Fact check: What are the demographic trends of immigrants entering the US during Biden's term?

1. Summary of the results

The demographic trends of immigrants entering the US during Biden's term show significant changes in both volume and composition. The foreign-born population reached record levels, with 53.3 million immigrants residing in the country ^[1]. The Biden administration paroled in or allowed 5.8 million asylum seekers and other migrants to enter the US, granted US citizenship to nearly 3.5 million immigrants, and extended temporary legal statuses to nearly 3.4 million beneficiaries ^[2].

Hispanic, Asian American, and two-or-more-races populations made significant contributions to the nation's population growth during this period ^[3]. The sources indicate that many recent arrivals came from beyond Mexico and northern Central America, often seeking asylum in the United States ^[4], representing a shift from traditional migration patterns.

The illegal immigrant population also saw substantial growth, with estimates suggesting the number surged to over 18 million, representing an 11% increase in less than two years ^[5]. Notably, 15.4 million illegal immigrants account for nearly two-thirds of the increase in the foreign-born population since 2021 ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information about policy changes and their impacts. The Biden administration implemented various immigration-related policies, including updating the USCIS Policy Manual ^[6] and efforts to modernize the legal immigration system ^[4]. However, these modernization efforts were often overshadowed by border challenges ^{[4] [2]}.

A significant policy development was the Biden administration's program aimed at easing the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens, which was struck down by a federal judge ^[7], highlighting the legal and political challenges surrounding immigration reform.

The data also reveals changing public sentiment: a record-high 79% of Americans now consider immigration good for the country, with decreased support for reducing immigration and increasing border enforcement ^[8]. This represents a notable shift in public opinion that provides important context for understanding the political environment surrounding these demographic changes.

Organizations and politicians who benefit from emphasizing border security concerns would likely focus on the illegal immigration statistics, while those supporting expanded immigration pathways would highlight the economic contributions and successful integration of diverse immigrant populations.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral and factual, seeking demographic information rather than making claims. However, the framing could potentially lead to biased interpretations depending on which aspects of the data are emphasized.

Conservative organizations like the Center for Immigration Studies ^{[1] [5]} tend to emphasize illegal immigration numbers and their rapid growth, while research institutions like Brookings and the Migration Policy Institute ^{[3] [4] [2]} provide more comprehensive analyses that include both challenges and positive contributions of immigration.

The potential for bias lies not in the question itself, but in how the demographic data might be selectively presented or interpreted to support predetermined political positions on immigration policy, whether emphasizing security concerns or economic benefits.