Pew Research Hispanic Center recently released a statistical portrait of the foreign- born population within the United States in 2011. The data, which is compiled from the 2010 Decennial Census, shows a record 40.4 million immigrants living in the US, a rising trend in Asian immigration, a rise in educated immigrants and a strengthening financial status for Asian immigrants.
According to the report, the U.S. is the world’s leader as a destination for immigrants. Second to the US, Russia hosts 12.3 million immigrants; Germany – 10.8 million; Saudi Arabia – 7.3 million and Canada – 7.2 million. Foreign-born immigrants comprise 13% of the American population. While the percentage of US immigrants reached its peak at 15% from 1890 to 1920, its decline bottomed out and began a gradual upswing in the late 20th Century. Since 2000, the U.S. immigrant population has grown 30%, from 31.1 million to 40.4 million, and continues. In the meantime, the rate of unauthorized immigration has slowed. From 2000 to 2011, the increase of unauthorized immigrants rose from 8.4 million to only 11.1 million. Furthermore, nearly half (45%) of the immigrants who have come to the U.S. have become naturalized citizens.
When it comes to residences, six in 10 U.S. immigrants live in just five states. California is home to the most immigrants, with a population of 10.2 million immigrants. New York is second, with 4.3 million, followed by Texas with 4.2 million, Florida with 3.7 million and New Jersey with 1.9 million. States who have seen the largest increase in immigrant growth are dispersed mainly on the eastern side of the country, and include (from largest growth percentage to lowest) Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi, Wisconsin and North Carolina.
The Hispanic population still comprises the largest percentage (29%) of U.S. immigrants, but South and East Asian immigrants have increased by leaps and bounds, and now consist of 25% of the total immigration population. Overall, most foreign-born children of U.S. immigrants are English proficient. On average, only
about half of adult immigrants are English proficient. The rates of college attainment and enrollment have been on the rise since 2000, as 27% of the immigrant population now holds a bachelor’s degree or higher. And while the average household income is lower among foreign born than native-born immigrants, it is higher among South-East Asian immigrants than native born.
The rise in Asian immigration correlates with the popularity in non-traditional forms of immigration, including EB-5 immigration. Using the EB-5 immigrant investor program, parties interested in American immigration can invest either $500,000 or $1M into American development projects in exchange for green cards for themselves and their families. The program, instated in 1990, has boomed in popularity in the past several years, and is expected to reach its 3,000 visa limit in 2013.
EB-5 projects can be found across the country, including Florida, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina. U.S. Immigration Fund, which oversees regional centers in the above-mentioned states offers interested parties many options for investment, including luxury condominiums, mixed-use developments and technology parks. For more information on EB-5 visas, regional centers and US immigration, please visit visaeb-5.com.