One June 9,2024, I summarized the conflicting estimates of the level of recent foreign born persons. The figures differed widely among Federal estimates. The difficulties arise from the surge of aslyum applicants and temporary visas issued for humanitarian purposes. And, the total figures do not distinquish well between permanent (Gree card) entrants and other entrants.

In the past few days, the Census, which as had the lower bound of estimates, increased its count for FY 2023 from 1.1 million to 2.3 million. its 2024 estimate of 2.8 million holds.

Here is what the Census said on December 20: “Net international migration, which refers to any change of residence across U.S. borders (the 50 states and the District of Columbia), was the critical demographic component of change driving growth in the resident population. With a net increase of 2.8 million people, it accounted for 84% of the nation’s 3.3 million increase in population between 2023 and 2024. This reflects a continued trend of rising international migration, with a net increase of 1.7 million in 2022 and 2.3 million in 2023.”

In the 2010s, the Census recorded a net immigration total hovering around one million. The 2022, 2023 and 2024 totals come to an average annual figure of 2.3 milion, or 1.3 million higher than past trend.