sheet

Asylum in the United States

Publication Date: 
January 15, 2024
Asylum seekers must navigate a difficult and complex process that can involve multiple government agencies. This fact sheet provides an overview of the asylum system in the United States, including...
  • Fact Sheet

The Biden Administration’s Humanitarian Parole Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans: An Overview

Publication Date: 
October 31, 2023
An overview of the Biden administration's parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (CHNV), which admit up to 30,000 people per month with the ability to live and work in the...
  • Fact Sheet

Undocumented College Students

Publication Date: 
August 2, 2023
This fact sheet looks at the population of undocumented students in higher education institutions across the country.
Cover of Refugee Report
  • Special Report

Starting Anew

Publication Date: 
June 20, 2023
A record 100 million people around the globe were forced to flee their homes in 2022, up from 65 million in 2015. Of those displaced last year, 32.5 million were refugees who had to leave their...
  • Fact Sheet

A Snapshot of Immigrant Women in the United States

Publication Date: 
June 2, 2023
There are more than 23 million female immigrants in the United States, and they are a formidable presence in U.S. society and the economy.­
  • Fact Sheet

An Overview of the “Uniting for Ukraine” Program

Publication Date: 
January 13, 2023
This program allows Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine to apply to come to the United States through “humanitarian parole.” Ukrainians who are granted humanitarian parole may...
  • Fact Sheet

The Changing Demographics of the Electorate at a State Level

Publication Date: 
November 9, 2022
With the 2022 midterm elections on the horizon, this factsheet takes a look at the latest Current Population Survey data from 2022 and compares it to data from 2020 and 2016 in order to provide a...
  • Advocacy

Statement for the House Committee on Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship Hearing on "Oversight of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services"

July 29, 2020

The American Immigration Council submitted a written statement to the House Committee on Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship for a July 29, 2020 hearing on "Oversight of U....

  • Advocacy

Statement for the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship Hearing “Policy Changes and Processing Delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”

July 16, 2019
The statement highlights the Council’s concerns regarding systemic U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services delays in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
  • Advocacy

Comments Opposing "Public Charge" Plan

December 11, 2018
The American Immigration Council, with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, filed comments because a financial litmus test should never serve as a measure for who we welcome into our country.
  • Legal Resources and Litigation

Statement for the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security on "The Effect of Sanctuary City Policies on the Ability to Combat the Opioid Epidemic"

February 15, 2018
The statement includes our report, The Criminalization of Immigration in the United States, which details empirical data demonstrating that immigration is not linked to higher crime rates.
  • Legal Resources and Litigation

Statement for the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security on "The Real Victims of a Reckless and Lawless Immigration Policy: Families and Survivors speak out on the Real Cost of this Administration's Policies"

April 19, 2016
The statement shares empirical data which shows that immigration is associated with lower crime rates and immigrants are less likely than the native-born to be serious criminals.
  • Legal Resources and Litigation

Statement for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on "Criminal Aliens Released by the Department of Homeland Security"

April 18, 2016
Our empirical research shows that there is abundant evidence that immigration is not linked to higher crime rates and that immigration is associated with lower crime rates and immigrants are less likely than the native-born to be serious criminals.
  • Legal Resources and Litigation

Statement for the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security on "Another Surge of Illegal Immigrants Along the Southwest Border: Is this the Obama Administration's New Normal?"

February 6, 2016
The statement shares our analysis and research regarding the children and families that have fled Central American violence to the United States.
  • Legal Resources and Litigation

Statement for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on "Ongoing Migration from Central America: An Examination of FY2015 Apprehensions"

October 21, 2015
The statement shares our research and analysis regarding the children and families that have fled Central American violence to the United States.
  • Legal Resources and Litigation

Statement for the Senate Judiciary Committee on "Oversight of the Administration's Misdirected Immigration Enforcement Policies: Examining the Impact on Public Safety and Honoring the Victims"

July 21, 2015
The statement highlights that immigrants are less likely to be serious criminals than the native-born and that high rates of immigration are associated with lower rates of violent crimes and property crimes.
  • Legal Resources and Litigation

Statement for the Senate Homeland and Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on "The 2014 Humanitarian Crisis at our Border: A Review of the Government's Response to Unaccompanied Minors One Year Later"

July 7, 2015
The statement highlights our revised report, A Guide to Children Arriving at the Border: Laws, Policies and Responses (June 2015), which explains why children are fleeing their homes in Central America, what happens to the children once they are in U.S. custody, and what the government has done in response.
  • Blog

What is Tim Walz’s Record on Immigration?

October 2, 2024

While immigration remains a top issue for the nation as a whole, for years Minnesota has taken an active role in integrating and supporting immigrants throughout the state. Governor Tim Walz’s...

  • Blog

Council and BAJI Highlight Their Efforts on Government Transparency to Audience in South Africa

September 13, 2024

This past week, the Council, alongside the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), had the privilege to present the report the organizations co-authored on U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s...

  • Blog

Immigrant Entrepreneurs and the Fortune 500: Powering the US Economy in 2024

September 13, 2024

Immigrant entrepreneurs continue to shape our economy and play a critical role in the success and innovation of major corporations. In 2024, this trend is clearer than ever, with 46% of Fortune...

  • Blog

Oversight Agency Says 32,000 Unaccompanied Children Are Missing. But Are They?

September 5, 2024

Written by Raul Pinto, Deputy Legal Director, Transparency at the American Immigration Council and Jennifer Ibañez Whitlock, Supervisory Policy & Practice Counsel, Government Relations at the...

  • Blog

What Project 2025 Says About Immigration

August 23, 2024
Our blog post examines how Trump’s second term could enforce stricter immigration policies, including mass deportations and cuts to legal immigration, with reduced oversight.
  • Blog

Unpacking Myths About Noncitizen Voting — How Heritage Foundation’s Own Data Proves It’s Not a Problem

August 1, 2024
Many politicians have called for overhauling the United States’ election systems by mandating strict voter ID for both registering to vote and actual voting. However, noncitizen voting is extremely rare.
  • Blog

Houston Celebrates Over 2,200 New Citizens in Historic Naturalization Ceremony

July 25, 2024

Naturalization is viewed by many as the end point of an immigrant’s journey—the finish line—and for good reason. The path to naturalization can take many years and requires immigrants to navigate...

  • Blog

Kamala Harris’ Opportunity to Reframe the Immigration Conversation

July 23, 2024

The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system. As...

  • Blog

Why Are Border Crossings at Their Lowest Level in Four Years?

July 19, 2024

Border crossings are at their lowest in four years. Is the Biden administration’s executive action working as intended—or is there another factor at play? Apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border...

  • Blog

Immigrants Are Key to Filling US Labor Shortages, New Data Finds

July 2, 2024

Almost one in every seven people in the United States is an immigrant, according to the American Immigration Council’s new analysis of the 2022 American Community Survey. The updated state-level...

  • Press Release

New Research Reveals Changing Demographics in Foreign-Born Voters and Younger Voters in Swing States

October 4, 2022
The data interactive, “The Changing Demographics of the Electorate at a State Level,” highlights the changes in the demographics of eligible voters in every state now compared to 2016, broken down by gender, age, and ethnicity.
  • Press Release

American Immigration Council Hosts New American Fellows Showcase in Brooklyn to Highlight Immigrant Voices and Advocacy

September 7, 2022
The American Immigration Council will host the New American Fellows Showcase to amplify advocacy and immigrant voices.
  • Press Release

U.S. Residents Sue USCIS and NARA for Delays in U.S. Citizenship Applications

May 25, 2022
Thirteen people waiting to become U.S. citizens filed a lawsuit challenging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ unreasonable delays and failure to process U.S. naturalization applications filed in 2020.
  • Press Release

Facts About the Current Situation at the Border

March 23, 2021
The nation has turned its attention to the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, including the rise in immigrant children in U.S. government custody. Much of the conversation has focused on a supposed surge in arrivals under the Biden administration, but the current increase began well before President Biden took office.
  • Press Release

American Immigration Council Joins President-Elect Joe Biden in Making a Fair and Welcoming Immigration System

November 7, 2020
Joseph R. Biden has been elected to serve as the 46th president of the United States. In the months ahead, we look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to advance a pro-immigration agenda that respects the dignity of all people.
  • Press Release

Foreign Student Admission Restrictions Hurt America’s Leadership in Innovation

October 22, 2020
The proposal would negatively impact American colleges and universities and foreign students seeking a higher education degree in the United States and have long-term effects for the legal immigration system.
  • Press Release

The American Immigration Council Mourns the Loss of a Fierce Advocate and Justice Seeker

September 21, 2020
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States and champion of fairness and equality, died Friday in Washington, DC. The following statement is from Beth Werlin, executive director of the American Immigration Council:
  • Press Release

Fee Increase for Immigration Applications Is an Attack on Legal Immigration

July 31, 2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—the government agency that administers the country's legal immigration system—is expected to announce Monday major fee hikes for many immigration-related applications and petitions. The increased fees will impact people applying for U.S. citizenship and asylum, as well as American businesses hiring or retaining employees vital to our country’s recovery from a global health and economic crisis.
  • Press Release

Executive Order to Exclude Millions From the Census Gets It Wrong; All People Must Be Counted

July 21, 2020
President Trump issued an executive order to prevent undocumented immigrants from being counted as part of the 2020 Census. This policy would unlawfully exclude 10.7 million undocumented immigrants, despite the clear requirement of the 14th Amendment to count “the whole number of persons in each state.”
  • Press Release

New Report Reveals the Impact of COVID-19 Across the US Immigration System

May 27, 2020
The American Immigration Council's latest report examines major changes to the U.S. immigration system in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique challenges the pandemic has created for noncitizens and government agencies.
  • Blog

Immigration Was on the Ballot in Multiple States on Election Day – Here’s What Happened

November 22, 2024

On Election Day, voters gathered in various cities and states across the country to cast ballots on immigrant-related issues, like immigration protections, integration, and noncitizen voting. Here...

  • Blog

Giving Thanks to the Hands That Feed America: Immigrant Farmworkers

November 22, 2024

With the approach of Thanksgiving, when many families will be celebrating with food and gratitude, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the people who help make Thanksgiving celebrations...

  • Fact Sheet

Documented Dreamers: An Overview

Publication Date: 
November 18, 2024
This fact sheet provides an overview of Documented Dreamers, explains how they can age out of immigration status at 21, and summarizes the current federal legislative proposals to protect them from...
  • Blog

Biden Should Use His Authority to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants Before He Leaves Office

November 13, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump vowed to deport millions of immigrants in his successful bid for a second term at the White House. This week, we gained a clearer picture about how he aims to fulfill...

  • FOIA Litigation

Council Litigation Seeks Refugee Processing Data

This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit seeks to compel the U.S. Department of State to release data about the demographics, processing, and adjudication of refugees’ applications for...

  • Blog

Temporary Protected Status: What’s Up With That?

October 29, 2024

On October 17, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Secretary Mayorkas was designating the country of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Through this designation,...

  • Blog

The Origins of Birthright Citizenship in the United States, Explained

October 18, 2024
For over a century, the United States has applied the principle birthplace-based citizenship to grant American citizenship to anyone born on U.S. territory regardless of their parent’s immigration status.
  • Blog

Immigrants Do Not Commit More Crimes in the US, Despite Fearmongering

October 17, 2024

Written by Yared Avalos Iniguez, Communications Intern and Hannah Boyke, Research Intern Across the globe, immigrants are increasingly being blamed for committing crimes, with right-wing groups...

  • Fact Sheet

Debunking the Myth of Immigrants and Crime

Publication Date: 
October 17, 2024
Using Uniform Crime Reporting data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and population data from the U. S. Census Bureau, the Council created a report on the relationship between immigrants...
  • Fact Sheet

Birthright Citizenship in the United States

Publication Date: 
October 16, 2024
This fact sheet explains birthright citizenship, the Fourteenth Amendment, and its interpretations. Who is eligible for birthright citizenship? Can birthright citizenship be taken away?

Most Read

  • Publications
  • Blog Posts
  • Past:
  • Trending