Fact check: What is the difference between legal and illegal immigration numbers in the US?

1. Summary of the results

The data shows a significant increase in border encounters in recent years, with approximately 10.8-11 million encounters recorded nationwide between FY2021-2024 ^[1], representing a dramatic increase from the approximately 3 million encounters during FY2017-2020. Specifically:

• About 2.9 million encounters occurred in FY2024 alone ^[1]
• December 2023 saw a peak of 370,000 encounters ^[2]
• Approximately 2 million "known gotaways" have been recorded since FY2021 ^[1]
• Over 1.4 million inadmissible aliens have been released through programs like CHNV and CBP One ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual factors need to be considered:

• The encounter numbers don't represent unique individuals, as some people attempt multiple crossings ^[2]
• There has been a significant demographic shift in immigration patterns:
• Fewer Mexican immigrants
• Increased migration from other Latin American countries, Caribbean nations, and Asia ^[3]
• The unauthorized immigrant population grew to 11.3 million in 2024, reversing a previous decline ^[3]
• Complex factors driving migration include:
• Economic opportunities
• Violence
• Political instability ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question oversimplifies a complex issue. Several potential sources of bias should be noted:

• Security concerns: Over 390 individuals on the terrorist watchlist have been apprehended since FY2021 ^[1], which could be used to promote more restrictive policies
• Statistical interpretation: Of the 6.5 million border encounters (Feb 2021-Oct), 2.5 million were released into the U.S., while 2.8 million were removed or expelled ^[5], showing that raw encounter numbers don't tell the full story
• Definition complexity: Legal immigration involves proper documentation, while illegal immigration occurs without proper clearance, but both types have potential economic and social impacts ^[6]
• The diversity of origins (over 160 countries) ^[1] challenges simplified narratives about immigration being primarily a single-region issue