From 2010 to 2016, Texas had an influx of 587,889 immigrants, which is the largest of any state during that period. According to analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies of recent U.S. Census data, Texas had a 14 percent increase in the number of new immigrants to the state compared to the previous six-year period.
The top 10 states that had the most immigrants from 2010 to 2016 are:
- Texas (587,889)
- Florida (578,468)
- California (527,234)
- New York (238,503)
- New Jersey (171,504)
- Massachusetts (140,318)
- Washington (134,132)
- Pennsylvania (131,845)
- Virginia (120,050)
- Maryland (118,175)
The nation’s immigrant population — both legal and illegal — reached 43.7 million in July 2016, which is a half-million increase since 2015 and a 3.8 million increase since 2010. Immigrants currently make up 13.5 percent of the nation’s population, which is the highest portion in 106 years.
Houston has a significant Mexican immigrant population — nearly 2 million people, which is up 77 percent since 2000. From 2010 to 2016, 1.1 million new Mexican immigrants came to the Untied States. However, a significant number of Mexican immigrants also left the United States, meaning that the overall Mexican-born population has not grown in the last six years.
The Center for Public Policy Priorities reported in 2014 that the immigrant community produces about $64 billion in Texas. Additionally, Houston’s Hispanic consumers currently spend around $54 billion a year, which is expected to grow to $77 billion by 2022.
