Background and Relevance of the Hispanic Population in the U.S.
According to the Pew Center, approximately 10 million Hispanic immigrants were in an irregular situation in the United States by 2023. The Hispanic population has nearly doubled since 2000, growing from 35.3 million to 68 million by 2024, making it the second-largest racial or ethnic group in the country at 20%.
Growth Under Joe Biden’s Presidency
The growth of the Hispanic population accelerated during Joe Biden’s presidency (2021-2025), with over a million immigrants from Latin America entering the U.S. annually, legally or illegally, between 2021 and 2024.
Beyond Legal vs. Illegal: A More Complex Picture
The Hispanic population’s composition in the U.S. is more nuanced than just legal versus illegal status. Births were the primary driver of Hispanic population growth post-2000, and the COVID-19 pandemic affected immigration in 2020 and 2021. Experts from the Pew Center anticipate that immigration patterns will revert to pre-2021 trends following recent changes in the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Immigration Statistics and Trends
Of the 14 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. in 2023, 9.6 million were of Hispanic origin (68%).
- More than 180 decrees and regulations were issued by the Trump administration to curb both legal and illegal immigration.
- In 2024, a record 22.7 million Hispanos lived in the U.S., but their proportion relative to the total population has declined in recent decades.
The Pew Center estimates that 59% of Hispanics are legal immigrants, while 41% are unauthorized immigrants—those who entered without permission and remained illegally or those who entered legally or illegally but obtained some form of temporary protection pending a final decision.
Demographic Breakdown
Mexicans constitute the largest national group (nearly 39 million, or 57% of all Hispanics in 2024), while Venezuelans experienced the most significant growth, nearly doubling their numbers from 2019 to 2024 (totaling 1.17 million).
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: How many Hispanic immigrants were in an irregular situation in the U.S. by 2023?
- Q: How has the Hispanic population grown since 2000?
- Q: How did the growth of the Hispanic population change under Joe Biden’s presidency?
- Q: What factors contribute to the complexity of the Hispanic population’s immigration status?
- Q: What is the estimated proportion of legal versus unauthorized Hispanic immigrants in the U.S.?
- Q: Which group represents the largest number of Hispanics in the U.S., and which group experienced the most significant growth?
A: Approximately 10 million Hispanic immigrants were in an irregular situation in the U.S. by 2023, according to the Pew Center.
A: The Hispanic population has nearly doubled since 2000, growing from 35.3 million to 68 million by 2024.
A: The growth of the Hispanic population accelerated during Joe Biden’s presidency, with over a million immigrants from Latin America entering the U.S. annually between 2021 and 2024.
A: Factors such as births being the primary driver of growth post-2000, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigration in 2020 and 2021, and recent changes in the Trump administration’s immigration policies contribute to this complexity.
A: The Pew Center estimates that 59% of Hispanics are legal immigrants, while 41% are unauthorized immigrants.
A: Mexicans represent the largest group (nearly 39 million or 57% of all Hispanics in 2024), while Venezuelans experienced the most significant growth, nearly doubling their numbers from 2019 to 2024.
