Utah's undocumented population rose to 140K in 2023, per Pew
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An estimated 140,000 unauthorized immigrants lived in Utah in 2023 — up from about 95,000 in 2016, according to a new Pew Research Center study.
Why it matters: The report reflects how undocumented immigrant populations have grown in states outside their historic strongholds.
By the numbers: Undocumented immigrants comprised about 4% of the state's population in 2023, per the report released last week.
- The study had a 20,000-person margin of error in Utah.
Zoom out: The number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. rose to a record 14 million in 2023, sparked by migration from countries other than Mexico, the analysis said.
The big picture: The report also highlights the significant rise in unauthorized immigrants during President Biden's first two years in office, fueling the backlash that helped Donald Trump's return to the White House.
Between the lines: The jump in undocumented immigrants between 2016 and 2023 comes as Utah assists with President Trump's mass deportation efforts.
- The Utah National Guard was recently asked to provide volunteers to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations starting in mid-September, per Fox 13.
Zoom out: California and Texas are among the six states where the majority of the nation's record 14 million unauthorized immigrants live, though more are moving to other states.
State of play: The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population is less concentrated than in the past, growing in 32 states from 2021 to 2023, Pew found.